Football Park

Football Park. Officially known as AAMI Stadium for much of its operational life, it was a major Australian rules football stadium located in the suburb of West Lakes, within the metropolitan area of Adelaide, South Australia. For nearly four decades, it served as the premier venue for the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and, later, as the home ground for two Australian Football League (AFL) clubs. The stadium was a central hub for sport in the state before being superseded by Adelaide Oval.

History

The stadium's development was initiated by the South Australian National Football League in the late 1960s to provide a modern, centralized venue for football, replacing the aging Adelaide Oval as the primary SANFL finals venue. Construction began in 1972 on land reclaimed from the Gulf St Vincent, and the stadium officially opened in 1974. Its inaugural major event was the 1974 SANFL Grand Final. The arrival of the Adelaide Football Club into the Australian Football League in 1991 cemented Football Park's status as a national sporting venue, with the Port Adelaide Football Club joining as a tenant upon its entry into the AFL in 1997. A significant naming rights partnership with AAMI began in 1993, leading to the venue being widely known as AAMI Stadium until the agreement concluded in 2012.

Facilities and features

The stadium was characterized by its distinctive oval-shaped, double-tiered grandstands that completely encircled the playing field, creating an intimate atmosphere for spectators. The primary facilities included the R. C. Slade Stand and the G. J. Coles Stand, along with numerous corporate suites and function rooms. The playing surface was renowned for its quality, maintained to a high standard to host elite football. The venue also featured extensive car parking on its grounds, a necessity given its suburban location, though this contributed to significant traffic congestion on match days. Other amenities included the SANFL headquarters and the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Major events

Football Park hosted a vast array of significant sporting events throughout its history. It was the regular venue for the SANFL Grand Final from 1974 until 2013, witnessing premierships for legendary clubs like Norwood, Port Adelaide, and Sturt. At the AFL level, it was the home ground for the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power, hosting numerous AFL finals matches, including several AFL Qualifying Finals and AFL Preliminary Finals. The stadium also held interstate matches, such as State of Origin football contests, and was occasionally used for other events, including soccer matches and concerts by major international artists like Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones.

Demolition and redevelopment

Following a protracted debate about the future of major sport in Adelaide, a decision was made to redevelop the city-based Adelaide Oval for AFL football. The Adelaide Oval redevelopment project, completed in 2014, prompted the relocation of both the Adelaide Football Club and Port Adelaide Football Club. Football Park hosted its final AFL match in August 2013 and its final SANFL grand final that September. Demolition of the stadium commenced in early 2014. The site, part of the broader West Lakes precinct, has since been subject to a major urban renewal project known as The Parks, which includes residential, commercial, and community facilities, fundamentally transforming the area's character.

Category:Defunct Australian rules football venues Category:Sports venues in Adelaide Category:Demolished sports venues in Australia