Saturday 3 August 2013

Adelaide Oval 2009-02-20

In February 2009, went on a tour of the Adelaide Oval.  Just prior to the knocking down of the old members stand (George Giffen Stand), for the construction of the new members stand a few days later.
We walked around the ground, and up onto the hill infront of the famous scoreboard.


After climbing into and seeing the inside of the scoreboard we  continued around the back of the oval and in front of the members stand.  We went up the steps where names of cricketers who have scored 200+ at this oval are honored and into the members lounge.

Finally, we left the lounge, back down the stairs and left the ground.

Been to many a game of both cricket, football (Australian Rules Football) of the SANFL, International Rugby (including the Rugby 7s) and also watched the Adelaide Rams when the Rugby Super League was played.

Since then the Brabman & Chappell Stands have also been demolished for a complete rebuild.
View of the ground from the upper levels of the Bradman Stand
The Bradman (left) & the soon to be demolished George Giffen Stand
Looking up the oval towards the Cathedrial / Scoreboard end


The Chappell Stands on the right
View across the oval to the George Giffen Stand
On the Hill under the Scoreboard looking back down the oval
Views of the traditional Adelaide Scoreboard
Scoreboard with a name added.  Also notice the window just to the left of the bowler idenitfier & right of the TOTAL.

Inside the Scoreboard - these are the mechanisms that work the numbers
No digital stuff here, thats for sure!
Remeber that window,  here it is from inside the scoreboard
The first two numbers (from left) are on a winder system (you can see the rolls and the numbers) and show a score of 45 (remember this is from the opposite side that it is read from) and the slot for "100s" is open on the right
Very old school.  The names on the right get put into the slots.  All done by hand including passing from one level to another up and down the Scoreboard.
 
View of the oval through one of the name slots (can see part of the name in the foreground)
End view of the members stand
End stone work showing S.A.C.A. (South Australian Cricket Association) thought the Moreton Bay Figs
Infront of the George Giffen Stand

Names and score of each cricketer who has scored 200+ in an innings line the steps to the members lounge
The view from the members lounge out over the oval
Inside the Giffen Stand

Members Lounge
Stained Glass Window
A stained glass of Sir Don Bradman

Heaps of history
Looking left
Looking forward
Looking right
The other end of the Giffen Stand
and finally....well it was a tour