Finals to be at Footy park

[Wedgie]

SANFL FINALS RETURN TO THE HOME OF FOOTBALL

**3.30pm TODAY – DARREN CHANDLER AVAILABLE AT AAMI STADIUM FOR INTERVIEWS**

The SANFL ‘be active’ Finals Series this year will return to AAMI Stadium, the home of South Australian football.

The decision was made following Friday night’s Sturt v Glenelg match at Adelaide Oval, attended by 6359 supporters.

In choosing the 2009 Finals location, the SANFL considered three options, including the staging of Finals at AAMI, Adelaide Oval and local grounds.

State League & Partnerships General Manager Darren Chandler said it was clear that AAMI Stadium was the only venue that could properly cater for SANFL Finals supporters.

“AAMI Stadium is clearly the best option for Finals this year in terms of providing facilities for coaches, players and the media,” he said.

“The stadium not only provides the best playing surface in Australia but can also sufficiently cater to our ever-growing SANFL Finals crowds.

“Our players are always excited about competing at the state’s home of football and we know AAMI Stadium can offer an excellent football atmosphere, if last year’s Grand Final is anything to go by.

“While Adelaide Oval has proved successful in recent years, it’s obvious that the oval capacity (limited to 18,000), the facilities for coaches and media, the player changerooms and in particular, the catering provisions are inadequate for SANFL Finals football – this was highlighted at Friday night’s game.

“We believe we have made the best decision for the players, the clubs and the football public and look forward to an exciting Finals Series at AAMI in September.”

The 2008 ‘be active’ Grand Final at AAMI Stadium attracted 34,128 supporters, making it the largest Grand Final attendance since 2002.

Last year, 86,367 footy fans went through the gates at SANFL Finals matches, representing a 33.8 per cent increase on 2007 Finals attendance figures.

Adelaide Oval has hosted the five Finals matches leading up to the Grand Final since 2002. The SANFL ‘be active’ Grand Final has been held at AAMI Stadium since 1974.

[G]

So Dutchy are you saying that if I've already used up my 4 free SANFL games which comes with my Category 1 Footy Park ticket, that they still let me in to Adelaide Oval minor round games.
- I know finals are OK but I didnt think you got 4 SANFL games plus unlimited Adelaide Oval games.

[csbowes]

I must say, based on what I've read in this thread, I must be in the minority. I hate SANFL finals at Footy Park. If we look at the table as it is now, you'll have North v Torrens followed by Central v Sturt in the first round of finals. How many people will actually go?

How many people will remain after Torrens annoy me by winning?

I reckon we'll end up with another crowd of something like 12,000 - 16,000 and once again, it'll be like a ghost town. If you had 12-16 at Adelaide Oval, the atmosphere is like a zillion times better. I'm already arguing with Dutchy in another thread about Adelaide Oval, so I'm not an Adelaide Oval flag bearer by any means, but surely nobody can compare the two grounds for atmosphere in an SANFL final? Sorry to say but I'm disappointed by the decision, disappointed that the construction at Adelaide Oval forces this decision (so I believe), all round, just a bit disappointed.

[spell_check]

Good. More room to move around to keep away from wankers (from all 9 clubs), I say. Particularly if we get in.

[csbowes]

Good. More room to move around to keep away from wankers (from all 9 clubs), I say. Particularly if we get in.

Nah... you'll get in... no worries!

... as long as you don't knock us out, that just wouldn't be cricket ol'chap!

[spell_check]

Good. More room to move around to keep away from wankers (from all 9 clubs), I say. Particularly if we get in.

Nah... you'll get in... no worries!

... as long as you don't knock us out, that just wouldn't be cricket ol'chap!

I doubt that will happen, you blokes would have to fall into a heap to do that.

Whatever the make up of the finals are, the crowds are always better than the WAFL finals crowds - they'd love to have 8,000 at a Preliminary or 28,000 at a Grand Final.

[JK]

Why the worry of a smallish crowd of 12,000 - 16,000 at AAMI? It was a regular event right throughout the Minor Round in the 80's and was never a problem back then

[Dutchy]

So Dutchy are you saying that if I've already used up my 4 free SANFL games which comes with my Category 1 Footy Park ticket, that they still let me in to Adelaide Oval minor round games.
- I know finals are OK but I didnt think you got 4 SANFL games plus unlimited Adelaide Oval games.

Wasnt talking about minor round games, just the finals

[bayman]

To slug people $10 for a park for a SANFL game would be pretty rich considering you can park for free at any other ground....

You can still park for free around the back streets of AAMI, just like any other ground.

Only ground I ever pay for parking is Noarlunga - because you have to (no free parking anywhere near that ground)

COLONADES

[Sojourner]

True, though if the Centro parking nazi's were out you could be risking a ticket. I was referring more to on-street parking, which there is none of around Noarlunga

Why not simply drive the Cressida into the ground?

[Sam_goUUUdogs]

I can't stand footy park, its not been to bad on grand final days as the entertainment on the field is usually a decent distraction from the surrounds, Hopefully Centrals play in and win the 2nd semi final so we only have to go there twice as opposed to 3 or 4 times.

SACA members should certainly get in for free, I will not be happy if this isn't the case, you would assume the SANFL and SACA would come to some sort of agreement on this though.

[SnappyTom]

I must say, based on what I've read in this thread, I must be in the minority. I hate SANFL finals at Footy Park. If we look at the table as it is now, you'll have North v Torrens followed by Central v Sturt in the first round of finals. How many people will actually go?

How many people will remain after Torrens annoy me by winning?

I reckon we'll end up with another crowd of something like 12,000 - 16,000 and once again, it'll be like a ghost town. If you had 12-16 at Adelaide Oval, the atmosphere is like a zillion times better. I'm already arguing with Dutchy in another thread about Adelaide Oval, so I'm not an Adelaide Oval flag bearer by any means, but surely nobody can compare the two grounds for atmosphere in an SANFL final? Sorry to say but I'm disappointed by the decision, disappointed that the construction at Adelaide Oval forces this decision (so I believe), all round, just a bit disappointed.

I'm with you, cs.
I'd much rather reward the teams that deserve the home games - much more atmosphere, and the games are local to the bulk of supporters. Would still get the same crowd size IMHO or better to those local grounds.

ST...

[Brucetiki]

But I saw fans leaving the centre carpark after the game yesterday. And they have no way to prove whose cars they belong to.

I was thinking more of exceeding the time limit - but then again it isn't a Westfields