That Glenelg Oval Crowd

[Dirko]

Just watched the game on replay, when I used to go to the Bay in the 80s when there was 8 or 9k you literally could not move in the outer and it was a bigger area, if you wanted to get from the Northern goals to the Southern goals it would take you an entire quarter to do it. (You wouldn't even try it on the grandstand side as it was virtually impossible)
Yesterday there was plenty of room in the outer for people to walk through.
Was there a few thousand on top of the grandstands yesterday or has someone been doing some creative accounting?

The crowd IMO was definitely bigger then the Port game. The grandstand wing and both pocket hills were packed very tight. Easily over 10k.

Did you go yesterday ? Hard to tell how big a crowd was looking at the TV replays IMO.

[Dirko]

To be honest, you "fickle" opposition supporters STILL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS think that if you come out to Elizabeth, you are going to get "bashed up" and that is the main reason why We don't get what should be record-breaking crowds at Our games! Sorry but I am about to VENT! You guys s***t me sometimes, you make out that you are so patriotic. Prove it & travel, like We have to, like South do! Don't worry, you will be ok, just ask the Glenelg supporters that were at Elizabeth last weekend! WE DON'T BITE! Speak to Dutchy!

I was more worried about getting clobbered by a bit of cake, then getting bitten !

[Wedgie]

Did you go yesterday ? Hard to tell how big a crowd was looking at the TV replays IMO.

No I didn't mate, I was at Alberton, agree that it is hard to tell how big a crowd by looking at the TV replays but I was just comparing the outer with what it used to be like when the crowd was 8 or 9k there in the past.
Im suprised noone else can remember those days and its not like people are skinnier these days!

Its amazing what a game on a Saturday will do, its a pity North moved their game to Sunday otherwise they might have got a similar crowd, will be a few more Bays fans there than in recent years Im guessing!

[zipzap]

Did you go yesterday ? Hard to tell how big a crowd was looking at the TV replays IMO.

No I didn't mate, I was at Alberton, agree that it is hard to tell how big a crowd by looking at the TV replays but I was just comparing the outer with what it used to be like when the crowd was 8 or 9k there in the past.
Im suprised noone else can remember those days and its not like people are skinnier these days!

I went to the game and it looked almost completely packed. On TV replay I agree it didn't appear quite as packed in the outer for some reason. I wish the ABC would switch cameras to the opposite side of the ground to give a truer representation of crowds (esp. at Unley!) but I guess it would be too expensive to do.

[Wedgie]

Did you go yesterday ? Hard to tell how big a crowd was looking at the TV replays IMO.

No I didn't mate, I was at Alberton, agree that it is hard to tell how big a crowd by looking at the TV replays but I was just comparing the outer with what it used to be like when the crowd was 8 or 9k there in the past.
Im suprised noone else can remember those days and its not like people are skinnier these days!

I went to the game and it looked almost completely packed. On TV replay I agree it didn't appear quite as packed in the outer for some reason. I wish the ABC would switch cameras to the opposite side of the ground to give a truer representation of crowds (esp. at Unley!) but I guess it would be too expensive to do.

Agreed, the VFL do it (or have done it), I don't see why we can't.
There's some ground where it might be hard to do (like Norwood and Glenelg) but it would be easy at most grounds.

[smithy]

I remember in 1982 going to a game at the bay where there was from memory 16000 people and whilst it was a bit squashy it wasn't too difficult to get to the other side of the ground.

[Spiritof64]

the crowd today was more than the crowd at both the NRL games on Friday night what a shame that sport is dying horribly

Serves them right. They shouldn't have sacrificed the Rams and retreated behind their mud brick walls in Sydney.

[FlyingHigh]

Quote from Scott Walsh in the online Advertiser review of the game:

"The near-12,000 crowd at Challenge Recruitment Oval was the biggest at an SANFL game since Adelaide joined the AFL in 1991."

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/sport/afl/story/0,26547,23938337-21546,00.html

That post belongs in Big Phils thread:

Largest Crowds since 1991
1997 5 Port Adelaide v Norwood Adelaide 18961
1996 15 Norwood v Port Adelaide Norwood 16600
1994 6 Eagles v Port Adelaide Football Park 15126
2001 6 Norwood v Sturt Norwood 13745
1995 12 Norwood v Port Adelaide Norwood 13308
1995 1 Glenelg v Port Adelaide Football Park 12589
1995 21 Port Adelaide v Norwood Football Park 12417
1996 11 Port Adelaide v Central District Alberton 12318
1995 6 Eagles v Port Adelaide Football Park 12205
2008 13 Glenelg v Sturt Glenelg 11827

Spelly, looking through the list, not too many of these games were Sat arvos. This us the biggest Saturday arvo crowd since when?

[Dirko]

I remember in 1982 going to a game at the bay where there was from memory 16000 people and whilst it was a bit squashy it wasn't too difficult to get to the other side of the ground.

I was talking to my Sturt mate (another Smithy ) and he was talking about a game he went too where there was 18000 and said it was excellent !!

[CK]

I was talking with someone at Glenelg yesterday about the large numbers of fans arriving to the Port and Sturt games fairly late and lining up for considerable lengths of time, and curious as to how many of these fans weren't aware of the changes to 2.00 starts as opposed to 2.20 as it was for so long? Wondering how many of these fans had not been regular SANFL attendees (and no, not for one minute am I raising the idea of bandwaggoners!! ) and were still adjusting to the time changes.

[CUTTERMAN]

Ck, I think there's some truth to that, I'm still reminding mates when the footy starts now. Saying that, we met at the Holdy and walked over at 1.30 and the line up was almost back to the lights but the line moved quick, well done to Glenelg and the SANFL for extra ticket sellers, I saw what was happeneing and pounced.

[Harry the Horse]

This was the line-up outside Glenelg Oval stretching down Brighton Road at bang on 2pm. Never seen anything like it, even in the old days.

[spell_check]

I was talking with someone at Glenelg yesterday about the large numbers of fans arriving to the Port and Sturt games fairly late and lining up for considerable lengths of time, and curious as to how many of these fans weren't aware of the changes to 2.00 starts as opposed to 2.20 as it was for so long? Wondering how many of these fans had not been regular SANFL attendees (and no, not for one minute am I raising the idea of bandwaggoners!! ) and were still adjusting to the time changes.

It was also 2pm last year, so how long do fans need to adjust, is my question. If they want to play the 18s/19s on the same day, they may need to move it back to 2.20pm.

[jaceace]

It's a good opportunity to drag some stats out:

11,827 is:

The biggest crowd for the season, the 7,711 two weeks ago at Glenelg was the next biggest.
The biggest minor round game crowd since 13,745 between Norwood and Sturt in Round 6 2001
The biggest crowd at a Glenelg minor round match since 12,589 between Glenelg and Port in Round 1 1995 at Football Park
The biggest crowd at a Glenelg Oval match since Round 11 1987 when 12,342 saw the Bays and Port
The biggest crowd at a Glenelg/Sturt match since Round 2 1990 when 12,147 was at Adelaide
The biggest crowd at a Glenelg/Sturt match at Glenelg since Round 20 1983 when 12,368 attended

That's interesting that even the 3 years prior to the Crows entering the AFL in 91 that the Bays never had a crowd bigger than yesterdays at Glenelg Oval. A lot of the big games back then were at Footy Park though (including double headers). I have crowd figures from 1989 where the biggest crowd at the Bay was 9813 against Port and for curiousity the Glenelg v Sturt game drew 5517 although Sturt finished that year in 10th and Glenelg 5th. It's great reading the excellent crowd figures from that year (pre AFL), topped by the North v Port Fathers Day game of 29,204 (wouldn't the Power love those sort of numbers again!)

[Pseudo]

That's interesting that even the 3 years prior to the Crows entering the AFL in 91 that the Bays never had a crowd bigger than yesterdays at Glenelg Oval. A lot of the big games back then were at Footy Park though (including double headers).

I bet that three years prior to the Crows entry coincides with the year that live VFL telecasts began in Adelaide, head-to-head against the SANFL fixtures.

[am Bays]

ALL ABOARD!



But seriously, 2 points:

I have trouble believing that figure. It didn't seem any more packed than the Port match, though it was still a very healthy crowd.

And full marks to the GFC for catering to that crowd. As far as I can tell the beer lasted all day, and the much-maligned Southern Hill toilets did have a functioning urinal!

disagree mate, as from where i was sitting the crowd was significantly higher than the port game, i was sitting next to magpies in the 80's 7 little bayman 7 i said to m80's that this is a lot bigger than the port game so i'd expect this to be 9,000 to 10,000 & i was wrong too

Agrred the outer side was far more packed than the port GAme and Snouts Hill looked more congested too!

How many kids were there? Absolutely sensational - sign 'em all up as Tiger Cubs...

[Dutchy]

dont underestimate the size of the TV audience also, as the AFL had no FTA coverage on Sat arvo ive heard from plenty of people that watched the ABC to get their footy fix and loved it....

How the centre spread int eh advertiser today? Sensational....

[TroyGFC]

Going back a few threads, I know alot of people who decided to go on Saturday thinking that it was the 2:20pm Televised game.
I am 100% for the 2pm game but with some people working until lunchtime Saturdays it doesn't give much time to drive from say Wingfield and get there with ample time to avoid the lineups. Mind you my neighbour whom works at Wingfield was very impressed with the speed of line through the gates and gave full credit to the SANFL for having extra ticket sellers.

[Ecky]

It's a good opportunity to drag some stats out:

11,827 is:
The biggest crowd at a Glenelg Oval match since Round 11 1987 when 12,342 saw the Bays and Port

Round 6, 1988 at Glenelg vs Centrals was 14718, is that right, Spelly?
Centrals and Glenelg were the top 2 teams on the ladder coming into this game, hence the big crowd.

That's interesting that even the 3 years prior to the Crows entering the AFL in 91 that the Bays never had a crowd bigger than yesterdays at Glenelg Oval. A lot of the big games back then were at Footy Park though (including double headers).

I bet that three years prior to the Crows entry coincides with the year that live VFL telecasts began in Adelaide, head-to-head against the SANFL fixtures.

There goes that theory, Pseudo.

[spell_check]

It's a good opportunity to drag some stats out:

11,827 is:
The biggest crowd at a Glenelg Oval match since Round 11 1987 when 12,342 saw the Bays and Port

Round 6, 1988 at Glenelg vs Centrals was 14718, is that right, Spelly?
Centrals and Glenelg were the top 2 teams on the ladder coming into this game, hence the big crowd.

That's interesting that even the 3 years prior to the Crows entering the AFL in 91 that the Bays never had a crowd bigger than yesterdays at Glenelg Oval. A lot of the big games back then were at Footy Park though (including double headers).

I bet that three years prior to the Crows entry coincides with the year that live VFL telecasts began in Adelaide, head-to-head against the SANFL fixtures.

There goes that theory, Pseudo.

That's correct, Ecky, my apologies.

Round 6 1988
Glenelg 1.3 6.6 8.8 12.10 (88)
Central 4.2 5.5 6.5 7.7 (49)
Glenelg, 14718