Hindmarsh Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Hindmarsh Stadium


fullname = Hindmarsh Stadium
nickname =
built = 1960 (Redeveloped 2000)
opened = February 2000
seating_capacity = 17,000
tenants = Adelaide United (A-League) (2005 - ) Adelaide Rams (Super League (Australia), NRL) (1997-1998)
dimensions = 110 x 78 metres

Hindmarsh Stadium is a football (soccer) and rugby league football stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United.

The Stadium underwent a major upgrade in time for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, an event where it hosted several group games as well as a quarter final - see Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics. During the games the stadium had temporary seating installed to bring the capacity of the stadium to roughly 20,000.

The stadium now has a capacity of 16,500, 15,500 of which is seated. Home team, Adelaide United regularly fill this capacity, and averaged crowds of over 12,000 to its matches during the 2006/2007 Season. United will use the stadium for its upcoming home matches in the 2008 AFC Asian Champions League.

The Stadium's Record attendance is 16,998 at the AFC Champions League Semi-Final First Leg between Adelaide United FC and FC Bunyodkor. Adelaide won 3-0.

In the past, the stadium hosted Adelaide City and West Adelaide Soccer Club in the now-defunct National Soccer League.

Other football (soccer) played in the stadium in the past include several international matches, including most of the games played in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup - an event where the Socceroos began their qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In 2007 the venue hosted the first two rounds of the Olyroos campaign as they qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The stadium was briefly used as a home ground for the short-lived rugby league team, the Adelaide Rams, and hosted a National Rugby League (NRL) match on April 15, 2006 between the Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm with 7,017 fans in attendance. Melbourne won 40-18.

The stadium was originally known as Hindmarsh Oval and was the home ground of West Torrens Football Club in the SANFL from 1905 to 1921.

On October 3, 2008 it was announced by the SA Government Minister for Recreation and Sport Michael Wright and Cronulla Sharks coach Ricky Stuart that the Sharks will play 3 NRL home games at Hindmarsh over 3 years starting from 2009. The first of those will be against the North Queensland Cowboys in April, 2009.

External links

* [http://www.recsport.sa.gov.au/recreation-sport-fac/ors-facilities.html Hindmarsh Stadium] - Office for Recreation & Sport South Australia
*Austadiums|54