SANFL Grounds

Alright, it's time to tally up the final scores for our grounds thread. Starting off with the scores for the atmosphere criteria.

Criteria: Atmosphere

Norwood 12
Glenelg 10
Unley 8
Alberton 6
Richmond 5
Elizabeth 4
Prospect 3
Woodville 2
Noarlunga 1

I'd lut Glenelg above Richmond for atmosphere.

My mistake, miscalculated some of the totals.

Now corrected

And now is the time to announce our overall scores for our SANFL grounds discussion. The discussion doesn't end here though, feel free to continue discussing the various quirks of each of the great SANFL grounds that we have.

Starting off in 9th place:

Unley Oval/Commander Centre Oval



Surprisingly while Unley came in last, it did not come last in any particular category. However, it did have a string of low scores in just about every category with just three categories receiving a score of 5 or above.

Surface: 3
Visitors Facilities: 4
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 3
Catering: 4
Grandstand: 5
Car Parking: 2
Accessibility: 6
Scoreboard: 4
Ground Sizes: 2
Atmosphere: 8

TOTAL: 41

In 8th place:

Prospect Oval



While Prospect scored well in some areas, with two 10's and an 8, it scored very poorly in others, with several scores of 1 and 2, and in the end, the 1's and 2's see Prospect take out 8th place on the SANFL ground ladder.

Surface: 1
Visitors Facilities: 10
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 1
Catering: 2
Grandstand: 1
Car Parking: 10
Accessibility: 8
Scoreboard: 2
Ground Sizes: 10
Atmosphere: 3

TOTAL: 48

In 7th place:

Norwood Oval/Coopers Stadium



While Norwood has been praised for it's atmosphere, accessibility, and radio broadcast facilities, and it's surface is mid-range, no other category scored higher than 3, including 1's for visitors facilities and car parking.

Surface: 5
Visitors Facilities: 1
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 10
Catering: 3
Grandstand: 3
Car Parking: 1
Accessibility: 10
Scoreboard: 3
Ground Sizes: 3
Atmosphere: 12

TOTAL: 51

In 6th place:

Noarlunga Oval/Hickinbotham Oval



While Noarlunga has a great surface and scoreboard, and is middle of the road in several areas, it fell down when it came to the grandstand (scored 2), catering (scored 1) and atmosphere (scored 1).

Surface: 10
Visitors Facilities: 6
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 5
Catering: 1
Grandstand: 2
Car Parking: 6
Accessibility: 5
Scoreboard: 10
Ground Sizes: 6
Atmosphere: 1

TOTAL: 52

In 5th place:

Glenelg Oval/Gliderol Stadium



While Glenelg was deemed to be the most accessible ground in the competition with it's score of 12 in this category, and a score of 10 for atmosphere, it's surface and visitors facilities brought Glenelg back to the ground pack.

Surface: 2
Visitors Facilities: 2
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 4
Catering: 5
Grandstand: 8
Car Parking: 3
Accessibility: 12
Scoreboard: 6
Ground Sizes: 1
Atmosphere: 10

TOTAL: 53

In 4th place:

Alberton Oval



Alberton was rated as having the best surface in the competition, scoring 12 in this category, but came last for the scoreboard, scoring 1 in this category. The majority of the remaining categories saw Alberton in the mid-range scores.

Surface: 12
Visitors Facilities: 3
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 6
Catering: 8
Grandstand: 6
Car Parking: 4
Accessibility: 4
Scoreboard: 1
Ground Sizes: 8
Atmosphere: 6

TOTAL: 58

In 3rd Place:

Woodville Oval/Unleash Solar Oval



Woodville scored well when it came to visitors facilities and their grandstands, scoring 12 for each category. It's downfalls are accessibility (scoring 1), and atmosphere (scoring 2)

Surface: 4
Visitors Facilities: 12
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 8
Catering: 6
Grandstand: 12
Car Parking: 8
Accessibility: 1
Scoreboard: 8
Ground Sizes: 4
Atmosphere: 2

TOTAL: 65

In 2nd place:

Elizabeth Oval/Playford Alive Oval



Elizabeth polled strongly across the board, scoring 12's for radio broadcast facilities and car parking. It's weak point was accessibility, and even that scored 3 points.

Surface: 6
Visitors Facilities: 5
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 12
Catering: 10
Grandstand: 4
Car Parking: 12
Accessibility: 3
Scoreboard: 5
Ground Sizes: 5
Atmosphere: 4

TOTAL: 66

And in 1st place:

Richmond Oval/City Mazda Stadium



Scoring 12 points for catering, scoreboard, and ground size, and 10 for it's grandstand, Richmond Oval came out as the clear winner of our SANFL ground survey. While it came out clearly on top, it still scored 2 for accessibility (sorry R&B), and radio broadcast facilities, so there is room for improvement even for the best of SANFL grounds.

Surface: 8
Visitors Facilities: 8
Radio Broadcast Facilities: 2
Catering: 12
Grandstand: 10
Car Parking: 5
Accessibility: 2
Scoreboard: 12
Ground Sizes: 12
Atmosphere: 5

TOTAL: 76

Wow , the top 3 are the grounds I as a spectator dislike the most. Completely lack atmosphere but I know there were other criteria , however the everday punter couldn't care less about radio facilities .

When assessing the grounds, the criteria was aimed at being as wide-ranging as possible - from the surface to the radio facilities. While the radio facilities are not necessarily what the patron at the ground looks at, they do play an important role at grounds to ensure that those that cannot get to the game (and that includes those that listen from country areas/interstate/overseas) can have access to a broadcast to the game. If these facilities are not up to scratch, then that impacts on the broadcaster's ability to promote our great league.

We will agree to disagree. I don't see the point about country listeners as a valid point. All grounds have had radio broadcasts and those listening still hear it. Interesting exercise though and well collated.

Bit harsh on Noarlunga with the catering.

Trying not to be bias but I think its pretty good.

Dont mind Richmond oval but Elizabeth is definately not top 3 IMO. I cant see one end to another!!! Its that bloody big!!

Agree Noarlunga with atmosphere though.

Bit surprised Norlunga only scored 1 for catering, i actually think they are very good..
Anyway, i'm sure that's my daughter in the photo (no 3 Trainer) at Norlunga.

Worst ground is Elizabeth only got one iddly piddly stand

Norwood fanatic wrote:Worst ground is Elizabeth only got one iddly piddly stand

Are you serious? Noarlunga's grand stand is smaller.

Richmond only has one grandstand as well

Noarlungas club rooms are probably the best in sanfl, Norwood for seating and grandstands, catering would be Elizabeth, surface would be either alberton, unleash solar or prospect.

Norwoods oval is the best because u can at least access a stand. But at other grounds u have to be a member

Norwood fanatic wrote:Norwoods oval is the best because u can at least access a stand. But at other grounds u have to be a member

that isn't quite correct because you do not have to be a member to sit in a grandstand, you can actually purchase a ticket at every ground (not sure about Noarlunga though as i haven't tried too) & sit in a grandstand if you wish too, i'm happy to sit in the grandstand at Norwood behind the goals for free

Noarlunga's stand is free. There are parts reserved for South Season Ticket holders, officials etc, but about half of the stand would be free for anyone to use. Doesn't provide much protection from the elements though.

North provides 'token' (and that's putting it nicely) public grandstand seating, while Norwood provides limited public grandstand seating (but it's free, so you can't really complain when you're not paying for it), but generally speaking most grounds are pretty good when it comes to public access to grandstand seating.

For those that want to see how we assessed the grandstands in this thread, you can check them out on page 6, or via http://www.talkingfootysa.com/t109p75-sanfl-grounds

Just chiming in here late.

Richmond and Alberton are the best IMO. Alberton clearly has the best playing surface and Richmond for accesability and ammenities.

Woodville also pretty good on all counts, as is Noarlunga.

Prospect, might be the people who inhabit the place, but thats the pits for mine.

Elizabeth is ranked far too highly in this and Unley too low IMO, I quite like going to Unley.

Glenelg and Norwood just ahead of Prospect.