Thebarton Oval is the former home of the football team West Torrens Eagles. They merged with the…read moreWoodville team and now play at Woodville Oval. The ground is pretty rundown with two grandstands that have some historical value on the main wing and concrete terraces that are modern and quite ugly. There is a little activity these days by way of Saint John Ambulance car crash demonstrations on a regular basis, quite amusing to watch unless of course you are involved in the training then it is deadly serious. The oval facility is beside the Kings Reserve which has everything you would need for a game of soccer or cricket anyway. The City Council of West Torrens own the facility and seem to have let it go to waste on the whole, it is regularly watered and the grass is kept mowed, the SA Amateur Football League Inc are housed in the facility and tend to use the space for their own functions and activities. At least is is not going completely to waste.

I have very fond memories with my Dad watching crows games here as well as some SANFL…read more It was kind of our tradition, Dad taking me to the footy, forgetting my jumper or the sunscreen, buying me fatty greasy food and parking too far away. But the stadium itself is very nice, in Adelaide we are very blessed to have 3 (AAMI, Hindmarsh and Adelaide Oval) stadiums very suited to our city. There are 2 big screens, a score/ad board, grandstand and food facilities serving the usual chips, pasties etc. But if you to watch an AFL game at AAMI (or Footy Park as it is known to most) the experience and atmosphere is very suitable for the game and Adelaide itself.

As a devout Adelaide Football Club Fan (that is the Crows variety of course, not the Port), I can…read moreoften be found in AAMI Stadium on a cold and rainy winter's afternoon cheering on my team, whose better days are somewhat behind them. The stadium is the biggest of its kind for football in Adelaide and currently hosts all of the home games for the Adelaide Crows and the Port Adelaide Power (of whom we do not speak). Parking at the Stadium is a nightmare, there are several grassed areas that are opened for parking but all charge a toll and whilst getting in might be ok, when everyone is trying to leave at the same time at the end of the game, taking the free buses is your best option. There are lots of different routes that cover the metropolitan area and further out to the Hills and Mt Barker. The food and beverage prices are also very pricey, especially alcohol and be warned that no where takes card so take out money before you leave home or you will get stuck waiting in the huge queue of people lining up for the very few number of ATM's. Having said this, the atmosphere at the ground is amazing, and when almost at its capacity of around 50,000 the roar of the crowd is enough to make you forget you bought an expensive seat down the front and are now getting soaked with the winter storms. Prices for football tickets are also quite reasonable if attending by yourself or in a couple, but can get quite expensive if taking a large family. Season tickets are available.

First time at the Norwood Oval and I have been wondering why I have not been going there for years…read more Coming from working at another Club you can see what is good and bad about an oval. This one here is in ok repair (some chairs are a little old and need wood replacement). There is a good amount of seating though with a few booths out the front. Also lots of grassed area for families to bring a rug, sit and relax. One thing I like about this oval is where it is positioned. Whoever picked the spot, they did it right. Why? Well, when the sun goes down the stadium shades the grounds. That is perfect, especially if you are watching a summer sport. Great for the players as well. One thing that I was not impressed with was the range of food options. Hot dogs, chips and nachos. Hmmm... I could totally see a bunch of Food Trucks out here. And being that Adelaide has some amazing ones, why not have the option of some super amazing food to enjoy while you watch a game. Who knows, maybe it will bring a whole bunch more people?! Nonetheless, I think that this oval is a good one. The staff and security here are really friendly and helpful.

Norwood Oval, aka 'Coopers Stadium' is home to the Norwood Football Club (Redlegs) of the SANFL…read more The oval has a huge capacity of 22,000 with a big historic grandstand, which seems odd smack bang in the middle of one of Adelaide's most cosmopolitan streets, the Parade. The place just looks good, which is odd for a footy club. Instead of just a short wire fence around a crappy oval, there are beautiful brick walls, gardens and even a rotunda. The inside of the place is half/half. Half nice grandstand and seating, half looks like any other local football club, which makes for a great, sometimes relaxed, sometimes electric atmosphere at good SANFL games. My favourite part is the sausage sizzle.

Foxfield Oval is a great little spot - the oval itself is huge, has floodlighting for evening…read moresports, and supports soccer and football clubs. There are tennis courts and a big childrens playground (like, a large playground, not a playground for big children), toilet facilities - but no barbecues. I've seen people having a picnic bbq with a gas burner setup though, and there is tons of space for a big gathering. Foxfield backs onto a gigantic recreation reserve, too, with a plethora of bushwalks to take off on.

Brighton Tennis Club's clubroom is a smashing venue to hold a party for all your barmy armies. The…read moresize of the clubroom ensures that there is plenty of room to dance about or have a chat, but doesn't seem empty. There's a kitchen for self catering, a dance floor to court upon, and car parks surrounding the facility. I've been to an engagement party here and a fancy dress party here. The former chose this venue because of the latter, it's just such a great space for any type of party. A covered outdoor area protects your smokers or those with sensitive ears if you're cranking tunes. One other reason why this venue has been repeated amongst my social circle is because it is very reasonably priced and management professional but very casual about the whole affair. I will no doubt attend another friend's party here in coming years, or failing that, host one myself. You'll have a ball and four-love it!

Since 1958 when it was first opened the Richmond Oval, and now more recently the City Mazda Stadium…read morehas been the home to the Bloods. The Bloods are the West Adelaide football club and if you don't know Australian culture, well this is what is is mostly - a game of football with a lot of people yelling for their team. The oval hasn't really changed a lot since back in the day. The facility is pretty good the grass is nice and compact; well looked after. Elements of the place have a nice historic feel to it, but I don't personally like all the red and black painted on the little deli or the walls, which is unfortunate because that's the team colours so it isn't going to change. The Bloods treat it well, they have a lot of training going on and various age groups gather to play the game in the hope that they will one day be big time heroes of the game. You can rest assured it is not directly connected with The Venue - part of the football club's home office, but it is... they are two separate things but they share the same bit of land. The football club is only a tenant on the land in reality. It could change in the future just like the name.

Great place to air out children, smooch with your boo, picnic, take in a lovely walk, or pay a bit…read moreto peek inside an old fancy rich person's former home. Free parking and a short downhill walk gets you to where all the action is. We started with the storybook trail, since we had a child to air out. Hardly any of the stories registered with him but he enjoyed the search for things and the little tiny houses. After, we made our way into the home to check out all the old fancy things, the randomly placed erotic artworks, old hair dryer, and pandemic-inspired Lego model. Interesting stuff. The views from the grounds are lovely, the birds loud at times, and the elephants are totally harmless.

Carrick Hill Estate at Springfield is a virtual window back in time to the lifestyle of the wealthy…read moreand well to do in the middle of last century. The house is open to the public (there is an entry fee) and still survives with many of its original contents, including artworks, on display. While you do have to pay to get into the house, entry to the grounds is free and you can wander around at your leisure. In 1935 two of Adelaide most prestigious families came together with the marriage of Ursula Barr Smith from a wealthy farming family and Bill Hayward whose family owned John Martins department store. Their wedding gift from the Barr Smith family was the land where Carrick Hill now stands. As you do, Ursula and Bill took a year long honeymoon in the UK and bought many of the fittings for the house on their travels. The house itself was built and ready to move into by 1939 and during the two years it took to construct, Ursula designed the extensive gardens. She modeled the gardens on a typical English estate and this labour of love is still there to enjoy today. During their marriage the Heywards amassed an extensive art collection including works from Sir William Dobell, Sir Russell Drysdale, Sir Jacob Epstein, Nora Heysen and John Dowie. Carrick Hill is used today for many weddings and all sorts of different functions and exhibitions and there is a café on site for the general public. If you've never been to Carrick Hill, stop by for a walk through the extensive grounds and breathe in the luxury and opulence from a bygone era.

My memories of Santos are high-school sports days and shitting myself at Little Athletic…read morecompetitions. Because it is like a real sporting stadium, you feel famous (and extremely intimidated) for the whole 5 minutes you are competing. The equipment is good quality. The turf is good, the javelin and discus ring is good and so is the long jump pit. Definitely the best athletics venue in Adelaide. It is always amazing competing here in contrast to your home ground. One thing I have to say about Santos is that it gets stinking hot. Not just a bit hot, absolutely boiling. I remember one day I was competing the track got up to 45 degrees and there is very little shade. The stands are quite large and all under shelter (thank-god) but the seats definitely aren't the most comfortable!

Santos Stadium is where little athletics and all things SAPSASA have their moment of fame. I have…read moreplayed a few cup rounds here for soccer and it's home to a pretty decent pitch. A pretty wide pitch too from memory. There is a dated yet efficient grand slams, fairly good members areas and change room. Overall an efficient athletic venue for all sorts of track and field events. There is also a substantial amount of parking however it can be a little bit of a maze when trying to find the entrance... especially if you're coming in from the city, and are driving over the bridge on Sir Donald Bradman Drive. If this is the case then chuck a right down Railway Terrace and keep your eyes peeled for the entrance. Otherwise perhaps get your GPS out. You don't want to miss your game. Believe me.