Redevelopment
The Stadium underwent a major upgrade in time for the 2000 Summer Olympics, an event where it hosted several soccer group games as well as a quarter final. During the games the stadium had temporary seating installed to bring the capacity of the stadium to roughly 20,000.
Other 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.
On 15 April 2006 on a Saturday night the stadium hosted its first NRL match since 1998 when the Sydney based Penrith Panthers played that year's NRL Grand Finalist the Melbourne Storm. With 7,017 fans in attendance the Storm ran out easy 40-18 winners with emerging rugby league superstar Greg Inglis scoring 3 tries for Melbourne.
The Stadium's Record attendance is 17,000 at the 2008 AFC Champions League Final Second leg between Adelaide United and Gamba Osaka of Japan. Adelaide lost 2-0, but still became runners up.
On 3 October 2008 it was announced by the SA Government Minister for Recreation and Sport Michael Wright and Cronulla Sharks coach Ricky Stuart that the Sharks would play three NRL home games at Hindmarsh over 3 years starting from 2009. The first of those was against the North Queensland Cowboys on 19 April 2009. On a sunny autumn day the Cowboys defeated the Sharks 34-10 in front of 8,547 fans, the record crowd for a rugby league match at Hindmarsh.
Unfortunately for NRL fans in Adelaide it was announced early in the 2010 season that Cronulla had been allowed by the SA Government to pull out of their contract. Cronulla's official reasons were wanting to concentrate on their home fans by not taking home games away from Toyota Stadium. When the NRL returned to Adelaide in 2010 the Canterbury Bulldogs played at the Adelaide Oval instead of Hindmarsh against the Melbourne Storm. The Bulldogs have since made the Adelaide Oval their 'other' home, returning in 2011, again against the Storm.
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