Football Park - Upgrades

Upgrades

Since it was built, Football Park has had many additions including:

  • In 1982 the outer concourse was completed during the SANFL season giving a limited number of permanent undercover seats. The stadium was also converted to an All-seater stadium with the installation of aluminium bench seating on the outer's lower deck.
  • In 1984 the Light Towers were installed.
  • In 1985 alcohol was banned from the seats. Alcohol could only be consumed in the bar areas. In 2009, this ban was removed.
  • In 1997 the stadium opened new corporate facilities, with suites at the southern end of the ground.
  • In 1998 the superscreen was added to the NE side of the ground.
  • In 2001 the balcony upper level of seats was extended towards the Northern End of the ground giving an extra 7,000 seats to the stadium.
  • In 2004 the existing aluminium bench seating on the lower deck was replaced with plastic bucket seats leaving seating capacity at 51,515.
  • In 2007,
    • The Sound System was upgraded with new plastic PA speakers installed all around the stadium.
    • A new and louder siren was added.
    • Another superscreen was installed at the Southern End of the ground to aid viewers sitting under the existing superscreen on the North East side of the ground.
    • The existing main scoreboard is still used, but also started its use for advertising.
    • New scoreboards were built under both superscreens.
  • On June 1, 2008, Premier Mike Rann announced that the Government will provide $100 million to upgrade AAMI Stadium. Among the several options considered were:
    • a Medallion Club on the eastern side roof,
    • the members grandstand roof raised with 2,000 extra seats,
    • better lighting and
    • new umpires' change rooms.
    • There was also a push to build a grandstand on the eastern side of the stadium (like the northern grandstand), bringing the capacity to around 60,000. From AdelaideNow polls, it appeared the majority of the general public preferred the construction of a new stadium, closer to the city, to host most sporting events.
  • As of 8 January 2009, it had been decided that AAMI Stadium would undergo redevelopment. Upgrades were to include
    • better traffic flow to and from the stadium
    • better public transport access to and from the stadium
    • undercover walkways and concourses
    • new seating throughout the stadium, with spectators in the first level as close as 10 metres (33 ft) to the playing field and 16 metres (52 ft) on the upper level
    • new entrances, combined with more flowing concourses and walkways, which will reduce the time it takes spectators to travel to and from the stadium gates.

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