While crowd numbers have fallen buy up to 13 per cent nationally, Adelaide fans have bucked the trend to attend several sold out rounds at the Adelaide Oval.

Port Adelaide fans storm the Adelaide Oval by crossing the River Torens footbridge from the city for Showdown 36. 50,397 attended the 29 March 2014 game, making it the second largest crowd at a game for the season. (ABC Adelaide:Brett Williamson)

"Nationally crowds are down by about 300,000," Dr Colin McLeod, former marketing director for the AFL, told 891 ABC Adelaide Breakfast.

While numbers primarily fell in the Melbourne-based games, Dr McLeod said overall figures were being lifted by the large crowds attending in Adelaide.

With Port Adelaide sitting on top of the AFL ladder for the majority of the 2014 season to date, and Adelaide playing competitive football, Dr McLeod said local figures could partially be attributed to the teams' successes.

"Out of the 35 Showdowns, two of the top five attendances have been this year."

Added to the successes of the local sides, the novelty and facilities of the new Adelaide Oval has also helped to boost figures.

"When people have access to good facilities that are safe, well-lit, good amenities and handy to public transport, there tends to be more families who go."

Record attendances for 2014

Four rounds of the 2014 season to date have seen over 50,000 attend games at the Adelaide Oval.

Showdown 36, the debut round for the Oval in 2014, attracted 50,397, which was only superseded by the Round 10 clash between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn which drew 52,233.

Oval attendances remained high even after the AFL attached a 2014 season premium game levy on several games played in Adelaide, lifting the price of tickets by several dollars.

"Ticket prices became very confusing for people and they didn't have any certainty about how much they were going to have to pay."

The premium game levy would not be continued after this year, Dr McLeod said.