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Published November 13th 2013

See what half a billion dollars buys

SA's Redbacks Play WA in Sheffield Shield Cricket at Adelaide Oval large image

The Unfinished Eastern Grandstand large image

The Unfinished Southern Grandstand and Large Video Screen large image

A Display Showing the Changing Face of Adelaide Oval large image

A Groundsman Maintains the Cricket Pitch During a Break in Play large image

The Ticket Office at the South Plaza Entrance to Adelaide Oval large image

The River Torrens Footbridge Links to Adelaide Casino & Railway Station large image

Adelaide's New Temple to Sport? large image

The Clarrie Grimmett Entrance on Pennington Terrace large image

Adelaide Oval's Northern Mound & Heritage Cricket Scoreboard large image

The Redevelopment Includes a Boardwalk at the Northern End large image

St Peter's Cathedral is Still Visible From the Grandstand of Adelaide Oval large image

The Western Grandstand large image

The Architectural Style is a Blend of Old and New large image

The Statue of Darren Lehmann on the Village Green large image

Strict Dress Standards Apply in the Member's Area large image

Stairs between Levels Are a Generous Size large image

Green Climbers Make the Stairs a Living Wall large image

Reserved Places for Wheelchair Access large image

Escalators in the Grandstand large image

The Innocuous Entrance to the Server Room large image

Perforated Chair Backs Keep Commentators Cool large image

When Cricket is Boring for Media Commentators, Tennis is an Option large image

Inside the Players' Dining Room at Adelaide Oval large image

Service Was Quick at this Bar in the Grandstand large image

Adelaide Oval's Food Menu large image

You're Within 40 Metres of Food large image

Members Only in This Dining Room large image

Live Video Outside the Toilets large image

The Bupa Sheffield Shield cricket match from November 13-16 2013 brought Adelaide's sporting enthusiasts a great opportunity to see the new look Adelaide oval. It was gratifying to see that entry was free of charge, as more than half a billion dollars of public money has been spent on the project to upgrade the historic oval - around $300 for every man, woman and squalling infant in SA.The Adelaide oval redevelopment has increased its capacity to 54,500, offers a claimed 77% undercover seating, and provides significantly upgraded facilities for both cricket and football. It's also expected to boost the city's economy, presumably transferring jobs from the western suburbs as Football Park falls into disuse.While work is continuing on the unfinished eastern and southern stands, the western grandstand members' area and northern mound with its video screen and heritage scoreboard are largely complete.The first day was perfect weather for it - warm and sunny, and thousands of cricket fans streamed to the oval to test the new facilities. Apparently there was a group of football fans too, but they weren't made to feel welcome by the cricket clique. While some areas of the new stands remained closed, your roving reporter was able to access much of the site to bring you glimpses of what's in store on your next visit.I was quite impressed with the new facilities, the seats looked comfortable, there was attractive landscaping, and I was surprised that prices for food and alcohol didn't seem excessive. If you have seen the new facilities at Adelaide oval, let us know what you think of them in the comments.The new $40m River Torrens footbridge will deliver flocks of fans from the Adelaide casino and railway station precinct directly to the Southern Plaza entrance of the upgraded Adelaide oval. At this stage the bridge is far from ready, reminding me a bit of the South Road Superway skeleton.An impressive shiny space age looking ticket office will help spectators feel much better about paying their admission fee, and the imposing frontage will make it feel like you're entering a grand temple to sport.Visitors to the back side of the Adelaide oval on Pennington Terrace will see the more modest Clarrie Grimmett entrance, but they can then walk a short distance along the shady boardwalk under the Moreton Bay fig trees to the northern mound.Apparently it's not only the historic score board, but also the Moreton Bay fig trees and the northern mound are heritage listed by Adelaide City Council. These have been largely untouched in the Adelaide oval redevelopment.A new shady boardwalk with toilet facilities passes through the massive old trees.Saint Peter's Cathedral is still visible towering over the scoreboard from many areas of the Adelaide oval.The western grandstand is an interesting mix of old and new in its architectural style, with some old school ornate SACA lettering at the north end. I'm not sure whether that remains from the previous structure or is new.An attractivehas been established west of the grandstand and is currently home to a couple of statues of cricket greats. It won't be long before the the football league demands equal representation, and no doubt John Rau and Jay Weatherill will appreciate a piece of the action too.After entering the hallowed member's area one soon encounters guidance on what dress standards are enforced in this area. I notice that SACA bans football shorts, and wondered whether the SANFL will ban cricket wear in retaliation.Generously wide stairs are cloaked with climbing plants to give the appearance of a living wall, while each lift is rated to carry 43 persons.Of course escalators are available for transport too, if watching the sport is too tiring.Disabled spectators needing wheelchair access have specially marked places available with easy concourse access.The top floor of the western grandstand hides the holy of holies - Adelaide oval's media centre, together with its nerve centre comprising a high tech hub of audiovisual and computer equipment.While the breakfast show boys bicker about whether the media centre should be named after KG Cunningham, it's well fitted out with rooms for radio, TV studios, and of course an area for the hard working scribes of the written press.When the cricket gets too boring our worthy commentators can take a break and enjoy watching the tennis from the full length picture windows on the western side of the media suite, with unfettered views out to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.A couple of floors down is another area you're most unlikely to be welcome - the private Players' Dining Room, where our sporting entertainers can relax and gossip between themselves after a hard morning's sledging on the pitch. Most windows are discreetly veiled so that the hoi polloi can't see whether the food is better than available elsewhere, but it's still possible to get a discreet peek in if you try.The bars all did a good trade in baptising the resurrected oval, and patrons are treated to live feeds of the sporting action while they queue for service.The food menu has reflected Adelaide's place in the global food market place. No longer are pies and chips the staple diet for sports fans, with offerings like burritos, nachos and pulled pork buns bringing an international zest.It's promised that hungry hordes will be no more than 40 metres away from food and beverages at any time, thus contributing to the nation's obesity epidemic.The members' dining room has sweeping views over the oval, and is extremely comfortable. It has been thoughtfully carpeted in a shade of burgundy so that noone will notice when you spill your glass of Penfolds Grange.Patrons with a bladder problem will be relieved to know that there is even live video available outside the loos, but I cannot confirm that seats inside come with their own screens.