A-League football clubs these days comprise multiple teams and require multiple facilities. A club’s physical infrastructure influences everything from club culture to team performance and after 20 years of A-League football many of the clubs have been forward thinking in their infrastructure arrangements.
Where does your club rank in terms of its facilities, and where can it improve?
Let’s take a look at Adelaide United.
Current Set Up
Adelaide currently plays their ALM home matches at Hindmarsh Stadium, their ALW games across multiple facilities and the NPL home games at the SA State football centre. The club’s administration is based out of Hindmarsh Stadium. It appears all the club’s teams train out of the Adelaide United Training Centre.
History of Set Up
Adelaide have always played out of Hindmarsh Stadium. Except for a few minor disputes over rent, 2014 comes to mind, the club has fostered a strong relationship with the stadium owners and enjoys status as the main tenant, recent football specific redevelopments, and even boasts red seats at Hindmarsh baring the club’s name. The club has in the past played major fixtures at Adelaide Oval.
The club’s training arrangements are a little less grand. In 2015 the club moved into a purpose built facility built by the City of Playford. The facility comprises a training building and two pitches. There have been minor issues in the past regarding pitch quality however the grounds still serve as the main training center almost a decade later.
The club interestingly appears not to have a youth academy. It does conduct a high performance program but it has no teams competing in the SA Junior Premier Leagues.
Assessment of Set Up, Gaps and Opportunities
Adelaide have a well working set up. Their training facilities are sparse but they are club managed, and allow for their current teams to be serviced well. They have a strong relationship with a very appropriate ALM home stadium and are serviced well by many Adelaide facilities for their other teams including the SA State Football Centre and the Marden Sports Complex.
Compared to A-league standard through a few things are lacking:
- Training facilities are pretty basic
- The club only has two pitches in its training centre which cannot cater for further growth
- The club appears not to have a Youth program unlike other A-League clubs
The club also has to rely on multiple match day venues for their ALW and NPL teams, this lack of consistency can make it hard to deliver a stronger fan culture. The best opportunity for the club would be to expand their training centre into 4 pitches including a small main pitch (3,000) which could host NPL and ALW games. There is room at their current location for this to happen, and similar to other council facilities, a mixed public/closed pitch arrangement can be made to ensure public access and surface quality.
As always, a club operated space to host fan events and allow them to informally congregate can always provide non-linear benefits and opportunities. When also considering the club’s relationship with Hindmarsh Stadium, perhaps this is something that can be explored at the venue. TBG can imagine increased Adelaide influence at Hindmarsh, where all ALW, ALM and NPL Senior games are held at the venue, as well as fan events at a social club venue on site.
Notes and considerations
Adelaide is a different beast and does not boast a club network as strong as Sydney or Melbourne, but its local leagues are still quite vibrant. There has been an explosion in facility investment as of late across Coopers, the SA State Sports Centre, and Kilburn Sports Complex which complement existing venues. Adelaide is spoilt for choice in the 2000-4000 venue category.
Ratings based on future set up
Overall Ranking: 9th out of 12
Overall Rating: C-
Adelaide has a lot of things going for it, however it’s current training arrangements are basic and don’t appear to allow for club growth. Its home ground arrangements outside of Hindmarsh Stadium also don’t optimally build a one club mentality. It’s an easy pass for Adelaide, but with good room for improvement.
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