South Australia’s iconic stadium will celebrate another milestone during Saturday’s Port v Geelong game when the 10,000,000th patron walks through the gates

Adelaide Oval has witnessed many memorable moments and during Saturday’s game between Port Adelaide and Geelong, it will host another.

Growing up in country Victoria, Port Adelaide’s Xavier Duursma would watch football at Adelaide Oval from afar and wonder what it would be like to actually play there.

And now, thanks to being drafted by the Power last year he knows precisely what it’s like: “Incredible”.

“I always used to watch games at Adelaide Oval on TV … it looked like such a nice place, so it’s incredible to get the opportunity to get out there now,” the 18-year-old rising star said.

“It’s a great place to play and my friends and family have told me it’s a great place to be a spectator as well.”

On Saturday night when Duursma and his teammates run out onto the oval for their clash against Geelong, it will be in front of a milestone crowd, because cheering somewhere in the stands will be the 10-millionth patron to visit Adelaide Oval since the redeveloped stadium opened in December 2013.

The current visitor tally sits just 11,906 people shy of the 10-million mark.

The Adelaide Oval will celebrate another milestone on Saturday night when its 10 millionth fan comes through the gates during the Port Adelaide v Geelong match. Port fan Candice Belperio is pictured with Port players Xavier Duursma and Jarrod Lienert. Picture SARAH REED

The lucky 10-millionth fan to walk through the gates on Saturday evening will win the ultimate prize: access for two people to all major events at Adelaide Oval in the next 12 months, seated in the Audi Stadium Club.

Included in the prize is access to events including Metallica, U2 and Queen + Adam Lambert concerts, and sporting events including State of Origin, International T20, the Australia v Pakistan Domain Test as well as a BBL match and a Crows and Power AFL game.

Stadium Management Authority chairman Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce said to have 10 million people visit the venue was something the state should be proud of.

“The atmosphere on major event days is electric and it’s why we see patrons coming back,” he said.

“To have 10 million people visit Adelaide Oval is something we can all be proud of and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank South Australians for their incredible support of this great asset.”

Mr Scarce said added initiatives like the RoofClimb and Stadium Golf continued to give people the best fan experience possible.

A sea of footy fans leaves Adelaide Oval after a Showdown in 2014 — the first year that football was played in the redeveloped stadium. Picture: Tom Huntley

Port Adelaide’s executive general manager Matthew Richardson said his club was honoured that such a milestone would be achieved during a Power game.

“The Adelaide Oval has long been a special place for the Port Adelaide Football Club, as a place where we have won 20 premierships including the record six premierships in a row from 1954 to 1959,” he said.

“Port Adelaide was a key driver in the push for football to return to Adelaide Oval, hosting and winning the historic first AFL game at the venue in 2011 and the first game after the redevelopment in 2014.

“The oval has been transformed into a unique modern stadium which brilliantly combines old and new and one which Port Adelaide and our fans are proud to call home each winter.”

Duursma said playing at the Adelaide Oval was an incredible experience.

“When you run out and you hear the supporters cheering you on it’s like a wall of noise,” he said.

“We’re really lucky to have some very passionate supporters and as players we’re always grateful when there is a packed house.”

The Adelaide Oval has hosted some memorable moments since it was redeveloped and reopened in 2013, including the 2019 AFLW grand final in March, when a record-breaking number of fans attended a women’s sporting match. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

THE BREAKDOWN

Attendances since the Oval reopened for the Ashes Test match in December 2013 include:

* Cricket: 2,262,930

* Football: 5,927,981

* Soccer: 284,381

* Concerts: 311,565

* Major Events: 258,397

* Functions/Events (non-game day): 655,089

* Tourism (RoofClimb, tours, Bradman Collection and Hill of Grace Restaurant):

287,751

CURRENT TOTAL: 9,988,094

ICONIC MOMENTS

To celebrate the 10,000,000th fan milestone, The Advertiser/Sunday Mail in conjunction with Adelaide Oval and Torrens University are given fans the chance to vote for their Top 20 most memorable moments that have shaped Adelaide Oval’s history.

Voting will open on Saturday, June 22 at adelaideoval.com.au

There are 40 choices to pick from, with the final Top 20 moments as voted by our readers will be displayed in the Riverbank Stand.

Originally published as South Australia’s iconic stadium will celebrate another milestone during Saturday’s Port v Geelong game when the 10,000,000th patron walks through the gates