As an outsider, the buzz in the city on Saturday was all consuming, noticeable upon landing at the airport late-morning. On the radio, in the papers and on the streets in and around the CBD and the picturesque ground, everyone was talking about it.
Footy was about to return to the heart of Adelaide and what better way to start than with a Showdown between rivals Port Adelaide and Adelaide.
Prior to midday, more than four hours before the bounce, fans began streaming across the River Torrens to soak up the atmosphere, with a new footbridge linking the CBD to the ground.
The concourse was buzzing early with Power and Crows fans.
Who gets to the footy four hours early? South Australians do – and did in numbers on Saturday, when the sun shone brilliantly and the temperature peaked at 27 Celsius. They simply wanted to be a part of it; they wanted to be there when history was made.
South Australia is known as the festival state, and that's what it felt like. It was a party, and these fans were proud.
There were lines to get in to the ground and queues for a beer and pie, but no complaints.
The city has been waiting for this for decades. Years of political infighting – an age-old battle between football and cricket – were over.
For South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, who spoke on the concourse on his way in to the ground, this was a special day.
Just a fortnight ago he narrowly avoided electoral defeat. If it weren’t for the support of an independent, it wouldn't have been him unveiling the plaque.
He talked up what having AFL games at the upgraded venue would do for the city's economy, how it would boost business activity among restaurants, cafés and associated businesses, and create a genuine buzz.
Power chairman David Koch and Crows executive chairman Rob Chapman both arrived early. They echoed one another: this day was a long time coming.
Addressing fans via the stadium PA system, Koch said: “Our club would have been in trouble" if football did not take up residence at Adelaide Oval.
As the first bounce neared the seats filled, and it became pretty clear which team had more support.
Port Adelaide had distributed some 30,000 teal t-shirts, emblazoned with the slogan 'WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP', the mantra emphasised by coach Ken Hinkley early in his tenure.
This was a Power home game, and when their players ran on to the field the roar of the crowd was comparable to that on grand final day at the MCG. If you’re not from South Australia, that might be hard to believe. But believe it.
It set the tone for the day.
Crows fans were there in fewer numbers, many sitting in the upper decks. Their turn will come next week with the club’s first home game at the new venue, against the Sydney Swans.
Adelaide Oval is the newest AFL venue, a cauldron of sorts that will give the two local clubs a decided edge. The atmosphere is brilliant, the sightlines fantastic and the facilities superb.
In one memorable day the old ground had captured the heart of football in South Australia.
Twitter: @MattThompson
Adelaide Oval was bathed in sunshine for a perfect day of football. Picture: AFL Media
