Social Responsibility
As a vibrant tourism destination welcoming over 1.8 million visitors each year, Adelaide Oval is acutely aware of its environmental, social and community impact and its ability to make a difference.
Adelaide Oval is a Sustainable Tourism Accredited Business, certifying sustainability best practice across environmental, cultural, social, ethical and commercial business practices.
Our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Roadmap will empower all aspects of our business to create a more sustainable future for Adelaide Oval and give back to our South Australian communities.
Here are just some of the ways we’re making Adelaide Oval and our businesses a more environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and inclusive destination for all.
Environmental
- When we introduced the sale of canned beverages in 2022, we reduced single-use cup usage by 40% for alcoholic beverages. Cans straight to fans also means faster service and more variety across our outlets.
- The single-use cups we do use have been switched from plastic to fully compostable BioCups, which are collected in our purple bins and recycled.
- We are working hard to reduce single-use plastics across the venue, constantly working with suppliers on new solutions.
- Our impressive LED tower lights are not only capable of creating memorable light shows, but they’re also more energy efficient than our previous HID system.
- Fresh water taps at every bar and SA Water smart fountains across the stadium also help to reduce plastic wastage – so remember to bring and fill up your water bottle!
- Adelaide Oval has a four-bin system in place across the venue, encouraging fans to be mindful about their waste. Rubbish is then further sorted by our cleaning partner QuayClean, ensuring each waste type can then be processed effectively – from cans and cardboard to food scraps and turf clippings.
- This system means more than 90% of all Adelaide Oval waste is diverted away from landfill -and we’re not slowing down, with waste reporting keeping our team on track to further minimise our impact.
- Our kitchens are dedicated to minimising food waste, with chefs designing menus to maximise all parts of produce. Any remaining fresh produce is donated to OzHarvest to feed vulnerable communities – a partner of Adelaide Oval since 2013.
- Oval Hotel is also committed to making the guest experience more sustainable. In your room you’ll find split bins, large format toiletries and the option to reduce your housekeeping frequency, further saving water and power. Room controls also keep your light and air at sustainable levels while you’re out and about.
- Each year, Oval Hotel donates approximately 108kg of soap bars to Soap Aid, which are recycled into soap products that help disadvantaged communities to improve hygiene and health outcomes.
social
Diversity & Inclusion
- Adelaide Oval recently introduced a permanent sensory space for those with autism or other sensory needs, located just inside our East Gate. While predominately staffed on gamedays, this space is available for use at functions or other experiences. Learn more here.
- Our sensory space is supported by Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training for all staff, ensuring we’re equipped to support those who may experience sensory needs. We also have a dedicated Sunflower Team on game days – look out for their clear signage and lanyards – and we work with Novita to staff our sensory space.
- In 2024 we also unveiled our new Changing Places toilet for high needs individuals and multifaith prayer room with foot washing facilities, both located next to our sensory space inside the East Gate.
- Our staff have access to a number of inclusivity and accessibility training opportunities, including hidden disabilities awareness training, inclusive communication training, Get Skilled Access awareness training, human guide training, cultural learning and more.
- While much of Adelaide Oval’s gameday experience and other facilities are wheelchair accessible, we recently worked with Get Skilled Access to undertake a full venue audit in collaboration with people with lived experience of disability. We’ve made some changes as a result of this audit, such as making our Oval Hotel Parkland Accessible rooms even more user-friendly, and we have a range of other updates in the pipeline.
- In 2025, we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan with a view to strengthening our understanding of Adelaide Oval’s history as a traditional meeting place and creating pathways for new and better relationships with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. View our RAP here.
- We believe in tailoring our tourism experiences to meet all kinds of needs – whether age-based, physical, intellectual, cultural or more complex. This might include bringing in a translator, revising a RoofClimb or Stadium Tour route, providing an accessible Oval Hotel room, prayer room, breastfeeding space, and more.
COMMUNITY
- Adelaide Oval prioritises local suppliers wherever possible. Our retail outlets are overflowing with SA brands, including Vili’s pastries, Nippy’s juices, Fleurieu Milk Co flavoured milks, local wines and canned drinks, and more. And when you bite into a burger or enjoy fine dining at a function, you’re eating the freshest South Australian produce, sourced by our award-winning chefs.
- Our local purchasing and supplier agreements extend behind the scenes, too. From our packaging to our contractors and partners, we choose local first – while still working with major national and international brands to ensure Adelaide Oval is elevated on the global stage.
- Adelaide Oval has been a partner of OzHarvest since 2013. Last year alone, we donated 3,115 kgs of rescued food to the organisation to help feed vulnerable communities. Our support also extends to use of our kitchens for their Cooking for a Cause program, as well as fundraising initiatives. Learn more about the partnership here.
- Adelaide Oval is proud to help raise awareness for a number of causes and initiatives throughout the year by lighting up in support of awareness days. To apply to be part of our light up program next year, click here.
GOVERNANCE
- Our board is made up of eight directors, with four appointed by SACA and four by SANFL. Together, their role is to shape the future of Adelaide Oval for the benefit of the people of South Australia. Learn more about the Stadium Management Authority model here.
- Under the Adelaide Oval Redevelopment and Management Act 2011, the financial reports of the Adelaide Oval SMA Limited are audited each year by the Auditor General of South Australia.
- Recent system and software upgrades support our team in best practice operational management of the venue. We have also introduced a portal to enable real-time, secure communication with our board, making for more effective governance.
- In fact, we’ve recently refreshed technology infrastructure and IT systems across the business to increase network stability, bolster security and improve customer experience.
- We have rolled out an integrated Work Health and Safety platform to automate operational risk management and resilience, incident and crisis management, security and safety operations. It’s good governance, but it also helps make Adelaide Oval safer for all.
- We’ve engaged experts to undertake a sustainability audit of Adelaide Oval, helping us reduce our environmental impact and prepare for mandatory sustainability reporting.
- Adelaide Oval is committed to identifying, preventing, and addressing modern slavery risks within our operations and supply chain. In 2025 we introduced our inaugural Modern Slavery Statement which has been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Office and is currently under consideration for publication. Learn more here.
