State Hockey Centre (South Australia)

The State Hockey Centre, currently known as MATE Stadium[2] (formerly known as the Pines Stadium and Distinctive Homes Hockey Arena (2003–2009)), is a 4,000 capacity, government owned outdoor field hockey stadium located in Gepps Cross, a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It offers two international-standard wet hockey pitches which are used for both competition and training activities.

State Hockey Centre
Former namesThe Pines Stadium
Distinctive Homes Hockey Stadium
LocationState Sports Park, Main North Road, Gepps Cross, South Australia 5094
Coordinates34°50′33″S 138°36′30″E
OwnerSouth Australian Government
OperatorOffice of Recreation & Sport
Capacity330 (fixed)
4,000 (temporary)[1]
SurfaceFIH approved Class 1 System 5 Balsam water-based
Tenants
Hockey SA
Men: Southern Hotshots (AHL) (1991-present)
Women: Southern Suns (AHL) (1993-present)
South Australian Gridiron Association (1997-2009)

It is the home to the Southern Hotshots and SA Suns in the Australian Hockey League.

Features

Pitch 1 has a 'TeamSports Surface - Auqaturf Evolution' surface and Pitch 2 has a 'STI - Poligras Olympia CoolPlus' surface.

The stadium has fixed seating capacity of 330 and room for a further 4,000 temporary seats.[3]

The car park is capacity is 200 cars plus four disabled cars. Adjacent grassed areas to the west and north are used as overflow car parks for major events.

The State Hockey Centre upstairs area has a Main Function Area and adjoining Pak Poy Room, along with bar/cafeteria facilities.[4]

A number of significant South Australian hockey identities are recognized in naming of parts of the hockey centre:

  • Pitch One is named after inaugural groundsman Dave Scarman
  • Patrick Pak Poy who helped to get the State Hockey Centre built originally has the 'Pak Poy' function room named after him
  • The northern section of the grandstand is known as the Gerry Phillips Enclosure
  • The central section of the grandstand is known as the Lorna Jolly Enclosure

Uses

Hockey

The stadium is home to both Adelaide based teams in the Australian Hockey League, the men's SA Hotshots (formerly the Southern Hotshots) since 1991 and the women's SA Suns (formerly the Southern Suns) since 1993.

The stadium is home to Hockey SA, the peak body for hockey in South Australia, who utilize the facilities for state championships, state team training and other major events such as grand finals in the Hockey Metropolitan Competition.

It is used as the primary training facility for the South Australian Sports Institute hockey program.

The stadium is used for club hockey and is home to Burnside Hockey Club, Forestville Hockey Club and Grange Royals Hockey Club.

Gridiron

The venue was also home to South Australian Gridiron Association from 1997 until 2009.

Lacrosse

The stadium was used for major lacrosse events in the 1990s and 2000s. The stadium was sometimes referred to as "The Pines Hockey and Lacrosse Stadium"[5]

Major Events

The State Hockey Centre has played host to many major championships and events including:

  • 1997 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy
  • 2012 Hockey Australia U21 National Championships
  • 2013 Hockey Australia Women's Masters National Championships
  • 2014 Australian Hockey League Men and U13 Boys National Championships
  • 2015 Hockey Australia U18 National Championships
  • 2016 Hockey Australia Men's Masters National Championships
  • 2017 Pacific School Games
  • 2017 Hockeyroos vs Japan test series

History of Development

The stadium was built and opened in 1988, ahead of the cycling Adelaide Super-Drome being opened in the same sporting precinct.

It was opened in a ceremony by then Australian representative Paul Lewis, a Forestville Hockey Club player.

The venue's lighting was upgraded in 2013, and a second pitch was constructed costing $3.31 million.[6]

References
  1. "State Hockey Centre". Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  2. "MATE partners with Adelaide Fire". 11 March 2021.
  3. "Distinctive Homes Hockey Stadium (State Hockey Centre) | Austadiums". www.austadiums.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. "Hockey SA - Facility Hire". Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. Popular and attractive. -Review of 'The Pines' Hockey and Lacrosse Stadium (Adelaide ), P. Downton, "Architecture Australia", July 1991
  6. "State Hockey Centre". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
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