Fixture Gather Round - SA announced as host for next 3 years 2024-2026

[Festerz]

16.04.23

GATHER ROUND SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AFL LOCKS IN SA FOR NEXT THREE SEASONS

The AFL in partnership with the SA Government is pleased to announce ‘Gather Round…. A Festival of Footy’ will be hosted in South Australia for the next three seasons.

The inaugural ‘Gather Round’ has been an overwhelming success, with all nine games sold out, more than 220,000 fans attending matches across the Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills and tens of thousands of fans attending the footy festival on the banks of Torrens.

More than 60,000 fans purchased tickets from interstate.

Across 2024, 2025 and 2026, Gather Round …. A festival of footy will be hosted exclusively in South Australia, with Adelaide Oval to be the central venue, with the intent from both the AFL and the SA Government to take regional matches in 2024 to the Barossa / McClaren Vale region.

As part of the three-year term, both the AFL and SA Government have also committed to establishing a community football legacy fund, that will benefit local footy clubs in the state beyond the weekend of matches.

The AFL will lock in the fixture dates of the round in the coming weeks to give fans as much lead time as possible to book travel and accommodation.

Ticketing information will be release later in the year.

“South Australia really turned it on. Gather Round and all the activity across the state, the nine matches, the footy festival and the community football engagement has been some of the best days and events the AFL has ever delivered,” AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said.

“It has been a success because everyone in football got behind the idea, clubs, players, corporate partners and most importantly our fans, to deliver an extraordinary few days,

“While the concept has real momentum, and we plan on taking it to other states around the country, we also feel in order for it to be as successful in the other states we need to continue to build out the concept in South Australia,

“The reality is we only had a few months to pull this together, and we hope by locking it in now we are giving everyone a longer runway to put together a bigger and even better event, and our fans certainty around booking travel and accommodation.

“The match at Mount Barker was a special afternoon on Saturday and an important part of recommitting to South Australia was to establish the community legacy fund, ensuring local footy clubs’ benefit from bringing the Gather Round to town.”

During the round the AFL has facilitated dozens of community club and school visits, held seminars for community club volunteers and delivered more than 10,000 footballs to regional community clubs.

Details on the Community legacy fund will be communicated at a later date.

“On behalf of the AFL I want to thank to Premier Malinauskas and his team in the SA Government who in partnership, delivered an unbelievable few days for footy and the state of South Australia.”

The AFL will also work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players.

“The players have been strong partners in the Gather Round concept and have embraced wholeheartedly the round. We will now work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players in the coming years.”

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said “The inaugural Gather Round has been a stunning success, in no small part thanks to the willingness of South Australians, and our interstate visitors, to show up.
“We know that this has delivered huge benefits for our state, and that is why I’m so pleased to see it return for the next three years.”

“With more time to plan, we know we can make Gather Round even bigger and better than what it has already become.”

“I want to thank Gillon McLachlan, the AFL, wider footballing community, public servants, councils and others who’ve all worked so hard to deliver such an amazing event in just a few months.”

“But most of all, I want to thank each and every person who showed up.”

“This agreement is because of you.”

-ends-

 

[Tackle Bag]

That never happened over covid.

I believe 1986 was the last time all games were held in the same state in a H&A round.

I stand corrected

 

[largebus]

Isn’t a majority of the country going to watch this game at either 5:10 or 4:40? 5:10 start for Victoria.

Sucks for WA obviously but 5:10 and 4:40 on a Friday isn’t the worst time is it?

Since when did the majority of Freo supporters live in the Eastern states? Most people are still heading home at 4:40/5:10, never mind 2 hours earlier, when the biggest slice of their viewers are still in the office. So it's convenient for neither team's fans or neutrals anywhere in the country.

It’s school holidays, still it should have been fine over June/July holidays anyway

Maybe it's different in Victoria but millions of people still work during the school holidays.
I don't mind the concept in theory but it's clear the whole thing was a poorly formed thought bubble by someone at AFL house who saw what the NRL (who have shorter games) was doing and just saw the dollar signs.

 

[adogsfan5]

Since when did the majority of Freo supporters live in the Eastern states? Most people are still heading home at 4:40/5:10, never mind 2 hours earlier, when the biggest slice of their viewers are still in the office. So it's convenient for neither team's fans or neutrals anywhere in the country.

Maybe it's different in Victoria but millions of people still work during the school holidays.
I don't mind the concept in theory but it's clear the whole thing was a poorly formed thought bubble by someone at AFL house who saw what the NRL (who have shorter games) was doing and just saw the dollar signs.

Oh yep sorry didn’t catch on to what you meant regarding freo supporters (being majority of audience). That’s a very valid point actually.

I don’t see anything wrong with the time slot but perhaps not for Freo vs Suns. Maybe a 5:30 start would be better and for two other clubs (non WA)

 

[jdeezy]

Having a game on Friday at 3pm for the majority of your viewing audience is why the whole concept doesn't work for AFL.

Could've put this on last week when Friday was a public holiday, but gotta get those Norf and bottom 2 blockbusters in!

Yeah that is definitely horse shit scheduling. Coasting along with no backlash thanks to not involving Victorian teams though.

 

[BigLefty]

I know, but it still in Adelaide.
Would have been great to have them out on the road in their state promoting tourism in a place like the Barossa Valley by a couple of matches there or a place like Port Augusta.

So if the AFL rotate the event and Melbourne hosts it, do we send all the Vic clubs to rural Victoria to promote tourism and have the non Vic sides play in front of 10k at the G?

This is no different to the GF.

Corporates take up a heap of tickets, then both clubs members had access to tickets before going on sale to the public. There's apparently no disadvantage to the travelling teams on that day, why is this any different?

 

[footyfan1978]

So if the AFL rotate the event and Melbourne hosts it, do we send all the Vic clubs to rural Victoria to promote tourism

Would be helpful to have one or two games in regional Victoria.
A game at Bendigo and in the Gippsland would be good to see.

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[My_Username]

No games on the gold coast from 6 may to 25 june. Whats that 50 days?!?

50 days

50!!!!

Bring back the covid 'gather season'.

 

[Substance]

Would be a waste of the showdown. Need the home teams playing on separate days to ensure multiple sellouts.

At the cost of the integrity of the draw. In other words, business as usual for the AFL.

 

[pz5151]

Wow. Have to say I honestly thought we were going to see crowds of 20k for all the games not involving Crows and Port. Which are the two games which didn’t sell out?

Also, is there any news on which state might be hosting it next year? Surely given how this year has gone, you’d expect WA to get a shot next year. I really hope the league don’t get silly ideas that they can draw crowds in Sydney as it will be embarrassing.

 

[footy75]

Adelaide Alive

 

[peetoo]

Adelaide got huge crowds for AFLW so was always the safest bet for this concept

 

[Underarm]

Wow. Have to say I honestly thought we were going to see crowds of 20k for all the games not involving Crows and Port. Which are the two games which didn’t sell out?

Also, is there any news on which state might be hosting it next year? Surely given how this year has gone, you’d expect WA to get a shot next year. I really hope the league don’t get silly ideas that they can draw crowds in Sydney as it will be embembarrassing

Sydney/Richmond. I think whichever neutral match up was going to struggle.

The other is Giants/Hawks at Norwood.

Giants have no fans, Hawks already have Tasmania as a holiday destination and Norwood is bigger than you think.

 

[footy75]

Sydney/Richmond. I think whichever neutral match up was going to struggle.

The other is Giants/Hawks at Norwood.

Giants have no fans, Hawks already have Tasmania as a holiday destination and Norwood is bigger than you think.

sold out

 

[Enviable Tradition]

The Adelaide teams should’ve played at Norwood Oval against GC/GWS

I take it you're not I'm favour of the MCG grand final deal if you have such a strong view that maximising crowds isn't important?

There would be a lot of wasted ticket sales eith home teams at Norwood.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[CarterS]

Should have been a showdown this week. Pretty unlucky for Carlton and Western Bulldogs the way it's worked out.

 

[PAFC_FOREVER]

The Adelaide teams should’ve played at Norwood Oval against GC/GWS

And Carlton shouldn't have been given a soft draw with the best commercial reach every year when they've been a laughing stock for 20 years.... But here we are.

 

[PAFC_FOREVER]

At the cost of the integrity of the draw. In other words, business as usual for the AFL.

Aaaaww everyone spend a moment of silence for the Victorian teams crying about the draw

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Should have been a showdown this week. Pretty unlucky for Carlton and Western Bulldogs the way it's worked out.

I don’t think it’s a big deal anymore. Instead of a different match up played elsewhere where income can be generated we get a regular interstate match up even if it adds an extra one for the year. As for the back to back interstate rounds for us to Adelaide and Perth this week and next, we did far greater travel during 2021 and 2016 finals. No excuses for mine.

The AFL could always look the previous years gather round (depending on location) and ensure another two teams are with the locals.

 

[freddy mercury]

I understand they can't control the weather, but looks like mother nature is going to ruin the weekend. St.Kilda VS Collingwood Sunday night will be a mud heap.

 

[juss]

This will be a success, mostly sold out crowds, bringing the game to different areas, a heap of tourism boosting the economy for a weekend in those states/regions.

I like the idea. Be interesting to see if they persist with SA or if they also trial it in WA, QLD, etc.

I wouldn't feel the need to do it in VIC for a while, there's already enough footy here week in week out, and already 10 VIC based teams. Maximise the novelty and attendance in other states that only really regularly see 2 teams.

 

[freddy mercury]

This will be a success, mostly sold out crowds, bringing the game to different areas, a heap of tourism boosting the economy for a weekend in those states/regions.

I like the idea. Be interesting to see if they persist with SA or if they also trial it in WA, QLD, etc.

I wouldn't feel the need to do it in VIC for a while, there's already enough footy here week in week out, and already 10 VIC based teams. Maximise the novelty and attendance in other states that only really regularly see 2 teams.

Definitely agree with you about the Melbourne argument. I always thought Adelaide had a carnival theme about it with the cricket, really like it being in Adelaide. Only small thing I'd change is having the showdown on a Saturday night as a potential stand alone fixture

 

[Walshawk]

At the cost of the integrity of the draw. In other words, business as usual for the AFL.

Not really. Say Crows miss out on their home derby that was planned for later in the season. So, for that later round that are now drawn v an interstate opportunity opponent (say, Cats). So one team (Cats) would still have an extra games away to Adelaide compared to a non Gather round season.

 

[CarterS]

Wouldnt really count the Brisbane/North game in the sellout stats as the ground holds about a dozen people.

 

[Billy ray]

They reallyshould have made the gold coast v freo game at 12noon friday.
Bit unfair for just one set of supporters to be at work- should have made it even