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-

 

[bomberclifford]

As someone who was sceptical about the concept in the beginning, I’ve been blown away by how popular it is. The atmosphere around the city and the venues for games is incredible. Surely that’s a good thing, yes?

I don’t go to see my club play, I’m heading to a couple of games that I wouldn’t ordinarily see live. Reminds me of living in Melbourne in the early 90s, and just going to see a game of football regardless of who was playing and who I supported.

If you can’t see how this concept is good for the culture of AFL, then you probably need to take the blinkers off.

 

[Billy ray]

so long as they ensure that the gather round games are indeed a matchup that is part of a double up for a team, im fine with it. mostly

 

[The Nostradamus]

The image in the tweet is Elder Park - next to Festival Theatre and just across the river from Adelaide Oval (top r/h side)

FAN-tastic fun at 2025 AFL Gather Round highlighted by the return of Macca’s Footy Festival

The AFL is pleased to announce an array of free fan activities at the 2025 AFL Gather Round

www.afl.com.au

where's the free concerts this year?

 

[PeterSalt]

where's the free concerts this year?

Behind Adelaide Oval (on oval number 2) - so behind the western stand of Adelaide Oval


Sunday the 7th, 13th, 7:30 kick off

 

[Romeoh1]

The two sentences you quoted don't even prove your point. How do you function in the real world?

The fact that most of the games sold out very quickly tells you that plenty of people like the idea.
Adelaide is the perfect city for an event like this. It’s a good looking city, lots of good eating places, lots of parks and you can walk everywhere. It was absolutely jumping last year. A pleasure to be part of it.
Maybe do yourself a favour and go over next year.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Behind Adelaide Oval (on oval number 2) - so behind the western stand of Adelaide Oval


Sunday the 7th, 13th, 7:30 kick off

taking the piss? that would be during the hawks and port game
who playing?

 

[PeterSalt]

taking the piss? that would be during the hawks and port game
who playing?

AI response - probably wrong

Mentions Jet .. Baker Boy

Also mentions DJ cameos from Allir Allir & Josh Rachele

 

[PeterSalt]

taking the piss? that would be during the hawks and port game
who playing?

Found this

Sneaky Sound System and Hermitude to headline AFL Gather Round Entertainment

The AFL is pleased to announce two-time ARIA Award winners Sneaky Sound System will perform as part of the official on field entertainment and at the Pepsi Collective for the upcoming AFL Gather Round…A Festival of Footy

www.afl.com.au

 

[The Nostradamus]

Found this

Sneaky Sound System and Hermitude to headline AFL Gather Round Entertainment

The AFL is pleased to announce two-time ARIA Award winners Sneaky Sound System will perform as part of the official on field entertainment and at the Pepsi Collective for the upcoming AFL Gather Round…A Festival of Footy

www.afl.com.au

View attachment 2271830

Yeah that’s ticketed

Was wondering if they have free concerts this year like they did last year with jet but seems the afl being greedy and charging this year

 

[PeterSalt]

Yeah that’s ticketed

Was wondering if they have free concerts this year like they did last year with jet but seems the afl being greedy and charging this year

No idea - i haven't seen anything else mentioned

 

[The Nostradamus]

No idea - i haven't seen anything else mentioned

yeah i can only see the ticketed concerts which are in adelaide oval

here's hoping like last year they do the free concerts outside the oval also

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Heading there on Friday and will see all or some of the following games:

Collingwood V Sydney
Carlton V West Coast
Bulldogs V Brisbane
Melbourne V Essendon
St Kilda V GWS
Port V Hawthorn

A bit annoyed I won't be able to see the end of the Dogs/Brisbane game in order to get to the Dees/Dons game on time as the former could be a cracker of a game.

 

[kickazz]

Ok so I kind of have the Friday free, any tips on how to spend the day?

For the Collingwood Sydney game, is there like a live site near the ground where people watch it? Or any pubs with good meals and screens people can recommend? Will have one minor with us. Thinking CBD or possibly Glenelg.

Looks like weather will be good!

 

[carloss]

Anyone got any good lunch stop recommendations on the way from Melbourne? I’ve heard vic hotel in Dimboola isn’t too bad?

Where did you stop? Any recommendations?

 

[Tadpole]

Ok so I kind of have the Friday free, any tips on how to spend the day?

For the Collingwood Sydney game, is there like a live site near the ground where people watch it? Or any pubs with good meals and screens people can recommend? Will have one minor with us. Thinking CBD or possibly Glenelg.

Looks like weather will be good!

The Watermark on Anzac Highway in Glenelg is a good spot. They have a sports bar that would be showing it, and also a massive screen in the outdoor dining area. Food’s not too shabby either.

 

[Slime Roy]

Ok so I kind of have the Friday free, any tips on how to spend the day?

For the Collingwood Sydney game, is there like a live site near the ground where people watch it? Or any pubs with good meals and screens people can recommend? Will have one minor with us. Thinking CBD or possibly Glenelg.

Looks like weather will be good!

There's two main Fan Zones with food, bars & screens, one (main) at Elder Park and the other on the Oval Side at Pinky Flat. The Lion hotel looks like a goer closing street off, extra screens etc.

 

[Elixuh]

True

 

[Soggy2112]

True

Jack Higgins is usually the guy I turn to for informed and insightful opinions.

 

[Cleric]

Hasbeens

I would have preferred it was Karnivool.

 

[Cleric]

Jack Higgins is usually the guy I turn to for informed and insightful opinions.

Some guys try to be funny, and it doesn't come off.

 

[Tadpole]

True

He’s entitled to his opinion, just as much as those of us who do like it. If COD floats his goat, good luck to him.

 

[voorhees]

going to be a big week/round over in Adelaide.
Some big games, weather is going to be great and sold out crowds are going to make it another successful gather round.

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

going to be a big week/round over in Adelaide.
Some big games, weather is going to be great and sold out crowds are going to make it another successful gather round.

Best time of year in Adelaide for weather but its very dry.



As of April 7, 2025, Adelaide has received a total of 17.2 mm of rainfall in 2025, with the wettest day being March 21st, which saw 6.9 mm of rain.

 

[Recon_29]

I love this weekend. No matter how dogshit my club is going it brings a completely different vibe to footy and it is just pure fun. 3rd in a row won't miss it.

 

[undefined]

True

Geez, that's especially insulting coming from someone who commutes to Moorabbin every day.