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-

 

[PenfoldsFan]

I miss Fitzroy
Couldnt have knifed the saints or roos instead?

Ive always meant to ask, is it penfolds wine you're a fan of, or is there a team? Always been curious

Penfolds Club Port

 

[citizen-erased]

Penfolds Club Port

Bought one at AO to warm myself. Love that its an option there

 

[Cleavy]

just do 2 Gather Rounds per year.
1st one: alternate each year between SA and WA
2nd one: alternate between NSW, QLD, Tassie and NT. (and Victoria if you wanted to include some regional games)

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Going off the article above? What stadium/would they use in the Barossa? I would love to go to that

Either Tanunda or Nuriootpa.

 

[Down the Hill]

i've booked for the weekend of 13-14th April, end of Vic/WA school hol's. with the SA school holidays starting on the 12th.

The weekend of the 6-7 April is just after Easter, think theyd want a little breather after tha especially with easter Monday game.

This Gather Round was a week after Easter. Geelong played Hawthorn on Easter Monday which is the reason why they both played yesterday. This is the SA Premier’s rodeo and he won’t hesitate adjusting SA school holiday dates if 4-7 April is a better fit for Gather Round. I suppose it gives less flexibility with Geel and Haw fixturing for Gather Round so will be interesting what dates they go with. But based on accom bookings already being made and decisions needed to be made on any more venues than the 3 used then hopefully we get a 2024 GR date sooner rather than later.

 

[pz5151]

Neutral for grand finals?

You're taking the piss.

So you are telling me that teams like Collingwood, Melbourne, Richmond and co don't have a huge advantage playing the grand final at their home ground?

Not having a dig but genuine question…is it just the interstate travel that makes it not neutral or is it playing it at the other team’s home ground? Because for most of the league’s history it was only Melbourne’s (as in the Demons) home ground, then that of Richmond and North for another 40 years. Collingwood, Geelong,Carlton, etc never complained that it was unfair when they played Melbourne or Richmond at “their home ground” as everyone realis d its more important to play at the biggest stadium

 

[half_back_flank]

None.

Grand Finals have been in Melbourne (2022), Perth (2021) and Brisbane (2020).

The GF is huge for revenue, so Adelaide needed its own special event.

No idea why it's staying in SA though. I thought the idea was to rotate it.

It’s the safe bet. NSW and QLD are a risk given they aren’t traditional Aussie Rules heartland. Plus it gives WA 3 years to get Optus stadium surface up to scratch to host 5 games in four days.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

next year think they should make it interesting and have port vs Collingwood and let port wear their prison bar jumper.

Winner gets to wear the stripes for the next 12 months. Make it an annual event.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Not having a dig but genuine question…is it just the interstate travel that makes it not neutral or is it playing it at the other team’s home ground? Because for most of the league’s history it was only Melbourne’s (as in the Demons) home ground, then that of Richmond and North for another 40 years. Collingwood, Geelong,Carlton, etc never complained that it was unfair when they played Melbourne or Richmond at “their home ground” as everyone realis d its more important to play at the biggest stadium

Same as every league around the country.

 

[pz5151]

As a local who went to 4 games on the weekend I enjoyed the experience but I dont see why is should continue. South Australia has much bigger problems that needs Government investment (improving transport, health and jobs for youth) but yet we can find $15 million so footballers can bump their average wage. Give me a f'n break.

There’s also no lack of opportunity to travel as an AFL fan and personally have already planned trips to Melbourne and Tasmania this year. The round simply makes a further mockery of an already flawed fixture, Freo played at 3pm WA time, Melbourne will not play Essendon again either Collingwood and St Kilda.

In short there is no need for a 23rd round and if we need this round to make our state relevant then we have far bigger problems. The entire thing was rushed without any logical thinking, which seems a common theme with the AFL.

SA the state made probably 6 times that in revenue brought in.

 

[JimmyBC]

SA the state made probably 6 times that in revenue brought in.

What's more they didn't even spend outside of the events budget.

 

[dean33]

I went to 3 games over the weekend and like others have said the atmosphere in the city was great. Felt like grand final week in Melbourne except every team was involved. Think it just works in Adelaide.
Perth is to far from the east coast while Sydney and Brisbane won’t embrace it like Adelaide did.
Maybe after 3 years they can look to rotate it however I just think it works in SA.
Looking forward to heading over there again next year.

 

[My_Username]

just do 2 Gather Rounds per year.
1st one: alternate each year between SA and WA
2nd one: alternate between NSW, QLD, Tassie and NT. (and Victoria if you wanted to include some regional games)

I'd have 1 'gather' round in a major city and one 'regional' round where all games are in regional centers...The media wouldn't like the second one though.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

It works in SA because of the good stadiums for spectarors. Lots of trees and not si much concrete and advertising.

 

[GC2015]

I'd have 1 'gather' round in a major city and one 'regional' round where all games are in regional centers...The media wouldn't like the second one though.

Would a Barossa Valley game next year count as 'regional'? Technically not inside the city of Adelaide (60km northeast) and will probably be the most sought after tickets for the neutral fans and media alike.

 

[kranger]

Gather Round is a success and should continue.

Next year 2 extra rounds should be added to the season that are called Regional Round and Country Round. Each team is home for one and away for the other. But in both rounds, all the games are played away from the regular grounds.

So instead we see games at;
Launceston, Hobart, Devonport,
Alice Springs, Darwin,
Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton,
Bunbury, Busselton, Geraldton, Karratha, Port Headland, Kalgoorlie, Albany,
Bundaberg, Townsville, Cairns, McKay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast,
Canberra,
Wollongong, Newcastle, Albury, Gosford, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour,
Mt Gambia, Whyalla,
Auckland, Wellington…

 

[1achie]

Oh I thought of another reason.

If I'm already in Adelaide I can go watch Glenelg play too. They are the SANFL team I support so might as well go and have a look in on them while I'm there.

Unfortunately there weren't any SANFL games on the weekend.
I'm not sure why exactly. Each club did have their own gather round events with junior clinics etc but surely this could have happened in conjunction with the normal fixture with Norwood scheduled for an away game.
Perhaps they felt like nobody would turn up because they were all at the AFL games.

 

[Great8]

Unfortunately there weren't any SANFL games on the weekend.
I'm not sure why exactly. Each club did have their own gather round events with junior clinics etc but surely this could have happened in conjunction with the normal fixture with Norwood scheduled for an away game.
Perhaps they felt like nobody would turn up because they were all at the AFL games.

All football comps in SA were off to give the Gather round clear air and allow people to get to games.

 

[CarterS]

Reported on SEN that essendon have asked the AFL to either not be the first game of a double header or to ticket every game separately next year.

 

[dean33]

Could it work in Tassie? Maybe half the games in Launceston and the others in Hobart? Main issue is probably not enough hotels but they would embrace it down there.

 

[windyhill]

Resurrect Football Park please.

 

[citizen-erased]

Reported on SEN that essendon have asked the AFL to either not be the first game of a double header or to ticket every game separately next year.

Suspect we want a marquee fixture (thurs or Friday night standalone)

I enjoyed the double header but then I stayed for both games (mostly, used the eased rain break at HT to high tail it to a warm, dry pub)

 

[Engimal v3]

Would be good in Victoria, plenty of infrastructure

 

[Recon_29]

Reported on SEN that essendon have asked the AFL to either not be the first game of a double header or to ticket every game separately next year.

Attended all AO games and can confidently say the big 4 Vic teams against another decent sized club or against eachother could easily be stand alone. Just not sure how you have more than 2 stand alone games unless you extend to Wednesday and Monday. The double headers will be here to stay and I really enjoyed their vibe. Just needs a shorter break in-between.

 

[PAFC66]

I think a big part of the appeal is seeing 2 Non SA teams in an SA ground.

100% neutral

That's why a showdown will be good on gather round.

If gather rd was in Vic it would feel like a normal round where If it was eg StK v Bris at Marvel it would be 80% stk

but gather round in a totally neutral ground is something different *like covid in Brisbane but with crowds

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Won't happen.
Would be too much of a financial hit for the clubs apparently. Compared to standalone games against other clubs.