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-

 

[Bostonian]

I meant he got it rolling in SA with the AFL and SA Gov

I like it

It's 1 weekend of the year, Vics can have literally every other weekend

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Poxy tin pot idea. Like round 0.

 

[Crouch]

If enough people yell at the AFL they always back down from their stupid ideas.

They will always have their minority bootlickers out there though.

I think you will find that you're the minority here.

 

[Bostonian]

I think you will find that you're the minority here.

I don't. Don't know a single person who thinks it's a good idea.

They see it as a joke round. Like round 0.

 

[Crouch]

I don't. Don't know a single person who thinks it's a good idea.

They see it as a joke round. Like round 0.

Well the world is bigger than you and the people you know.

 

[Bostonian]

Well the world is bigger than you and the people you know.

I live in the biggest part of the football world. It's you who live in the back blocks.

 

[Crouch]

I live in the biggest part of the football world. It's you who live in the back blocks.

How is that relevant at all? Are you really implying that you know 5 million people and their opinions on Gather round?

 

[Bostonian]

How is that relevant at all? Are you really implying that you know 5 million people and their opinions on Gather round?

I know lots of Victorians who couldn't give a rat's about games in SA.

And I'll go out on a limb and say if it wasn't in SA the majority of fans there wouldn't give two shits about it either.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Fair chance as long as Malinauskas is premier he'll hold onto major sporting events til the bitter end.

He loves sport and its been great for the state!

Pretty sure it was his idea too partly

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He should be throwing the chequebook at the WWE to host a major event at Adelaide Oval.

Perth look likely to do it for a second time.

Adelaide is a big wrestling city and the number 1 women's star on the planet is from Glenelg.

 

[Nelso]

I know lots of Victorians who couldn't give a rat's about games in SA.

And I'll go out on a limb and say if it wasn't in SA the majority of fans there wouldn't give two shits about it either.

You do realise that 40% of the people attending Gather Round are from interstate.

 

[saintal]

From the selfish point of view of a St Kilda supporter living in Adelaide, I like that I can see StK play an additional game each year here as part of my membership. If Gather Round was held in another state I'd look at it less favourably.

Most people I work with don't care much for footy but Gather Round tends to generate a passing interest and a bit of small talk, but nothing substantial.

The CBD certainly feels full of tourists that weekend.

Ultimately though we all know it's a cash grab by the AFL, who are masters of extracting funds from governments and broadcasters.

 

[Cuzz09]

Poxy tin league

I agree

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[PenfoldsFan]

Gather round itself is ok, what makes it sooo much sweeter is the tears from Vic club fans.
Queensland has your cup for a year and we have all your footies for a weekend, must be tough for you girls.

 

[Crouch]

I know lots of Victorians who couldn't give a rat's about games in SA.

And I'll go out on a limb and say if it wasn't in SA the majority of fans there wouldn't give two shits about it either.

You couldn't think of anything to say other than repeating yourself?

I don't. Don't know a single person who thinks it's a good idea.

They see it as a joke round. Like round 0.

Again, the world is bigger than you and your mates. Thankfully.

If you want to make claims that only a minority support Gather round then provide some factual evidence to back your opinion rather than speaking out of your arse.

 

[Bostonian]

You do realise that 40% of the people attending Gather Round are from interstate.

Shows how few locals attend then.

 

[Bostonian]

You couldn't think of anything to say other than repeating yourself?

Again, the world is bigger than you and your mates. Thankfully.

If you want to make claims that only a minority support Gather round then provide some factual evidence to back your opinion rather than speaking out of your arse.

So when you say the majority support it it's facts. Even though you don't provide any factual evidence, just talk out your arse. Is that how it works?

 

[Crouch]

So when you say the majority support it it's facts. Even though you don't provide any factual evidence, just talk out your arse. Is that how it works?

You're the one who brought it up. You don't get to ask me to provide evidence for your claims.

 

[Bostonian]

You're the one who brought it up. You don't get to ask me to provide evidence for your claims.

You're Andrew Dillon and I claim my $5.

 

[Crouch]

You're Andrew Dillon and I claim my $5.

 

[Bostonian]

Not very worldly are you.

 

[Crouch]

Not very worldly are you.

Not very smart, are you?

 

[Bostonian]

Not very smart, are you?

Way smarter than you. You're the one confused now, not me.

 

[Dan26]

Gather round itself is ok, what makes it sooo much sweeter is the tears from Vic club fans.
Queensland has your cup for a year and we have all your footies for a weekend, must be tough for you girls.

I hate to break it you, but YOU'RE the one being parochial. Most of the people like me that know that Gather Round is stupid think it would be just as stupid if it was held in Victoria - or anywhere else for that matter. Play the matches in the home state of the home teams. You're the one parroting mindless a parochial garbage. You could make a case for it in a "small-crowd" league like the NRL. Maybe. But doing it in the AFL is a stupid as it would be doing the same concept in the EPL or NFL.

I made a post a few pages back that I haven't heard a single, genuine coherent argument supporting it that doesn't devolve into: "The vibe is good" lovey-dovey rubbish (which isn't a reason). And despite 4 pages of opportunity for someone to provide one I still haven't heard one. That pretty much sums up how bad an idea it is. Has anyone got anything? At all?? Anyone?

 

[Crouch]

Way smarter than you. You're the one confused now, not me.

I'm not the one talking out of my arse, refusing to provide any evidence to back my claim, and resorting to insults because they can't.



But go on, keep deflecting, you're just embarrassing yourself at this point.

 

[Cuzz09]

So... gather round ay

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[Outtatym]

It was an NRL idea.

That's why it sucks.

Seems to be all the current admin can do is regurgitate their ideas