'No-brainer': AFL, SA reach new Gather Round deal
The deal gives South Australia certainty for one of the AFL’s marquee events as the 2025 edition drew more than 270,000 fans and $113 million in economic impact.
- On Thursday, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a three-year extension keeping Gather Round in South Australia through 2029. "Gather Round has captured the imagination of footy fans," Dillon said.
- More than 270,000 fans attended this year's games at Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval, and Barossa Park, demonstrating the event's growth since its 2023 inception. The 2025 edition generated an estimated $113 million in economic impact.
- Starting in 2027, the festival will introduce a free street parade in the Adelaide CBD featuring players from every club. The state government is pursuing plans for a potential new venue in the McLaren Vale region.
- With 19 teams in the competition, the AFL must determine how to accommodate an odd-numbered field, with possibilities including one club playing twice or alternative fixture arrangements. The arrival of the Tasmania Devils in 2028 compounds this logistical challenge.
- Earlier this year, Sydney Swans chair Andrew Pridham noted the club discussed hosting the event on the east coast with the NSW government. The new deal cements South Australia as the event's permanent home through 2029.
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Sydney Morning Herald
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Gather Round stays put in South Australia for 3 more years
The Gather Round will stay in South Australia for three more years under a new deal signed between the state government and the AFL. The government says this year’s Round attracted more than 270,000 fans and that next year’s event will feature a player’s parade for fans. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas says Gather Round has found its rightful home in his state. “We have shown that we are the best state to deliver a successful Festival of Footy like…
Gather round locked in for South Australia until 2029 - The Indian Sun
Gather Round will remain in South Australia until at least 2029 after the AFL and the South Australian Government announced a new three-year extension to their partnership. The agreement secures the future of the annual football festival beyond its current arrangement and follows another strong turnout in 2026, with more than 270,000 fans attending events and matches across the state. Since its launch in 2023, Gather Round has become a fixture o…
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