A Passion for AFL
Peter Higgs, a dedicated AFL fan from Sydney, has made the journey with his son Dylan to attend seven matches in one weekend. The pair arrived in Adelaide on Wednesday and spent Thursday exploring the McLaren Vale wine region. They are set to head to the Barossa Valley on Sunday, where their favorite team, the GWS Giants, will be playing.
This marks Mr. Higgs’s fourth AFL Gather Round experience. He explained that living in Sydney, they often only get one game every two weeks or sometimes go without for three or four weeks. However, as diehard fans, he aims to attend nine games. This time, he is struggling to reach seven, but last year he managed only six, so he feels it’s a slight improvement this year.
Economic Impact of AFL Gather Round
The enthusiasm of fans like Mr. Higgs has contributed to a significant boost in South Australia’s hospitality sector. Anna Moeller, head of the South Australian branch of the Australian Hotels Association, noted that occupancy rates and food and beverage sales have seen an increase compared to last year. This is particularly impressive given initial concerns about high fuel prices keeping interstate tourists away.
Ms. Moeller highlighted that areas close to the Adelaide Oval have experienced double-digit growth in occupancy. She also mentioned that figures for Sunday night are looking particularly good, indicating that many people are staying in Adelaide beyond the Gather Round.
“I think it’s cementing us as a destination state,” she said. “It’s making us feel differently about ourselves — there’s such a vibe around — and I think people from other states — and this is perhaps the most important — are seeing us differently as well.”
Business Benefits
The Cathedral Hotel, located near the Adelaide Oval, has benefited from the increased foot traffic. Pub co-owner Kym Bond described the Gather Round as “massive” for his business, setting the stage for the season. Despite current fuel costs, customers are still coming in, enjoying a few beers and a schnitty.
The Sydney Swans are set to face the Gold Coast Suns at the sold-out Norwood Oval in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs later this afternoon. Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs will close out the day with a match under lights at Adelaide Oval.
Future of Gather Round
This year will be the last where South Australia is certain to host the Gather Round. Premier Peter Malinauskas is in negotiations with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon to secure the event for five more years. However, he is not confident an outcome will be announced this weekend.
AFL general manager of operations, Tristan Salter, emphasized that the negotiations will not be rushed. He pointed out that there are many stakeholders involved and several details to work out. “They’ve got to take their time and make sure that, if it is going to be renewed, that partnership is as strong and well set up for the future as possible,” Mr. Salter said.
Challenges Ahead
ABC SA Grandstand host Aaron Bryans mentioned one potential issue: the introduction of a Tasmanian team in the AFL from 2028. This could complicate the scheduling, as not all 19 teams can play in the same round due to the uneven number. He suggested that convincing a team, likely Adelaide or Port Adelaide, to play twice within five days might be necessary to maintain a full Gather Round in Adelaide.
“You’ve just got to convince the footy clubs that it’s easy to do,” Bryans said. “If they can play two games in five days, we get a full Gather Round with all 19 teams, and it means Gather Round stays in Adelaide; otherwise, it’s going to have to move.”
Infrastructure Investments
Over the past three years, $8 million has been invested by the AFL, SANFL, and the South Australian government to upgrade local facilities as part of a joint Gather Round funding package. However, SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler noted that half of the state’s football facilities remain below standard.
Mr. Chandler stated that the league would invest another $1 million into local football infrastructure in South Australia over the next three years, provided that Gather Round remains in the state. “We’re certainly prepared and we’ve made that really clear to the AFL and the government,” he said.
Final Matches
Geelong will face the West Coast Eagles at Norwood Oval first-up tomorrow, followed by GWS and Richmond at Barossa Park. The final match of the Gather Round will see Port Adelaide take on St Kilda at Adelaide Oval in the evening.
