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 no other,” he says.
“Next year’s Gather Round will be even better with the introduction of a parade featuring players from each club, giving fans the opportunity to get up close with their favourite players.”
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AFL BACKS GATHER ROUND DECISION
Australian Football League (AFL) chief executive officer Andrew Dillon says they have been thrilled by the response to the Round.
“From packed- and sold-out stadiums, Footy Festival, the parade at Norwood, Bounce around the Barossa and everything in between, Gather Round captured the imagination of footy fans,” he says.
“We’ve built something truly special that continues to grow each year; it has become an unmissable few days during the footy season.”
The government says since it started in 2023, the Round attracted more than one million people to matches at Mt Barker Stadium, Adelaide and Norwood ovals.
Figures show that the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Rounds earned more than $285 million and attracted more than 132,000 interstate visitors.
Since Gather Round was introduced in 2023, a SA football facilities fund has spent $96m on 111 projects across the state; the fund is backed by the state government, AFL and SANFL.
During that time $8 million in grants were awarded to help with upgrading facilities for more than 40,000 club and school participants.
The dates and venues for the 2027 Round will be confirmed in the coming months, the government says.
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