Published on September 5, 2025
The 2025 AFL Gather Round has group a caller benchmark for South Australia, generating an bonzer $113.9 cardinal successful full economical contributions. This marks a 24% summation complete nan erstwhile year, solidifying nan arena arsenic a awesome driver of economical activity and tourism for nan state.
Following nan successful 2025 event, nan AFL has announced nan dates for nan 2026 Gather Round. This highly anticipated arena will return spot from Thursday, 9 April to Sunday, 12 April. The schedule will autumn successful nan mediate of schoolhouse holidays for Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia, while coinciding pinch nan commencement of schoolhouse holidays for South Australia and New South Wales.
Significant Growth successful Visitor Numbers and Spending
The 2025 AFL Gather Round saw a notable emergence successful nan number of visitors to South Australia, pinch complete 54,000 individuals travelling from interstate. This was an 18% summation compared to nan 2024 event. Notably, location was an awesome surge successful visitors from Western Australia and New South Wales. The full number of visitant nights successful nan authorities was 241,613, representing a 26% summation from 2024 and a 59% emergence compared to 2023. Visitors spent an mean of 4.7 nights successful South Australia.
A cardinal facet successful this maturation was nan summation of caller matches played astatine nan Barossa Park facility, contributing $4.87 cardinal successful nonstop economical expenditure. This summation helped make important economical benefits for nan internationally renowned Barossa vino region, underlining nan event’s broader effect connected section communities.
A Thriving Event for Local Businesses and Tourism
The economical occurrence of nan 2025 Gather Round highlights its domiciled arsenic a powerful arena for section businesses successful South Australia. This arena has been credited pinch driving maturation crossed various sectors, from hospitality and unit to tourism and transportation. The summation successful visitant numbers straight contributed to much tourism-related expenditure, while besides boosting nan state’s floor plan arsenic a cardinal destination for awesome events successful Australia.
Throughout nan long of nan event, nan attendance astatine nan 9 AFL matches held crossed Adelaide Oval, Norwood, and Barossa Park totaled 269,506. Notably, 36% of attendees were from interstate, further showcasing nan nationalist entreaty of nan arena and its expertise to pull a divers audience. These figures further cement Gather Round arsenic a awesome arena connected nan Australian sporting calendar.
Positive Outcomes for nan Barossa Region
One of nan standout successes of nan 2025 AFL Gather Round was nan economical use delivered to nan Barossa region. The first-ever AFL matches held astatine nan recently developed Barossa Park installation played a cardinal domiciled successful driving economical activity, contributing importantly to nan section economy. The $4.87 cardinal successful nonstop expenditure is simply a testament to nan affirmative effects nan arena has connected location areas and really awesome sporting events tin thief boost section communities.
A Bright Future for Gather Round
Looking ahead, nan 2026 AFL Gather Round is expected to beryllium moreover bigger and better, pinch nan arena now firmly established arsenic a cardinal fixture connected nan Australian sporting calendar. The announcement of nan 2026 event’s dates has already generated excitement, and nan AFL is committed to continuing its business pinch South Australia to build connected nan occurrence of erstwhile years.
This arena is not only astir celebrating Australian rules shot but besides astir showcasing nan champion of South Australia’s tourism, culture, and section businesses. The ongoing finance successful nan arena infrastructure, peculiarly successful areas for illustration Barossa Park, is expected to proceed to present important benefits to nan state’s system for years to come.
An Overview
The 2025 AFL Gather Round has proven to beryllium a important economical driver for South Australia, pinch a full economical publication of $113.9 million. This occurrence is expected to proceed into nan 2026 event, pinch South Australia remaining a premier destination for sports tourism. The arena continues to make important benefits for nan state, some economically and culturally, while providing a level for nan AFL to showcase nan champion of Australian football.
(Image: Government of South Australia)