SA, Adelaide hotel prices spike for 2024 Gather Round dates

Interstate fans are so desperate to be part of next year’s AFL Gather Round they’re already flooding hotels with early bookings – and prices are soaring as a result.

• Barossa ground leading race for Gather Round game

Hoteliers are already celebrating the prospect of a second Gather Round in April 2024, after the AFL locked in dates on Monday.

Australian Hotels Association spokesman Ian Horne told ABC radio early indicators were strong, and already prices had increased to reflect high demand.

He said increased prices were the first evidence that very strong demand was building up, based on online and phone inquiries.

“Now, we’re still nine-to-ten months out from the event, if they don’t sell those packages the price will come down, that’s the market,’’ Mr Horne said.

“The reaction by the hotels and adjusting their prices is simply reflecting what they believe will be the demand, and people in Victoria or New South Wales will make a choice whether they think that’s a price worth paying to come and see this fantastic sporting event.

“And people don’t have to stay in a four- or five-star or above hotel, there are lots of hotels, motels, caravan parks, even with glam cabins and glam tents, there’s Airbnb and I suspect the prices of Airbnb just shot up too for that time.”

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas with acting AFL CEO Andrew Dillon at Adelaide Oval, announcing the Gather Round 2024 dates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

The AFL fixture for the round has not yet been announced. But every AFL team will play in SA from Thursday, April 4, to Sunday, April 7.

Crucial for the tourism market was the early scheduling announcement, Mr Horne said.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the schedule would maximise school holiday visitors.

“The 2024 event is designed around the autumn school holidays to give families the opportunity to book their holidays in SA and explore our regions and iconic destinations before and after the four-day festival,’’ she said.

Port Adelaide take on the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval during Gather Round. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“The excitement within the tourism industry is starting to rise again and everyone is already preparing for the 2024 AFL Gather Round, so book your flights, book your accommodation and start planning your trip to our beautiful South Australia.”

The South Australian Tourism Commission is monitoring web traffic to gauge the early indicators of demand.

Mr Horne said the joint AFL and state government announcement on Monday had been an endorsement of a healthy tourism market.

“It was only 18 months ago in January 2022 that we still had severe restrictions. And certainly, hotels and hospitality and tourism bore the brunt of Covid-19.

“So, the past six to seven months with all of the major events has just been a massive shot in the arm and the announcement yesterday and the reaction of the hotels, clearly the reaction of customers wanting to see it is fantastic, it’s endorsement that South Australia is doing something right.”