Fans experience tech issues as 2025 AFL Gather Round tickets go on sale with price freeze

Fans have had a tough time securing their Gather Round tickets for 2025, including one who was fed up with waiting online so went and lined up in person.

Fans are having a tough time securing their Gather Round tickets, as errors and glitches see people stuck in the virtual queue or being overcharged for tickets.

AFL fans have taken to social media to criticise their ticket-purchasing experience, with many saying the Ticketek homepage timed out on them and forced them to the back of the virtual queue.

Footy fan John Ayres tried buying his tickets online, but decided to buy them in person after the system repeatedly timed out on him.

He says the six minute period customers have to purchase their tickets online is too short, especially as it took Ticketek clerks over ten minutes to process his purchase in person.

John Ayres of O’Halloran Hill was among about 50 people lined up to buy tickets at the Entertainment Centre at Hindmarsh, after trying unsuccessfully online. Picture: Dean Martin

“All in all it was just such a frustrating experience that I thought I’d rather go and talk to someone,” Mr Ayres said.

Mr Ayres, along with several others, lined up at the Entertainment Centre to get tickets, spending over two hours in line.

Luckily, he was able to secure tickets to see Adelaide v Geelong and Port Adelaide v Hawthorn next year.

One X (formerly Twitter) user said their order was processing until the site crashed and forced them to the back of the queue.

The Advertiser also understands one member was charged over $650 for four tickets by Ticketek, only for a message to tell them that their payment had not been processed, even though the money was gone from their account.

The member said they did later receive their tickets, but described the process as a “drama”.

Ticketek told The Advertiser demand for tickets is the highest they’ve seen for Gather Round, with more than 89,000 tickets sold, and that with the high demand, there are going to be customers that miss out.

They said the errors customers experienced may be due to attempting to queue multiple times.

“We encourage all customers not to use multiple browsers when trying to access tickets,” a Ticketek spokesperson said.

“Our systems are designed to prevent and block access from bots, and customers attempting to access the site with multiple browsers may be flagged by our bot prevention service.”

The ticketing pain come as the AFL’s Gather Round continues to kick goals with a ticket price freeze.

The popular event – from April 10-13 at Lyndoch’s Barossa Park, Norwood Oval and Adelaide Oval – will remain at $35 for adults, $20 for concession holders and $10 for juniors.

In a further win for fans, four-match and three-match multi- passes at Adelaide Oval will again be available for purchase, while family tickets will allow children to be admitted free.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said Gather Round tickets were fast becoming the “hottest in town”.

The AFL has placed a price freeze on Gather Round tickets for 2025. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

“It is important to continue to keep our game affordable and accessible for all, and the price freeze, hopefully, helps everyone get an opportunity to experience Gather Round first-hand,” he said.

“With the inclusion of the brand-new Barossa Park venue, nine blockbuster match-ups and a host of entertainment on offer, I’d encourage all fans to get in quick and secure your spot to one of the biggest events in the country.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said that the 2025 matches would remain “an accessible and family-friendly form of entertainment to open the Easter School holidays”.

“We look forward to welcoming the many visitors that will flood into South Australia for Gather Round in 2025, in the knowledge that many will be expanding their itinerary to include the Barossa and beyond,” he said.

Tickets went on sale via Ticketek at 10am on Tuesday for AFL and club members and will go on sale on Wednesday for the public.

Originally published as Fans experience tech issues as 2025 AFL Gather Round tickets go on sale with price freeze