South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas says Adelaide must keep reinventing Gather Round to keep footy’s biggest festival
If necessity is the mother of invention, Peter Malinauskas’ desire to keep Gather Round in South Australia will be the mother of reinvasion for footy’s biggest festival. Will it be enough?
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South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas says Adelaide should remain home to Gather Round beyond 2026 if the sporting-mad state can find ways to reinvent the footy festival.
Malinauskas said every indicator regarding tickets, flights and accommodation suggested this year’s event would be an even bigger hit with the new Barossa Valley venue set to host two games across the weekend.
And he had a clip for St Kilda forward Jack Higgins after his Adelaide criticism last weekend, saying South Australians like to get together at major events and “don’t like to be stuck on gaming consoles”.
But SA could face a fight for the rights from interstate rivals after the Herald Sun revealed Tasmania is eyeing Gather Round to coincide with the Devils’ launch in 2028.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon declared: “We like long-term partnerships, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look at other opportunities around the country.”
Malinauskas said South Australia was well-placed to earn the right to keep the themed round with seven of the nine games across the next four days already sold out.
The SA premier said the state had to reinvent the event to keep it fresh, but dismissed hopes of a contract extension announcement this weekend.
“One of the things that underpin our bid for Gather Round was that we were willing to invest in the concept as a government, and that (investment) has proven to be true, and the Barossa is probably the best example of that,” Malinauskas said.
“The South Australian fan base turn out in big numbers which in turn attracts the fan base from the rest of the country.
“No one likes watching the footy in empty stadiums. People want to watch it in places where you experience the raw emotion and atmosphere that only a big crowd can bring.
“Throughout the course of Gather Round thus far we have provided exactly that. We feel Adelaide lends itself well to that.
“All of the numbers are pointing in the right direction. Hopefully that presents a platform for an extension in the future.
“We have got to keep it fresh, we have got to renew things within it as a platform and that will give it the best chance to retain it in the future.”
Last year’s Gather Round generated more than $90 million for the South Australian economy, with 90 extra flights into Adelaide Airport locked in for this year’s event.
And the interest will peak on Sunday night when fierce rivals Hawthorn and Port Adelaide meet at Adelaide Oval, as the AFL backed the right to schedule the Ken Hinkley – Jack Ginnivan grudge match in the peak slot after fining Hinkley $20,000 for his post-match antics last year.
Dillon on Wednesday said the contest would be “an incredible bookend” and declared Port’s thrilling semi-final win over the Hawks last year “one for the ages”.
The only major hurdle across the weekend will be the traffic congestion into Barossa Park for the North Melbourne and Gold Coast clash on Saturday and Richmond’s battle with Fremantle on Sunday.
Malinauskas urged fans to get to the ground early to avoid delays.
“The single biggest variable is people giving themselves enough time to get to the ground,” he said.
“Lyndoch Oval is an iconic, beautiful location, but there is one road in and one road out.
“So we are asking people to get there early otherwise there will be a logjam and people will miss the start of the game.”
Dillon said the SA Government’s investment in Barossa Park and the relative short proximity between all three venues augured well for the state keeping it.
“Adelaide and Adelaide Oval is the fulcrum from which we can get Gather Round going and iconic suburban venues like Norwood,” Dillon said.
“And then the investment that has been made this year up in the Barossa which is so great and all of Australia will get to see it Saturday and Sunday.
“Ultimately, it’s about the fans and the fans are voting with their feet. They’re coming to the games.
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