Gather Round glory for local councils and communities

3 April 2025

As the final siren sounded at this year’s AFL Gather Round, the record-breaking crowds, at games and festivals across the state, proved once again that Gather Round is more than just footy – it's a chance to showcase our state.

AFL Gather Round 2025 provided a major boost to South Australia's visitor economy, setting new records for crowds, festival attendance and hotel bookings.

This year, a total of 269,506 fans flocked to nine AFL matches held across South Australia, reinforcing Gather Round as one of the nation’s premier sporting events.

Meanwhile, the Footy Festival saw a record-breaking 118,543 attendees over four days, resulting in a 17% increase from the previous year.

Barossa Council, which made its Gather Round debut, hosted two AFL matches with thousands of fans flocking to the newly completed $45.7 million Barossa Park precinct.

The City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters also hosted another success Norwood Food and Wine Festival, with more than 90,000 people attending to celebrate the best of South Australian food, wine and entertainment.

Barossa Council Mayor Bim Lange said Gather Round had been a fantastic opportunity for our region.

“The Bounce Around the Barossa service made it easy for thousands of visitors to experience our world-renowned wine, food, and scenery,” Mayor Lange said.

“We’ve seen a real buzz in our towns and a genuine sense of excitement from both locals and visitors, plus it’s provided a great economic boost for our regional economy.”

The iconic footy festival has undoubtedly brought out the best of South Australia’s regions, shining a light on regional towns, local businesses and communities.

Mount Barker District Council’s Mayor, David Leach confirmed that the Council is eager to explore future Gather Round opportunities and is maintaining close collaboration with the AFL.

“While the Barossa has now hosted the Gather Round, we continue to advocate for a model that includes two regional venues - Mount Barker and the Barossa. That was our pitch last year, and it remains our vision,” Mayor Leach said.

Image Credit: Mount Barker District Council.