Off the back of a boom return of the popular footy festival to South Australia, $40 million in funding will go toward a full-scale overhaul of Lyndoch Recreation Park to help AFL games be played in the southern Barossa next year.

The council and government will contribute an equal $20 million each, with additional support from the Barossa District Football and Netball Club.

While the Barossa Valley missed out on hosting Gather Round games across the first two years of the showcase the agreement ensures one of South Australia’s most famous wine regions will welcome AFL games in 2025.

Barossa Mayor Bim Lange said the exciting partnership will deliver a landmark precinct less than an hour from Adelaide’s CBD, bringing more visitors and tourism dollars into the South Australian economy as a major events destination.

“Importantly, this investment goes well beyond sport, unlocking opportunity for arts, culture and festivals on a local and national scale,” Mayor Lange said.

“The expansion also puts us ahead of the game in supporting the growth of our new community, Concordia.

“And, of course, grassroots communities are the big winners through high-quality infrastructure and open space to support participation in community life.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the state government’s vision for the Barossa, backed by investment.”

Dubbed ‘The Barossa Park Project’, the overhaul will see the existing oval upgraded to meet AFL standards, and deliver a precinct fit for multiple sports at community and professional levels.

It will also create new opportunities for festivals, the arts and conferences to come to the region through the construction of a new multi-purpose building comprising a 300-seat event space and clubrooms with commercial kitchen, multi-sport change facilities and gym.

The project also includes a mini Adelaide Oval replica bar and service area to support events and the Lyndoch Cricket Club, new netball courts, a recreation green and second oval, athletics track, shelters, a new playground and family garden, more carparks and a formalised roadway.

The facility will be used year-round for local community and sporting events, including by the Barossa District Football and Netball Club, Lyndoch Cricket Club, Lyndoch Tennis Club, Lyndoch Bowling Club, Little Athletics Lyndoch & Districts, and the Barossa Valley Pigeon Racing Club.

The announcement of the Barossa Park Project comes as more than 40 grassroots community footy clubs across South Australia are the first recipients to share in almost $2 million of funding through the new South Australian Football Facilities Fund.

The 42 clubs, representing 17 per cent of football clubs in SA, are the recipients of the first round of grants allocated under the new funding program, a collaboration between the State Government, AFL and SANFL.

The $8 million fund to support the continued growth of the game is part of the legacy of AFL Gather Round for the South Australian football community.

Feature image: Barossa Mayor Bim Lange, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon at the announcement of the new Barossa Park Project funding partnership in Lyndoch (Credit:  The Barossa Council).