2025 Attendances

[The_Wookie]

11.12.2024

Gather Round tickets snapped up in record time


The AFL is pleased to announce that more than 195,000 Gather Round…Festival of Footy tickets have sold… with five of the nine games sold out, 20,000 more than this time last year.

Member on sale on Tuesday saw a significant uplift in demand for tickets this year, selling more than 100,000 tickets in the first four hours, in comparison to the same amount in 24 hours last year.

This year there are an extra 47,000 tickets on offer for fans with the two Saturday matches being ticketed separately.

Tickets still remain for Collingwood vs Sydney Swans on Friday night, Carlton vs West Coast on Saturday afternoon, Melbourne vs Essendon on Saturday night and a very limited number of restricted view tickets and tickets for the Pepsi Collective for Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn on Sunday evening.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said it was clear Gather Round momentum was not slowly down.

“The demand for tickets this year was significantly higher than the first two Gather Rounds, with more than 195,000 tickets being purchased in the first two days,” said Mr Dillon.

“A ticket to the matches at the Barossa Park was always going to be one of the hottest tickets in town and the fans have certainly illustrated that by selling out both matches so quickly.”

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said: “Gather Round continues to exceed all expectations.

“We are honoured that so many footy fans from around the country are making the commitment to travel to our beautiful state to experience this event like no other.

“They’ll be truly welcome.

“If you haven’t got a ticket already – get in quick!”

Tickets for the remaining matches can be found here.

 

[Arwib]

Do the northern markets use women’s football as a driver for fan growth?Would make sense that AFLW (like auskick) is a pathway to convert fans from rusted on rugby codes.

It's probably worth noting here the game is more female in the nortrhern states to begin with. Especially so here in Canberra but also further north.

 

[Bjo187]

It's probably worth noting here the game is more female in the nortrhern states to begin with. Especially so here in Canberra but also further north.

View attachment 2435073

I suspected another failure by the WAFC/AFL in Western Australia, this confirms it.

It is a good foot in the door in non traditional states the women's game.

 

[kranger]

Yeah but Freo oval is such a shithole. They at least put a little grass hill behind the goals now and they're clearly trying to make it a bit more spectator friendly, but its just not a place you want to be taking kids.

I agree, and also the fact that it is not central in terms of Perth’s entire population.

The Dockers might be named after Fremantle, and have a big following there, but they are a Perth team, same as West Coast.

I would be in favour of the Dockers moving their AFLW games to Leederville Oval. Central to Perth, next to the train and freeway, and with venues nearby.

 

[budge27]

I agree, and also the fact that it is not central in terms of Perth’s entire population.

The Dockers might be named after Fremantle, and have a big following there, but they are a Perth team, same as West Coast.

I would be in favour of the Dockers moving their AFLW games to Leederville Oval. Central to Perth, next to the train and freeway, and with venues nearby.

Leederville oval is our favorite WAFL venue to attend and we usually try and get there a couple of times a year no matter who is playing. It’s the easiest venue for us to get to, the facilities are pretty good, just could do with some Improvements on the outer side like toilets and food options and shelter from the rain like on Prelim final day when it bucketed down.

 

[dave10]

I have it on good authority that under Andrew Welsh

Andrew Welsh

Age

42

Ht

188cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.7

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.6

5star

’s Presidency, Essendon will make it a planning priority to move away from Marvel Stadium for home games.

Important here to note this is a change in the Clubs strategic stance on the future of its home games compared to previous regimes. It’s a planning position, a strategic focus.

Ultimately that motion will be tied into the arrival of Tasmania and the reworking of stadium arrangements post their arrival. I’m not sure any further specifics at this stage.

 

[Professor Knowall]

I have it on good authority that under Andrew Welsh’s Presidency, Essendon will make it a planning priority to move away from Marvel Stadium for home games.

What ... back to Windy Hill?

 

[dave10]

What ... back to Windy Hill?

We might win a game there!

 

[Hawkk]

I have it on good authority that under Andrew Welsh’s Presidency, Essendon will make it a planning priority to move away from Marvel Stadium for home games.

Important here to note this is a change in the Clubs strategic stance on the future of its home games compared to previous regimes. It’s a planning position, a strategic focus.

Ultimately that motion will be tied into the arrival of Tasmania and the reworking of stadium arrangements post their arrival. I’m not sure any further specifics at this stage.

I thought the 7-4 / 6-5 agreement that the AFL leaked to Wilson earlier this year was very, very weak for Essendon (and Carlton). That said, I wonder how this will probably go down…

If Hawthorn brought the 4 games back to Melbourne, that’s probably 3 or 4 extra Marvel games. Plus 2 North games. In theory, if those games were played at Marvel that’ll give the AFL an extra 5 or 6 games that they can switch Essendon and Carlton out for.

That way, Melbourne, Richmond and Collingwood could play 9 home games at the MCG and Hawthorn, Essendon and Carlton could play 7. Is there also room for a single Geelong and St Kilda game too? It’s possible but the AFL would be taking a pretty big financial hit on losing 2-3 Carlton and Essendon home games every year…

 

[GenericUsername202]

What do you bet the crowd for the GF will be exactly 100,024.

 

[dave10]

I thought the 7-4 / 6-5 agreement that the AFL leaked to Wilson earlier this year was very, very weak for Essendon (and Carlton). That said, I wonder how this will probably go down…

If Hawthorn brought the 4 games back to Melbourne, that’d probably 3 or 4 extra Marvel games. Plus to 2 North games. In theory, if those games we played at Marvel that’ll give the AFL an extra 5 or 6 games that they can switch Essendon and Carlton out for.

That way, Melbourne, Richmond and Collingwood could play 9 home games at the MCG and Hawthorn, Essendon and Carlton could play 7. Is there also room for a single Geelong and St Kilda game too? It’s possible but the AFL would be taking a pretty big financial hit on losing 2-3 Carlton and Essendon home games every year…

Of course, it’s one thing for Essendon to proceed with a focus on moving games to the G, it’s another thing getting it over the line. I suspect the stadium arrangements will be reworked across the league with Tassie arrival. I’m sure Essendon aren’t the only team looking to play at the G.

It’s a noteworthy update though. The last decade Essendon have held a desire to play majority of games at Marvel as it’s financially lucrative. Andrew Welsh is of the view Essendon (and its members) is best served playing majority of home games at the MCG and will work to achieve this over the medium term.

 

[Billy ray]

What do you bet the crowd for the GF will be exactly 100,024.

100,007

 

[The_Wookie]

Of course, it’s one thing for Essendon to proceed with a focus on moving games to the G, it’s another thing getting it over the line. I suspect the stadium arrangements will be reworked across the league with Tassie arrival. I’m sure Essendon aren’t the only team looking to play at the G.

It’s a noteworthy update though. The last decade Essendon have held a desire to play majority of games at Marvel as it’s financially lucrative. Andrew Welsh is of the view Essendon (and its members) is best served playing majority of home games at the MCG and will work to achieve this over the medium term.

Oddly Carlton are already on 6-5. Why would they go back?

 

[Hawkk]

Oddly Carlton are already on 6-5. Why would they go back?

This article suggests Carlton will alternate between 6/5 and 5/6 (and Essendon 4/7 and 5/6) over the next four years.

In terms of club fixtures, Carlton would have an even split between Marvel Stadium and MCG home games over six years, alternating between a five-six and six-five split of the venues. Next year, the Blues would have six at Marvel, having had six at the MCG this year.

I think that’s a relatively weak result given the drawing power of both clubs. It also leaves very little room for both to play non Vic clubs given both are (probably) locked into playing Collingwood, Essendon / Carlton, Richmond, Hawthorn and maybe Melbourne / Geelong at the ground.

Just on next year, York Park’s capacity will be capped at 9,000 with the outer becoming a building site for at least 12 months (so I doubt York Park will be getting any FTA games next year).

Major milestone for UTAS Stadium redevelopment as main works commence

www.premier.tas.gov.au

Hawthorn is rostered to play 4 games at the ground and weather will undoubtedly play a major role in all of those games. Not sure how much value the Tasmanian tax payer is going to get from four awful games in front of 7,000 people in 2026!

 

[Cmarsh]

This article suggests Carlton will alternate between 6/5 and 5/6 (and Essendon 4/7 and 5/6) over the next four years.





I think that’s a relatively weak result given the drawing power of both clubs. It also leaves very little room for both to play non Vic clubs given both are (probably) locked into playing Collingwood, Essendon / Carlton, Richmond, Hawthorn and maybe Melbourne / Geelong at the ground.

Just on next year, York Park’s capacity will be capped at 9,000 with the outer becoming a building site for at least 12 months (so I doubt York Park will be getting any FTA games next year).

Major milestone for UTAS Stadium redevelopment as main works commence

www.premier.tas.gov.au

Hawthorn is rostered to play 4 games at the ground and weather will undoubtedly play a major role in all of those games. Not sure how much value the Tasmanian tax payer is going to get from four awful games in front of 7,000 people in 2026!

I'm confused about the purpose of the York Park redevelopment. Aren't Hawthorn leaving anyway? And the Devils wont play there enough to justify the cost of the redevelopment.

 

[The Educator]

I'm confused about the purpose of the York Park redevelopment. Aren't Hawthorn leaving anyway? And the Devils wont play there enough to justify the cost of the redevelopment.

It's necessary to get Northern Tasmanian buy-in for the Hobart stadium and Hobart based club. Northern Tasmania also has federal swing seats and far less baby boomer carpet baggers so the politics of federal funding is more straight forward

 

[Hawkk]

I'm confused about the purpose of the York Park redevelopment. Aren't Hawthorn leaving anyway? And the Devils wont play there enough to justify the cost of the redevelopment.

Because politics? The Devils will be playing home games at York Park. A condition of the license was that the Devils will be playing games in the north and south…

 

[dave10]

Oddly Carlton are already on 6-5. Why would they go back?

They won’t. And if I was a Blues fan I’d be miffed and asking strong questions of my club as to why they’re losing an MCG home game in 2026…

 

[Rouel_14]

I'm confused about the purpose of the York Park redevelopment. Aren't Hawthorn leaving anyway? And the Devils wont play there enough to justify the cost of the redevelopment.

I read somewhere 6 AFL games a year at York park..

So probably 4 devils, 2 of another club + AFLW and VFL teams.

Surely the tassie govt will be able to convince the likes of someone to play a home game at Launceston against the devils - in turn creating a 5th home game there. Like north v Freo at Optus.

If they can get 5-6 devils games in each city it may just work in getting the whole state on board.

 

[The_Wookie]

I'm confused about the purpose of the York Park redevelopment. Aren't Hawthorn leaving anyway? And the Devils wont play there enough to justify the cost of the redevelopment.

Hawks want to stay, and the Devils will at least play as many games there as the Hawks

 

[Hawkk]

Hawks want to stay, and the Devils will at least play as many games there as the Hawks

I don’t like it but 2 Hawks games and 2 Devils games makes a lot of sense especially if one of those Hawks games is a ‘home’ game against the Devils. It keeps 4 games in Launceston, gives the Devils 3 games in the North and allows them to play 9 games at Macquarie Point. The Devils need to have a presence in the north and south to ensure that it has a sustainable support base.

It could even be 6 if the Hawks played three, the Devils played three and kept the 8 in Hobart. Throw in a Gather Round and they could easily play 10-11 games in Hobart and 7-8 in Launceston. That said, 4 Hawks games next year in front of 7,000 to 9,000 is a watch especially if they feature replays of the EF or SF from this year…

 

[Cmarsh]

Hawks want to stay, and the Devils will at least play as many games there as the Hawks

Surprised the Hawks want to stay. Thought Hawthorn would have committed fully to playing in Melbourne once the Devils are up and running in Tasmania.

 

[The_Wookie]

Surprised the Hawks want to stay. Thought Hawthorn would have committed fully to playing in Melbourne once the Devils are up and running in Tasmania.

hard to turn down 4-5 mill a year

 

[Hawkk]

hard to turn down 4-5 mill a year

Well, it’s the major sponsor and naming rights partner. That said, the MCC now give tenant clubs a far better deal than pre 2020 too. Given Hawthorn is on the lowest rung of distribution from the AFL and drew 67k to its 10 MCG home and away games this year (62k for the 6 home games) they could easily bring the games home.

The 4 games in front of 7k or 8k next year is going to look like a terrible spectacle. It’s like the Dogs at Ballarat but worse because it’s 4 games and not 2…

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Well, it’s the major sponsor and naming rights partner. That said, the MCC now give tenant clubs a far better deal than pre 2020 too. Given Hawthorn is on the lowest rung of distribution from the AFL and drew 67k to its 10 MCG home and away games this year (62k for the 6 home games) they could easily bring the games home.

The 4 games in front of 7k or 8k next year is going to look like a terrible spectacle. It’s like the Dogs at Ballarat but worse because it’s 4 games and not 2…

The quiet little secret is that most Victorian teams don't really gain a lot both directly and indirectly from their 10th and 11th home game against a non-Victorian opponent if you want to take an overarching view, especially when you know that you can still maintain blockbuster away games, especially when you're guaranteed a blockbuster public holiday fixture as the away team every second year.

 

[Macca180]

When they upgrade the MCG I wonder if they will shoot for 110,000 capacity.