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.

 

[What else we can do]

Agree. Losing to Tigers was a big loss spiritually for your fans. If they’d won the last two, on a Friday night or Saturday arvo it’d likely draw upwards of 60K next week. Probably needed Bulldogs undefeated to get 65K.

Last week the club was trying to sell seats practically for free to general members they failed big time.

 

[CarnTheScray]

Like I said, this is why Melb v WB drew 58k and not 44-48k like it did in the other round 1 games. Its similar to Geel v StK.

There really does need to be a lot that works to get 60k at the MCG - although with decent weather I think Carl v WB could get 55,000 to 60,000 this Friday (we overplay how much of an impact early form has on crowds).

Carlton are actually favourites going into the games. There is no doubt that the Dogs crowds have grown substantially, and at the same time, the Saints appear to have really slid over the past 20 years.

Carl v Dogs is at Marvel.

 

[Hawkk]

Carl v Dogs is at Marvel.

My mistake. I have no idea why I thought it was at the G. If so, that another example of a Marvel shaving about 10k to 15k off a Carlton home game

 

[Cmarsh]

30012 ar Gabba for Brisbane v WC

 

[Rouel_14]

It's not a criticism of Richmond it's just a fact - Adelaide is not a high-drawing club in Victoria. Those were the top crowds for each MCG co-tenant in Melbourne.

Grand Final replays don’t always draw great crowds either.

The Swans drew 5,000 less for the GF replay than they did their round 1 game (34,940 v 40,130). Hawthorn drew far less for their GF replays against the Swans (54,725 in 2013 and 63,319 in 2015) than in 2014 (72,768), and in 2016 (61,888 v 2013) whilst the Eagles (42,977 in 2016) was much lower than 2012 (50,023). Melbourne is probably the best example of this, they drew 58,002 to the opening game of the 2022 season against the Dogs after the drought-breaking flag - a crowd dwarfed by ANZAC Day Eve and Queens Birthday which was 70,000 and 76,000.

My point is that the Eagles and Crows have roughly like-for-like crowd drawing capacity in Melbourne…which is why Collingwood's (60,878), Richmond's (57,415), Hawthorn's (50,023) and Melbourne’s (35,653) maximum numbers against the Eagles and Crows is the same.

Do I think Essendon could draw 60,000 against West Coast and Adelaide at the MCG? Absolutely!

I think with the way crowds are now growing, all members of the Big 4 can 60,000 against these clubs with Hawthorn a step back at 55,000 plus.

I'm convinced the AFL is locking out thousands of supporters by playing 7 Essendon home games at Marvel.

In an ideal world, Melbourne would play all at the MCG (MCC plus their Marvel crowds are dreadful), Collingwood and Richmond would split games 9/2 (low drawing games at Marvel to help with stadium finances) and Essendon, Carlton and Hawthorn should be 6/5 MCG-Marvel hybrid tenants.

That leaves Geelong full-time at Kardina Park with St Kilda, the Dogs and North as the full-time Marvel tenants with at least 3 home games against the Big 4 and Hawthorn to help with crowds. It is cleaner for everyone and gives the AFL a ton of high-drawing 40,000 Marvel fixtures to make money off their stadium.

Everyone wins - and it means more MCG fixtures for the non Victorian clubs…

Why in an ideal world would Collingwood or Richmond play 2 games at Marvel.

Moving clubs to stadiums their fans simply don’t want to go to (warranted or not) or isn’t their home I would say is the furthest thing from ideal.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[manicmagpie]

28,768 at Docklands.

 

[Hawkk]

Why in an ideal world would Collingwood or Richmond play 2 games at Marvel.

Moving clubs to stadiums their fans simply don’t want to go to (warranted or not) or isn’t their home I would say is the furthest thing from ideal.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Because that's the way the VFL and AFL has operated since at least 1972 - when it developed Waverley Park. If the AFL owns an asset - like it now does at Marvel - it needs to recoup the investment…

Fun fact: Richmond played 1-2 home games at Waverley Park (and then even played home games at Princes Park) in every season from 1972 to 1992. And from 1981 until the development of the Great Southern Stand, Carlton v Collingwood (the VFL’s marquee game) was almost always at Waverley Park for money. Ditto Queens Birthday all through the 1980s.

For what it's worth a 9/2 arrangement (which is what Richmond has had for the majority of its MCG tenancy) is way better than a 6/5 arrangement like what Hawthorn will probably get post-Tasmania.

 

[ep12]

Melbourne Gold Coast next week will have 13 people.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

My mistake. I have no idea why I thought it was at the G. If so, that another example of a Marvel shaving about 10k to 15k off a Carlton home game

Wouldn’t be so sure, our fans our fickle

 

[Raz Man]

[emoji638][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]],[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]] at Docklands.

Great crowd for mine. Better than the sub [emoji638][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]],[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]] crowds the last few years these two clubs have been providing at the ‘G

The atmosphere looked great when Kangaroos were going beserk. Dees fans need to have a hard resolve to back it up next week. This is definitely a crowd killer. Next weekend could be ugly vs Suns


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[What else we can do]

Melbourne Gold Coast next week will have 13 people.

I might go check out the Suns

 

[Rouel_14]

Because that's the way the VFL and AFL has operated since at least 1972 - when it developed Waverley Park. If the AFL owns an asset - like it now does at Marvel - it needs to recoup the investment…

Fun fact: Richmond played 1-2 home games at Waverley Park (and then even played home games at Princes Park) in every season from 1972 to 1992.

And from 1981 until the development of the Great Southern Stand, Carlton and Collingwood (the VFL’s marquee game) was almost exclusively scheduled at Waverley Park for that very reason.

For what it's worth a 9/2 arrangement (which is what Richmond has had for the majority of its MCG tenancy) is way better than a 6/5 arrangement like what Hawthorn will probably get post-Tasmania.

That’s what I am saying though.

If Hawks want to play 11 games at the G and a deal can be facilitated with the MCG they should be able to as well.

Ultimately fans are creatures of habit, and the only reason I personally don’t like going to marvel is home games run the same. Train to Richmond, brunch or a Bev on swan st and down to the footy.

Any club splitting their home games can’t forge real intrinsic home vibes.

I think this will be the biggest challenge for Tassie too splitting games between two cities.




Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Hawkk]

28,768 at Docklands.

Has there been a Docklands creep in crowds since Covid. WB v NM, StK v Geel and NM v Melb are all up on pre covid years

 

[ep12]

I might go check out the Suns

You me and the seagulls will be there

 

[What else we can do]

Wouldn’t be so sure, our fans our fickle

As much is it hurts for me to agree they are but 30 years of rebuilds, wooden spoons and hand stands they've finally had enough.

 

[Hawkk]

That’s what I am saying though.

If Hawks want to play 11 games at the G and a deal can be facilitated with the MCG they should be able to as well.

Ultimately fans are creatures of habit, and the only reason I personally don’t like going to marvel is home games run the same. Train to Richmond, brunch or a Bev on swan st and down to the footy.

Any club splitting their home games can’t forge real intrinsic home vibes.

I think this will be the biggest challenge for Tassie too splitting games between two cities.




Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

People bag Waverley Park - partly cause Hawthorn and the Saints played games at the run down stadium in the 90s - but it had some massive crowds in the 70s and 80s.

I get what you're saying, but I think a hybrid can work - as it did for Richmond fans through their glory run in the 70s and early 80s. What makes football great is that there really isn't a true home and away - it you support a Melbourne team you can go to 14-15 games pretty easily.

The MCG clubs need to get over the anti Docklands sentiment and embrace the stadium for what it is - one of the best venues in the country.

 

[What else we can do]

People bag Waverley Park - partly cause Hawthorn and the Saints played games at the run down stadium in the 90s - but it had some massive crowds in the 70s and 80s.

I get what you're saying, but I think a hybrid can work - as it did for Richmond fans through their glory run in the 70s and early 80s. What makes football great is that there really isn't a true home and away - it you support a Melbourne team you can go to 14-15 games pretty easily.

The MCG clubs need to get over the anti Docklands sentiment and embrace the stadium for what it is - one of the best venues in the country.

The talk about arctic park and Adam's family clouds over waverley was started by the AFL media darlings in the 90's we all fell for it. Not to do with Saints or Hawks they did their best to keep the place alive.

 

[Cmarsh]

The talk about arctic park and Adam's family clouds over waverley was started by the AFL media darlings in the 90's we all fell for it. Not to do with Saints or Hawks they did their best to keep the place alive.

Was it really any colder to watch games at in July than the MCG?

 

[Hawkk]

The talk about arctic park and Adam's family clouds over waverley was started by the AFL media darlings in the 90's we all fell for it. Not to do with Saints or Hawks they did their best to keep the place alive.

Ian Dicker did - but Hawthorn pre merger bagged the stadium every chance they got. Listen to their former president Brian Coleman (from 21.33) bagging out the stadium and claiming that games at the MCG over Waverley was a huge selling point during the merger meeting courtesy of Rhet.

One of their arguments was that Waverley was sending both clubs broke and both needed to be closer to the city to get more fans and corporate support to games. And they weren't wrong, because both are far better at Docklands and the MCG than it they ever were at Waverley Park.



Docklands suffers because it is not the MCG, not because of the quality of the stadium. Although maybe things are turning with Docklands? With North Melbourne on the improve, all Docklands clubs should average 30,000 this season.

 

[Fletched]

Has there been a Docklands creep in crowds since Covid. WB v NM, StK v Geel and NM v Melb are all up on pre covid years

I would say there is since the rebrand it's nicer in there with far easier food options and some nice bars

 

[Fletched]

Was it really any colder to watch games at in July than the MCG?

That area is the rain shadow significantly more rain

 

[What else we can do]

Was it really any colder to watch games at in July than the MCG?

Funnily enough every game I went bar one against the Hawks in 92 it was sunny and no wind.

 

[What else we can do]

Ian Dicker did - but Hawthorn pre merger bagged the stadium every chance they got. Listen to their former president Brian Coleman (from 21.33) bagging out the stadium and claiming that games at the MCG over Waverley was a huge selling point during the merger meeting courtesy of Rhet.

One of their arguments was that Waverley was sending both clubs broke and both needed to be closer to the city to get more fans and corporate support to games. And they weren't wrong, because both are far better at Docklands and the MCG than it they ever were at Waverley Park.



Docklands suffers because it is not the MCG, not because of the quality of the stadium. Although maybe things are turning with Docklands? With North Melbourne on the improve, all Docklands clubs should average 30,000 this season.

Wow didn't know that about the Hawthorn president but I do recall jokes on all Football pre games on the radio.

 

[Rouel_14]

Geez Freo are a genuinely big club now.

No finals last year, flogging last week and the stadium looks [emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]% full.

With some success they’d fill the joint every week.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[CarnTheScray]

28,768 at Docklands.

That is actually a very good crowd, North fans could smell blood.

Geez Freo are a genuinely big club now.

No finals last year, flogging last week and the stadium looks [emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]% full.

With some success they’d fill the joint every week.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Was only a matter of time when you are one of two teams in a state like WA.