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.

 

[dave10]

Happened to just check sales for Hawks / Bombers. Pre sales appear quite a bit stronger than last years game. Selling into top deck of Ponsford, this was all walk up GA last year.

MCC pre sales have opened S37-39 top tier and they’re selling row ‘M’ in S38.

Don’t have visibility on AFL Reserve, expect it to be busier than last year being the Friday night game.

Last years crowd was 73,805. This could breach 80,000.

 

[manicmagpie]

Happened to just check sales for Hawks / Bombers. Pre sales appear quite a bit stronger than last years game. Selling into top deck of Ponsford, this was all walk up GA last year.

MCC pre sales have opened S37-39 top tier and they’re selling row ‘M’ in S38.

Don’t have visibility on AFL Reserve, expect it to be busier than last year being the Friday night game.

Last years crowd was 73,805. This could breach 80,000.

AFL Members has sold the front third of the top deck so around 70% gone. This is actually the lowest of all the big games in the first 6 rounds with the exception of Gee/Haw.

It's a bit surprising as I agree that the game's got a great chance of being 80k.

Rough AFL Members area sales:

Carl/Rich - 90%
Haw/Ess - 70%
Coll/Port - 75%
Carl/Haw - 75%
WB/Coll - 85%
Coll/Carl - 99% (handful of standing room left)
Gee/Haw - 40%

For all other MCG games people won't be reserving seats.

 

[Peacock]

Hopefully Blues/Tigers will still get over 80k eventhough the best younger in the country isn't playing, and on a side note it looks like Lalor is in doubt too.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Hopefully Blues/Tigers will still get over 80k eventhough the best younger in the country isn't playing, and on a side note it looks like Lalor is in doubt too.

Lalor is more than likely to play but Josh Smillie won't.

 

[Cmarsh]

40310 for Swans vs Hawthorn at SCG.

 

[manicmagpie]

Second highest Swans v Hawks at the SCG.

About 300 more than Opening Round Syd/Mel last year the SCG.

40310 for Swans vs Hawthorn at SCG.

 

[Underarm]

Second highest Swans v Hawks at the SCG.

About 300 more than Opening Round Syd/Mel last year the SCG.

Once again proving Opening Round is a success.

 

[Cmarsh]

Once again proving Opening Round is a success.

The thing is though they probably would have got that crowd without the opening round platform.

 

[pOleK]

I'm all for increasing the presence in the Northern markets but FMD 4 games, now 2 through unforeseen circumstances, is just such a flat way to start the year. Have your 2 QLD and NSW games, have your traditional Richmond and Carlton match to kickstart the season in VIC, but give WA and SA a game too. It's not rocket science.

Dream Round 1 Setup:
Grand final winner launches the season on Thursday and unfurls their flag. Make it a reward for being the reigning premiers.

If Richmond or Carlton don't happen to be the premiers, have them continue to be a staple in round 1 on the Friday Night. Marquee game.

Have the 4 Northern teams host games and market the living hell out of it in our states. There's no reason the mini footy festivals can't remain.

Let the WA and SA teams alternate as Opening Round hosts as per usual.

Any remaining games are played in VIC. Ideally 3 games in VIC, 2 games in QLD and NSW, and 1 each in WA/SA.


And finally get rid of the stupid Round 0 schtick. Just market round 1 as OPENING ROUND and go from there. It's so weird we start the fixture at 0.

 

[Bjo187]

I'm all for increasing the presence in the Northern markets but FMD 4 games, now 2 through unforeseen circumstances, is just such a flat way to start the year. Have your 2 QLD and NSW games, have your traditional Richmond and Carlton match to kickstart the season in VIC, but give WA and SA a game too. It's not rocket science.

Dream Round 1 Setup:
Grand final winner launches the season on Thursday and unfurls their flag. Make it a reward for being the reigning premiers.

If Richmond or Carlton don't happen to be the premiers, have them continue to be a staple in round 1 on the Friday Night. Marquee game.

Have the 4 Northern teams host games and market the living hell out of it in our states. There's no reason the mini footy festivals can't remain.

Let the WA and SA teams alternate as Opening Round hosts as per usual.

Any remaining games are played in VIC. Ideally 3 games in VIC, 2 games in QLD and NSW, and 1 each in WA/SA.


And finally get rid of the stupid Round 0 schtick. Just market round 1 as OPENING ROUND and go from there. It's so weird we start the fixture at 0.

The issue is venues in the southern states aren't all available yet and they don't want another big bye round in the season, which would occur if they played every game this weekend.

The afl are pathetic at communications, Dillon is a deer in the headlights, you get the message across early and keep repeating it so the fans know.

I also can't believe they didn't transfer those qld games earlier and get charter flights for the players and families if they wanted to come, amatuer hour. My mate on the gold coast said this morning it passed without much hassle, dunno if he was underselling it.

Anyhow something that would improve it slightly and take a bit of the heat outta the complaints from down south, but still give the northern states their exposure is something like this. Assuming the mcg is available, for arguments sake.

Wed night lions
Thurs night swans
Fri night giants or suns
Sat twilight giants or suns
Break all the media return home
Sunday night Essendon v hawks mcg

Then round 1 starts with Carlton v Richmond Thursday night and all 9 games that weekend.

 

[Consolaçao]

The issue is venues in the southern states aren't all available yet and they don't want another big bye round in the season, which would occur if they played every game this weekend.

The afl are pathetic at communications, Dillon is a deer in the headlights, you get the message across early and keep repeating it so the fans know.

I also can't believe they didn't transfer those qld games earlier and get charter flights for the players and families if they wanted to come, amatuer hour. My mate on the gold coast said this morning it passed without much hassle, dunno if he was underselling it.

Anyhow something that would improve it slightly and take a bit of the heat outta the complaints from down south, but still give the northern states their exposure is something like this. Assuming the mcg is available, for arguments sake.

Wed night lions
Thurs night swans
Fri night giants or suns
Sat twilight giants or suns
Break all the media return home
Sunday night Essendon v hawks mcg

Then round 1 starts with Carlton v Richmond Thursday night and all 9 games that weekend.

Early days, but Andrew Dillon is so incredibly unimpressive.

Just a complete dud in contrast to Gillon and Peter V’Landys at the NRL.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Our crowd was 19,248 - our 11th biggest home crowd ever (for a home and away season), and the 2nd biggest home crowd for a non Sydney home game. Only the Collingwood Opening Round match last year surpassed this in terms of a record non Sydney Swans home game.

Giants make light work of misfiring Pies in statement win

Greater Western Sydney wins its Opening Round match against Collingwood by 52 points

www.afl.com.au

 

[Cmarsh]

Just realised that Carlton v Collingwood on April 3 is on a Thursday night.

Strange day to put a marquee game. Does anyone know the reasoning behind this?

 

[Rob]

Our crowd was 19,248 - our 11th biggest home crowd ever (for a home and away season), and the 2nd biggest home crowd for a non Sydney home game. Only the Collingwood Opening Round match last year surpassed this in terms of a record non Sydney Swans home game.

Giants make light work of misfiring Pies in statement win

Greater Western Sydney wins its Opening Round match against Collingwood by 52 points

www.afl.com.au

Seemed to have a lot more Giants fans as well, as opposed to last year which looked 50-50.

 

[Rob]

Just realised that Carlton v Collingwood on April 3 is on a Thursday night.

Strange day to put a marquee game. Does anyone know the reasoning behind this?

Isn't Thursday night a marquee timeslot?

 

[Cmarsh]

Isn't Thursday night a marquee timeslot?

Not for crowd maximisation it isn't.

 

[Rob]

Not for crowd maximisation it isn't.

So other teams should just cop the hit?

 

[Cleavy]

Just realised that Carlton v Collingwood on April 3 is on a Thursday night.

Strange day to put a marquee game. Does anyone know the reasoning behind this?

Ch7

 

[Giant YoYo]

Seemed to have a lot more Giants fans as well, as opposed to last year which looked 50-50.

Glad it wasn't just me.

Definitely seeing telltale signs of Giants growth, hope it continues.

 

[Cmarsh]

So other teams should just cop the hit?

Not suggesting that. I'm just pointing out that for the sake of maximizing the crowd for a game that is typically a big crowd puller you would think the AFL would want a more crowd friendly timeslot. Looks like they want to experiment with Thursday night to see how it rates.

 

[Giant YoYo]

Not suggesting that. I'm just pointing out that for the sake of maximizing the crowd for a game that is typically a big crowd puller you would think the AFL would want a more crowd friendly timeslot. Looks like they want to experiment with Thursday night to see how it rates.

The crowd that needs to be maximised is the Giants crowd, everything else is secondary.

Giants stadium pulling 12k+ crowds will beget further crowds. The atmosphere is brilliant at this floor, compounding will do the rest.

 

[BigFrizz36]

The crowd that needs to be maximised is the Giants crowd, everything else is secondary.

Giants stadium pulling 12k+ crowds will beget further crowds. The atmosphere is brilliant at this floor, compounding will do the rest.

That's what the Bombers thought when they appointed Stephen Dank.

 

[manicmagpie]

FWIW

The Swans/Hawks game was 26% above the post 2000 average for those teams at the SCG
The GWS/Pies game was 43% above the average for that game.

Who knows what they would have got as part of a normal Rd 1 fixture, but they are undeniably good figures.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

After Opening Round

HOME CROWDS
Club (# of home games played) = Total (Average)

• Sydney (1) = 40,310 (40,310)
• GWS (1) = 19,248 (19,248)

HOME AND AWAY CROWDS
Club (# of games played) = Total (Average)

• Sydney (1) = 40,310 (40,310)
• Hawthorn (1) = 40,310 (40,310)
• GWS (1) = 19,248 (19,248)
• Collingwood (1) = 19,248 (19,248)

 

[Cmarsh]

FWIW

The Swans/Hawks game was 26% above the post 2000 average for those teams at the SCG
The GWS/Pies game was 43% above the average for that game.

Who knows what they would have got as part of a normal Rd 1 fixture, but they are undeniably good figures.

It's certainly not the flop that some have portrayed it to be.