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.

 

[pattymalone00]

All things considered an extremely underwhelming (and downright embarrassing) round for finals attendance…

Essentially the W could have played all three Melbourne finals at Ikon b2b2b and still failed to fill the ground. Surely a case of one step forward and three steps backward.

No doubt the dominance of North Melbourne - the smallest club, with the least scope for growth - makes it much harder to grow…

Even though tbf Friday was the biggest crowd of the weekend(and Hawthorn didnt get big crowds last years finals) did seem to keep away a few Hawks fans did seem to keep away a lot of Hawks fans compared to last year

 

[Hawkk]

both games next week on saturday at Ikon. should have just done a double header.

The fact we are even talking about a double header for the Semi Finals (one featuring Carlton and Hawthorn no less) is an absolute disaster. If you cant even fill Ikon for that fixture, where does it leave the W?

No matter how much the AFL try to talk it up, the W is drowning and in need of a complete reset.

 

[ep12]

And there are people claiming that we should be moving these games to marvel. The league has gone backwards ever since they added all the teams without a big enough talent pool.

 

[Hawkk]

And there are people claiming that we should be moving these games to marvel. The league has gone backwards ever since they added all the teams without a big enough talent pool.

100 per cent. They should have moved away from the AFL club model fully and made into a national league with 12 teams.

 

[Walshawk]

100 per cent. They should have moved away from the AFL club model fully and made into a national league with 12 teams.

Crowds would be even lower under that model. It would get next to zero media coverage with made up teams.

 

[Teen Wolf]

More than 280k through the gate so far. There will be another ~25k for the next 2 weeks, then 8-12k for the GF depending on the venue.

So something like 315-320k all up, another record-breaking season, not bad.

 

[ep12]

More than 280k through the gate so far. There will be another ~25k for the next 2 weeks, then 8-12k for the GF depending on the venue.

So something like 315-320k all up, another record-breaking season, not bad.

Record breaking season in absolute figures because we are playing considerably more games now.

Crowds would be maximised if you had 10 clubs playing a proper brand of football as curtain raisers to men’s games.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Record breaking season in absolute figures because we are playing considerably more games now.

And yet playing more games doesn't guarantee more attendees, as shown by other competitions in this country like the BBL, A-League, Super Rugby, etc. Think somebody mentioned that itt last week?

Even the AFL dropped in average and total attendance when the number of teams increased to 18 in 2012. Just took a bit of patience to build it back up.

 

[____]

Not having a final next week on Friday is stupid. And not announcing the prelim times already.

Hawthorn being forced to play a home final against Carlton at Princes Park is also all sorts of wrong.

 

[Hawkk]

Not having a final next week on Friday is stupid. And not announcing the prelim times already.

Hawthorn being forced to play a home final against Carlton at Princes Park is also all sorts of wrong.

All Melbourne based finals should be at Ikon (like MCG finals in the AFL). Playing a semi final in Frankston would be farcical IMO.

 

[pattymalone00]

All Melbourne based finals should be at Ikon (like MCG finals in the AFL). Playing a semi final in Frankston would be farcical IMO.

Dont think we should play at Frankston but would Moorabbin make sense? but is a bit funny that we play a home final against carlton at there training base that has a giant Carlton logo on one side

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Dont think we should play at Frankston but would Moorabbin make sense? but is a bit funny that we play a home final against carlton at there training base that has a giant Carlton logo on one side

Just like how your men's team played an away final at your home ground and not your opponent's home ground in 2024?

 

[Bjo187]

Some of the games were rubbish in the small parts I saw, mainly due to the weather and slippery ball (obvious to use a synthetic).

The crowds actually looked decent on tv despite the reported numbers and today's game I caught the last quarter on tv and it was very good.

Overall though, 10 teams in the premier division is the way to go, fixes all the issues in one and saves face for the AFL. The lions are the best team to watch in my opinion.

It hasn't helped that the games are put on the secondary channel for re-runs of the Bourne identity and independence day, 7 needs to invest in it a bit more. I just read an article where v'landy's is demanding nationwide main channel coverage in their new tv deal. Who would have thought. Meanwhile the AFL can't even ask for main channel coverage in Perth each weekend during the men's season. Just poor management all round from the AFL and the head of the W.

 

[dave10]

More than 280k through the gate so far. There will be another ~25k for the next 2 weeks, then 8-12k for the GF depending on the venue.

So something like 315-320k all up, another record-breaking season, not bad.

I don’t agree. I think the crowds of the comp this year have been disappointing. Basically negligible growth off a very low base. Given they’re aiming for an average of 6,000 per game, they’re a mile off. And there’s little realistic hope of material growth in the short to medium term.

A competition at the crossroads. Who’d have thought this only 4-5 years ago when there was such hope and aspiration for stakeholders.

 

[Teen Wolf]

I don’t agree. I think the crowds of the comp this year have been disappointing. Basically negligible growth off a very low base. Given they’re aiming for an average of 6,000 per game, they’re a mile off. And there’s little realistic hope of material growth in the short to medium term.

A competition at the crossroads. Who’d have thought this only 4-5 years ago when there was such hope and aspiration for stakeholders.

Zero tickets were being sold 5 years ago.

Now more people than ever before are attending AFLW games annually.

In other words: The number of spectators has steadily risen each year since 2022, as has the price of admission.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Zero tickets were being sold 5 years ago.

Now more people than ever before are attending AFLW games annually.

In other words: The number of spectators has steadily risen each year since 2022, as has the price of admission.

But you can't ignore the AFLW itself making AFLW average crowds 6,000 an aim over the medium term, a goal that was introduced after they had decided to charge for admission.

You can frame it all you want in totals and not averages, but that's not how the AFLW itself is measuring itself, therefore makes your framing all the more pointless. It's not the framing in which everyone else is using.

 

[Teen Wolf]

But you can't ignore the AFLW itself making AFLW average crowds 6,000 an aim over the medium term, a goal that was introduced after they had decided to charge for admission.

You can frame it all you want in totals and not averages, but that's not how the AFLW itself is measuring itself, therefore makes your framing all the more pointless. It's not the framing in which everyone else is using.

The AFL's stated goal for things like attendance is to average 10% yoy growth over the next 10 years. In per game terms, that would mean 6k crowds by 2034.

If they achieve that growth quicker, they will add more games quicker than currently planned. The current plan, you'll soon see, is to guarantee 14 H&A rounds in the next CBA.

Therefore it's actually very easy to dismiss the uninformed people who are effectively saying: "well it's 2025, and they aren't already where they plan to be in 2034... what's going on???"

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The AFL's stated goal for things like attendance is to average 10% yoy growth over the next 10 years. In per game terms, that would mean 6k crowds by 2034.

If they achieve that growth quicker, they will add more games quicker than currently planned. The current plan, you'll soon see, is to guarantee 14 H&A rounds in the next CBA.

Therefore it's actually very easy to dismiss the uninformed people who are effectively saying: "well it's 2025, and they aren't already where they plan to be in 2034... what's going on???"

Is 2034 not the medium term?

 

[TimZoo]

#AFLW Finals Wk 1 Crowds



Roos/Hawks 4,392 at Ikon Park (35% capacity)

Blues/Eagles 3,420 at Ikon Park (27% cap)

Dees/Lions 3,711 at Ikon Park (29% cap)

Crows/Saints 3,228 at Norwood Oval (33% cap)



Total: 14,751 (ave 3,687) 31% capacity



Data: womens.afl

There's a base to build on there,The weather was shite in town,It just needs to keep trending up for at least a decade,even in small increments

 

[Rouel_14]

Late to the party on this one.. but jeez there is some hard takes here.

plant, water and fertilise. Men have 150 year head start as well as inbuilt unconscious bias through generations that men’s sport is better.

Not to mention it’s played at a time when most of us are ready to zone out of footy.

Start it in March, same as the men’s when we are all salivating for some footy. End it before the weather gets absolutely rotten. I know woman’s games before men’s isn't equality, but utilise the mcg blockbusters of Collingwood v Saints, Richmond v Carlton and Essendon V hawks to draw some attention to it.

Under seriously questionable leadership and direction it should be applauded what has been archived.

 

[Hawkk]

Late to the party on this one.. but jeez there is some hard takes here.

plant, water and fertilise. Men have 150 year head start as well as inbuilt unconscious bias through generations that men’s sport is better.

Not to mention it’s played at a time when most of us are ready to zone out of footy.

Start it in March, same as the men’s when we are all salivating for some footy. End it before the weather gets absolutely rotten. I know woman’s games before men’s isn't equality, but utilise the mcg blockbusters of Collingwood v Saints, Richmond v Carlton and Essendon V hawks to draw some attention to it.

Under seriously questionable leadership and direction it should be applauded what has been archived.

And even still VFA games 140 years ago were dwarfing the W for attendance.

Attendance at Victorian Football Association (VFA) games in the 1880s varied, with some matches attracting crowds of 10,000 to 12,000, while others had higher totals like the 30,000 recorded for a 1886 game between South Melbourne and Geelong.

 

[Fire]

All Melbourne based finals should be at Ikon (like MCG finals in the AFL). Playing a semi final in Frankston would be farcical IMO.

Why though? I was wondering why they are so obsessed playing every game there. The crowds are too small to fill for finals, and too big for the grand final. And it looks like total shit on TV. Does it have amazing amenities or something?

 

[The_Wookie]

Why though? I was wo during why they are so obsessed playing every game there. The crowds are too small to fill for finals, and too big for the grand final. And it looks like total shit on TV. Does it have amazing amenities or something?

Yeah theres no need for day games at least to be played at Ikon. Only thing I can think of is its location - its central.

 

[Rouel_14]

And even still VFA games 140 years ago were dwarfing the W for attendance.

Attendance at Victorian Football Association (VFA) games in the 1880s varied, with some matches attracting crowds of 10,000 to 12,000, while others had higher totals like the 30,000 recorded for a 1886 game between South Melbourne and Geelong.

The first game at Ikon was a lock out.
Growth isn’t linear.

Weather it’s uncomfortable or not, there is enough evidence woman’s sport will always have and face barriers that men’s will not.

Do I follow it religiously - absolutely not. I’ll keep an eye on the app scores when Richmond is playing, but me and most of us aren’t the target market. It’s a generation of new young girls who can one day say me too.
You can’t put a price on that.

 

[sverik25]

Some of the criticism of the crowds in this thread should be tempered by the weather conditions.

Friday night and Saturday in particular were played in what would be considered bad conditions even in winter.