The second instalment of the AFL’s Gather Round has proved to be a significant success once again.
In this week’s episode, Tredders and Huddo dissect the ins and outs of the AFL’s big week in South Australia.
Listen to the wrap and subscribe for free now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Barossa set for 2025 - $40m upgrade
The State Government and the Barossa Council will contribute $20 million each to a full-scale redevelopment of Lyndoch Recreation Park to bring it up to AFL standard.
Lyndoch Oval is already a magnificent venue to watch footy at, with vineyards across the other side of the oval and the elevated viewing space.
Yet, could there be another SANFL ground next year instead of Norwood Oval? Watch out for North Adelaide and Glenelg.
Economic impact
Pre-Gather Round had figures set to provide a big economic boost for the state - 40 per cent of all tickets sold were either interstate or overseas.
Predictions showed it was set to outshine the 2023 Gather Round, which injected more than $83 million into the state economy.
40 per cent of all tickets sold have been to footy fans living outside SA, including overseas supporters from the US, UK, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland and Singapore.
Food and beverage revenue expected to rise by up to 40 per cent and hotels will be at near capacity.
Over 200,000 footy fans were expected to visit SA for Gather Round.
Last year, State Government revealed Gather Round generated $83.9 million, a figure sure to be surpassed once 2024 financials are released.
Clubs roll out the red carpet
Victorian clubs have ensured sponsors would experience the best South Australia can offer.
Collingwood had a fully-booked chartered flight with corporates land on Sunday ahead of a business brunch, who then spent the day in Adelaide before the clash with Hawthorn.
Carlton offered 50 places to corporates on a ‘Blues on Tour’ trip, included airfares, accommodation, reserve seating, Guard of Honour and hosted by a couple of past champions - Greg Williams and Brendan Fevola, Kouta, and Ange Christou.
Last year, the Blues booked out Penfolds Magill Estate with industry chatter suggesting the Blues heavyweight financial backers tipped in over $850,000 to the club’s coffers over a long lunch.
Sydney Swans held a networking breakfast on Friday, while Brisbane had 1000 members travel to SA and participate in tourism and sponsor-led events.
Travel dramas out of Sydney
Sydney fans faced nervous waits on Friday as wild weather caused multiple cancellations.
Services included fights at 10.50am, 12.15pm, 3pm and 4.50pm, less than 24 hours before the Swans’ game against West Coast at Mount Barker.
How many Gather Rounds?
As a result of Tasmania’s entry into the AFL, the league is looking at potentially making it three Gather Rounds a year.
Footy fans have absolutely hammered the prospect, even though it’d leave one club without a game on Gather Round.
Don’t do a Big Bash, AFL.
Return of the Norwood Food and Wine Festival
The return of Norwood Food and Wine Festival for the first time in over a decade was a huge success.
On Sunday, the Parade was chokers and all full of interstate footy fans proudly wearing their colours.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and Premier Malinauskas mixed with punters.
Norwood to join AFL?
With Tasmania set to join the AFL in 2028, it’s expected the league will seek a 20th club to add a lucrative 10th game to its TV rights deal a week.
Options include the NT, Canberra, a third team in Western Australia, but the Norwood Football Club has reportedly expressed interest.
The Redlegs have significant South Australian partners including Wolf Blass and Coopers Brewery, as well as the SANFL’s highest game attendance.
Norwood chief executive James Fantasia denied the reports last year when reports emerged.
We ain’t ‘Radelaide’
South Australian Tourism Commission has guided interstate media to not use terms such as ‘Radelaide’ and ‘City of Churches’ in reports.
Like that’s going to work.
Tourism minister Zoe Bettison defended the move on ABC Radio, which reportedly infuriated the Premier as it created a negative distraction from Gather Round.
SA’s sporting investments set to continue
South Australia will continue to be locked into plenty of sporting events, with Gather Round locked away for two further years and LIV Golf for four.
The Adelaide Test has now been locked back into the pre-Christmas timeslot for the next five years, and the Premier is eager to work with Cricket Australia in the same way he’s worked with the AFL and LIV.
Between Gather Round and LIV Golf, nearly $150 million was injected into the state’s economy.
Meanwhile, in F1, the growth under Liberty is significant
Formula 1’s growth under Liberty Media is a sight to behold.
First step was signing on with Netflix create “Drive to Survive”
Average age viewer from 36 years in 2017 to 32 years in 2023.
It’s now looking to replicate that success after acquiring the MotoGP for $4.5 billion.
Breakdown of F1 growth:
F1 annual revenue
2017: $1.8 billion (gave away US rights to ESPN for $0 for exposure)
2023: $3.2 billion (+78% since 2017)
Average F1 US viewership per race
2017: 538,000
2023: 1.11 million (+106% since 2017)
F1 Enterprise Value
2017: $8 billion
2023: $16 billion (+100% since 2017)
Thanks for reading our weekly sports business wrap!
Stay tuned and subscribe for the next episode on the podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts).
Let us know your thoughts, and share it with your friends.
Got a Big Deal you want to share? Get in touch