In an announcement this morning, that has already seen huge response from fans, Premier Peter Malinauskas has revealed the opening matches for the 2024 ‘Gather Round…. A Festival of Footy’.
The Premier took to Facebook to share the news, stating, “AFL Gather Round will kick off with Crows and Power matches on Thursday and Friday night next year!”
The Adelaide Crows will be playing against Melbourne on Thursday, 4 April 2024, at 7:10 pm, and Port face Essendon on Friday, 5 April at 7:40 pm, both games to be held at the Adelaide Oval.
These matches set the stage for the ‘Gather Round’ festival, which will run from 4th to 7th April during Round 4 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season. The festival, following the success of its 2023 debut, is expected to offer an even more thrilling experience for fans, with details on the full fixture of matches to be released later.
The AFL has strategically chosen Round 4 for the festival, considering the greater fixture flexibility and the potential for increased interstate travel. The timing is ideal, coinciding with the middle weekend of school holidays in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia, allowing fans from these states to fully immerse themselves in the festivities.
Adelaide Oval, a venue known for its electric atmosphere, will be the focal point of ‘Gather Round’, hosting not only the opening matches but also other exciting events throughout the festival. While further details about regional venues, ticketing, and additional events are yet to be announced, the anticipation for this AFL extravaganza is already high.
Reflecting on the success of the previous ‘Gather Round’, Acting AFL CEO Andrew Dillon expressed his gratitude towards the SA government and the passionate footy fans. He emphasised the importance of building upon the success of the 2023 event and providing fans with an even better experience in 2024. “We are giving everyone a longer runway to put together a bigger and even better event, and our fans certainty around booking travel and accommodation,” Dillon remarked.
Premier Peter Malinauskas echoed this sentiment, urging fans to start planning their trips early. “My message to footy fans across Australia is book your flights, book your accommodation and start planning your trip to South Australia because Gather Round 2024 promises to be even bigger than this year,” he encouraged.
In addition to the excitement surrounding the matches, a documentary titled “Inside Gather Round: A Festival of Footy” has been released, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the inaugural event. This documentary is available at https://www.afl.com.au/video/950922/inside-gather-round-a-festival-of-footy.
‘Gather Round’ is more than a sporting event; it’s a celebration of community and camaraderie. With its success in 2023, the event demonstrated the unifying power of football. Over the next three years, ‘Gather Round’ will be exclusively hosted in South Australia, with Adelaide Oval as the central venue. This partnership between the AFL and the SA Government will also establish a community football legacy fund, benefiting local clubs beyond the weekend of matches.
As preparations for ‘Gather Round’ 2024 are underway, fans are encouraged to secure their spots for this unforgettable celebration.
For a premium hospitality experience, registrations are open through the AFL’s official provider, the AFL Event Office, at www.afl.com.au/eventoffice.
Virgin Australia, the official airline of the AFL and ‘Gather Round’, is offering extra flights for fans traveling to the event, with bookings available on their website, www.virginaustralia.com.
Additionally, accommodation options are made possible through a partnership between the AFL/AFLW and Accor and ALL.COM, offering a range of hotels and apartments in Adelaide.
Gather Round 2024 fixture (all local times)
Thursday, April 4
Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACDT
Friday, April 5
Brisbane v North Melbourne, Norwood Oval, 4.40pm ACDT
Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm ACDT
Saturday, April 6
Sydney v West Coast, Mount Barker, 1pm ACDT
Carlton v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval 3.50pm ACDT
Geelong v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm ACDT
Sunday, April 7
Gold Coast v Greater Western Sydney, Mount Barker, 12pm ACST
Richmond v St Kilda, Norwood Oval, 2.50pm ACST
Collingwood v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 4.40pm ACST
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