The first iteration of Gather Round has officially sold out, with the league confirming on Friday that the Sydney vs Richmond, the last game with tickets, had sold out.
The round has already been deemed a success as ticket sales soar, with 47,435 fans in attendance for the opening clash between Adelaide and Carlton, which saw the home side end the night as 56-point victors.
With nine games scheduled for the state across four days and fans from across the country pouring in, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas happy to show what his state has on offer.
โSo much work has gone into making this inaugural Gather Round a success in South Australia," Premier Malinauskas said on Wednesday.
โWe're looking forward to welcoming tens of thousands of new visitors to our state and letting them experience all we have to offer.
โI know our hospitality and tourism sectors are already reaping significant benefits.
โI encourage all South Australians to soak up the festival atmosphere. Get to a game, attend one of the many events, or enjoy the free festivities.
โLet's make this a week to remember.โ
The South Australians are reportedly already keen to make a play to host Gather Round in 2024, eager to showcase the Barossa Valley wine region.
Speaking on Friday after the last tickets were sold, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan admitted that South Australia could be playing host for "a while".
โAdelaide just feels like the right spot. The fact that it's in the centre of Australia,โ McLachlan said on 3AW.
โI think it's got a strong case that it's got its roots down here and it needs to be here for a while.โ
