Planning for more gatherings

Friday April 21, 2023

FOLLOWING the success of the AFL’s inaugural Gather Round in Adelaide, Limestone Coast government representatives are planning ahead to capitalise on next year’s event.

Gather Round will stay in SA until 2026 and this year’s estimated $85 million economic boost to the state has regional towns calling for a chance to host games.

According to Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell, now is an excellent time to plan ahead and formulate a pitch for why the Limestone Coast should be top of the list of regional hosts.

“Mount Gambier has hosted pre-season AFL matches before, so we’ve proved we can do it and do it well,” Mr Bell said.

“I have already begun discussions with the Premier but ultimately, the AFL are the decision-makers when it comes to planning where games are played and there is no doubt they seem to prefer a more centralised approach.

“Ideally, we want a game played in Mount Gambier and will do everything we can to achieve that outcome, but we also must be proactive and put a compelling proposal to the AFL and State Government.”

Member of the Legislative Council Ben Hood said it was a prime opportunity for Mount Gambier as the state’s second largest city, and a bipartisan approach could be the key to success.

“Politics doesn’t need to get in the way of this because the most important thing is that Mount Gambier gets this game,” Mr Hood said.

“We’ve got an independent, we’ve got a government minister in Clare Scriven down here, and we’ve got a member of the Legislative Council from the opposition as a local.

“I will be working in lockstep with Troy, [will give] any support that Clare needs to ensure that the Premier is listening to her, I just want to see this for Mount Gambier.”

Mr Hood said the economic boost from this Gather Round could provide the funding Mount Gambier needs to address concerns around being able to host the crowd for an AFL game.

“The biggest problem to solve is probably being able to fit all the people that want to come to a match here in Mount Gambier,” he said.

“We’ve got an opportunity to be able to use the funds that might come out of the Gather Round to increase our sporting infrastructure here in the Limestone Coast.

“What we need to do is ensure we are shovel ready to make sure that, when the government is ready and willing to listen to us and bring a Gather Round game down here, we’ve got the plan and we can drop it on their desk so they can get on with actioning it.”

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven has already written to Premier Peter Malinauskas to discuss the possibility of expanding regional opportunities through Gather Round.

“The inaugural Gather Round has already brought large economic benefits to the region, with reports of thousands of fans travelling to Adelaide via the Limestone Coast, with local accommodation providers, hospitality venues and wineries reporting positive benefits,” Ms Scriven wrote.

“The Gather Round Community Roadshow was also very successful, involving over 20 major towns across regional South Australia.

“I am keen to explore with you how this and other programs could be expanded and developed in future years to bring further returns to regional areas.”

Mr Bell also said the push to host is about more than just bringing football to the region, with future Gather Rounds posing a prime opportunity from a tourism perspective.

He said every town from Keith to Tailem Bend was packed with travellers over the weekend.

“What an opportunity to lure those visitors across to Mount Gambier for an extended weekend following the match,” he said.

“What if every round ticket sold came with a regional tourism voucher and further local discounts through the AFL app?

“What if Mount Gambier could be a regional base for Western Victoria and we worked with the airlines to offer coordinated flights up and back to Adelaide?”

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