Barossa Valley prepares to host AFL Gather Round

Businesses in the Barossa Valley are preparing to host its first ever AFL Gather Round.

Transcript

00:00This is normally a peaceful winery, an hour from Adelaide, but this week it's expected

00:07to be heaving with AFL fans.

00:09By far the biggest event we've ever run and we are just so excited.

00:13The whole team, there's so much energy in the town, it's amazing.

00:17Like other businesses in and around Lindock, the family run winery is getting into the

00:21football spirit, ahead of this weekend's two gather round matches.

00:25We're going to double our revenue for the weekend, just conservatively.

00:29It's a common feeling around the region, with some footy fans choosing to make the most

00:34of a fixture in the Barossa.

00:35We'll be full that weekend, we would expect 100% occupancy, normally at that time of year

00:41we might be sitting at 60 to 70%.

00:43The logistics of the weekend have been no small feat.

00:46Since the announcement in April last year, the Barossa community have been anticipating

00:50crowds of over 10,000 visitors.

00:53There's a lot of excitement, the lead up of building this facility, but now seeing the

00:57finishing touches coming on.

00:59Some businesses here have spent months planning to get the most out of the influx of visitors.

01:04In the lead up to the weekend, one said it had spent close to $100,000 to get ready

01:08for the event.

01:09Millions have been spent getting the Barossa Sports Complex up to AFL standard, and the

01:14community is hopeful gather round will be back next year.

01:18But with no guarantees, businesses are desperate to make the most of a unique opportunity.

01:22We're wanting guests from interstate to experience the whole Barossa while they're here, not just

01:27the game, and then go home and tell their friends how amazing it is and then come back

01:31next year.

01:32One Adelaide ice cream shop expects to churn and serve an extra 100 kilos, over a period

01:37that economists predict more than $60 million will be spent.

01:41That is a massive 25% increase on what we'd normally expect to see spent in the city.

01:46The crowd's providing as much support for the economy as they are their favourite team.

01:50Thank you

02:08you