The AFL is working with the South Australian government to monitor the cost-of-living situation ahead of this season’s Gather Round.
The four-day footy festival will see all 18 teams play in Adelaide across April 9-12 in round five.
The event has drawn massive crowds in past years, with the league spruiking total figures of almost 270,000 fans last year, about 52,000 of which were said to have travelled from interstate.
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Fans also travel from all parts of South Australia, with some driving for hours to be part of the occasion and to watch their team play.
But this year’s Gather Round is under a cloud, with several AFL club supporter groups raising concerns about rising fuel costs, as well as accommodation and food prices which seem to be rising with it.
The official Richmond cheer squad has taken up to 100 members from Melbourne to Adelaide in past years, but that number is expected to drop significantly, if the squad travels at all.
Fans arrive for Gather Round. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“Even now, people who are planning on going are now saying, ‘Let’s wait and see where we are the week before the match’,” Tigers cheer squad chairman Gerard Egan was quoted in InDaily South Australia this week.
“I’m planning to drive, but if we get into petrol restrictions and rationing, the chance of me wanting to risk driving over and being stuck somewhere in the middle of South Australia with no fuel isn’t a prospect that I want to face.”
Richmond’s official cheer squad is far from the only fan group speaking out about the issue.
“This is the first year we have to stay a night if we go, and average hotels are asking for $500-plus for a studio room – that’s just robbery,” St Kilda cheer squad leader Joe Dooley told News Corp.
The situation is being closely monitored by South Australia’s government.
“That’s something we’re monitoring,” premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC radio on Thursday.
“I haven’t turned my mind to Gather Round – you’ll appreciate I’ve had my mind on other things – but no doubt there’ll be something to say on this in the future.”
AFL boss Andrew Dillon also told media on Thursday he is in regular conversations with the SA government and Adelaide stakeholders.
The AFL is reluctant to change the season schedule even if fans will be forced to stay away from Adelaide this year.
“That’s a conversation we will be having with the SA government over the next couple of weeks,” Dillon said.
“The three iterations of Gather Round we’ve had have been unqualified successes.
“We’ve seen really strong ticket sales again and great economic impact for the state of South Australia as a result of Gather Round.”
In terms of the rising fuel issue more broadly, Dillon says the AFL has begun looking at contingency plans if clubs start having trouble travelling around the country for games.
“It’s something that I think all businesses will be looking at, and there is uncertainty,” he said.
“What we are looking at is what are the options. We’re not concerned, but we are always working on making sure we’re ahead of where we are.
“We’ve got no issues with the next couple of weeks but you’ve always got to look at options.”