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