South Australia’s Barossa is normally known for its food and wine, but this week the eyes of the football world will be on the region as it hosts AFL games for the first time. Businesses have been gearing up for months, to make the most of the expected rush of gather-round visitors.
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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.
00:14The whole team is, there's so much energy in the town, it's amazing.
00:18Like other businesses in and around Lindock, the family run winery is getting into the
00:22football spirit ahead of this weekend's two gather round matches.
00:26We're going to double our revenue for the weekend, just conservatively.
00:30It's a common feeling around the region, with some footy fans choosing to make the most
00:34of a fixture in the Barossa.
00:36We'll be full that weekend, we would expect 100% occupancy.
00:40Normally at that time of year we might be sitting at 60-70%.
00:44The logistics of the weekend have been no small feat.
00:47Since the announcement in April last year, the Barossa community have been anticipating
00:51crowds of over 10,000 visitors.
00:54We all get excited when a plan comes together the way in which this has, so there's a lot
00:59of excitement, the lead up of building this facility, but now seeing the finishing touches
01:04coming on.
01:05Some businesses here have spent months planning to get the most out of the influx of visitors.
01:10In the lead up to the weekend, one said it had spent close to $100,000 to get ready for
01:14the event.
01:15Millions have been spent getting the Barossa Sports Complex up to AFL standard, and the
01:20community is hopeful gather round will be back next year.
01:24But with no guarantees, businesses are desperate to make the most of a unique opportunity.
01:29We're wanting guests from interstate to experience the whole Barossa while they're here, not
01:32just the game, and then go home and tell their friends how amazing it is and then come back
01:37next year.
01:38North Melbourne and Gold Coast will host the Barossa's first match on Saturday, before
01:42Richmond and Fremantle meet on Sunday.