Barossa sports hub gets $40 million upgrade for Gather Round 2025
A Barossa Valley town has been announced as a venue for the 2025 AFL Gather Round, with a $40 million upgrade to facilities set to be delivered in time for the event.
The State Government has partnered with the Barossa Council to deliver the jointly-funded redevelopment of Lyndoch Recreation Park, with each contributing $20 million, including support from the Barossa District Football and Netball Club.
The upgrade will see the oval altered to meet AFL standards, with a 300-seat event space, clubrooms with a commercial kitchen, change facilities and a gym.
An Adelaide oval replica bar and service area will also be built, along with new netball courts, a recreation green and second oval, athletics track, shelters, playground and family garden, increased carparks and a formalised roadway.
Premier Peter Malinauskas would not confirm today whether AFL games would continue at Mount Barker, which hosted a Gather Round match at the weekend.
“There’s only so many games, there’s nine, and the AFL and the broadcasters thus far haven’t been able to come up with a way that we can have more than three venues,” he said on ABC Radio Adelaide this morning.
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“If we’re going to have another venue then that will potentially come at the expense of another one. But we’re still working through that, we haven’t given up on it.”
Malinauskas was at Lyndoch Park with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and SANFL CEO Darren Chandler this morning to announce its Gather Round win.
“With the Barossa acknowledged as one of the five most-recognised wine regions in the word, the wine and food experience as well as proximity to the CBD the region was a logical choice to be part of the 2025 AFL Gather Round,” he said.
Barossa Council Mayor Bim Lange said the partnership would bring “more visitors and tourism dollars” into the area.
“This investment goes well beyond sport, unlocking opportunity for arts, culture and festivals on a local and national scale,” Lange said.
