Media Release

Bigger crowds back after first nine rounds of 2023 Hostplus SANFL League

Almost 7,300 people packed Stratarama Stadium for the King's Birthday blockbuster between Glenelg and Sturt.

June 15, 2023

SANFL is pleased to announce that attendances for the first half of the 2023 Hostplus SANFL League season are 25 per cent higher than at the same time last year.

Almost 110,000 fans have attended matches across the opening nine rounds.

The strong attendance figures were bolstered by the Round 9 King’s Birthday long weekend crowds, with 17,370 fans attending matches on Saturday and Monday.

The King’s Birthday Monday blockbuster top-of-the-table clash between Glenelg and Sturt at Stratarama Stadium saw 7,285 people coming through the gates on Brighton Rd.

This was the highest attendance for a minor round League game since the 2018 Anzac Day clash between Sturt and Port Adelaide with a crowd of 7,965.

 

The SANFL Super Match program with plenty of activities for the kids is among the initiatives helping to boost crowd numbers.

SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said it was pleasing to see more fans returning to SANFL venues to watch live Hostplus SANFL League footy each weekend in the first half of the season.

“The high-quality standard and evenness of the Hostplus SANFL League, combined with a number of initiatives being introduced by clubs and SANFL to create a great match day experience for spectators, is certainly helping to drive attendance,” he said.

“It’s been great to see a growing number of families and kids having a great day out at the footy. Not only do they get to rub shoulders with their favourite SANFL players and have a kick and catch on the oval, but the SANFL Super Match program is providing a jam-packed day full of fun, free activities.”

 

Kids enjoy the mini-golf at the footy on SANFL Super Match days.

Pre-match and half-time Auskick and mini-league games are another initiative to engage more kids and families with the Hosplus SANFL League.

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