WACA's $189 Million Redevelopment Could Be Key to Perth's AFL Gather Round Ambitions
The historic WACA Ground in Perth has undergone a transformative $189 million redevelopment, positioning it as a potential cornerstone in Western Australia's bid to host the AFL's popular Gather Round event. As South Australia's current hosting term concludes at the end of the year, other states are eagerly eyeing the opportunity to capitalize on the festival's success, with Perth emerging as a strong contender thanks to its enhanced venue infrastructure.
Economic Impact and Venue Flexibility
In 2025, Adelaide's Gather Round attracted a record-breaking 269,506 fans across nine matches, with 36 percent of attendees traveling from interstate. This influx generated an impressive $113.9 million in economic growth, highlighting the significant benefits for host cities. WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson emphasized that the WACA would "absolutely" welcome hosting games if Gather Round were brought to Perth.
"The vision behind the redevelopment was to create a venue that could attract a wide variety of major events for WA and complement Optus Stadium, rather than compete with it," Stephenson stated. "The WACA Ground has always been an iconic sporting venue, and with the new facilities in place we'd love to see it play a role in bringing different events and audiences through the gates."
Enhanced Facilities and Multi-Sport Design
The redevelopment has introduced modern grandstands, improved fan amenities, and superior sightlines, all designed to create an exceptional match-day atmosphere. Stephenson noted that the integration of aquatic and community facilities around the ground provides a unique point of difference, making the precinct a vibrant hub for fans before, during, and after events.
Additionally, the venue now includes dedicated high-performance facilities for elite athletes, such as gyms, changerooms, and recovery spaces. "From the outset, the redevelopment was designed as a multi-sport and community facility, not just a cricket venue," Stephenson explained. "The oval itself was re-shaped to better accommodate football and other oval sports. We also incorporated adaptable spaces like viewing areas that can function as coaches' boxes and a concourse designed for events and concerts."
Strengthening Perth's Major Event Capabilities
Stephenson highlighted that having multiple venues capable of hosting major events significantly strengthens Perth's bid when competing with other cities. "The redevelopment certainly strengthens Perth's ability to host major events. The upgraded WACA Ground was designed with flexibility in mind, creating another high-quality venue that can support major sporting and entertainment events in the city," he said.
Consultations with stakeholders and event operators were conducted to ensure the precinct could support a broad range of activities. WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti reinforced this point, stating, "There are always ongoing discussions with sporting codes about future opportunities, and the redeveloped WACA will absolutely play a role in that mix."
Future Opportunities and AFL Engagement
Saffioti pointed to the success of recent events, such as the AFL Origin match, as evidence of WA's ability to deliver large crowds, strong economic returns, and outstanding fan experiences. "We will continue working with the AFL to bring more games to WA, whether that's future AFL Origin concepts or other opportunities," she affirmed.
Gather Round 2026 is scheduled for Round 5 of the AFL home-and-away season, running from Thursday, April 9, to Sunday, April 12. As Perth positions itself to potentially host future editions, the WACA's redevelopment stands as a testament to the city's commitment to expanding its major event portfolio and enhancing its appeal to national sporting bodies.
