Fuelled by three MCG blockbusters and the opening of the Joel Selwood Stand at Geelong's GMHBA Stadium, the 413,405 total easily beat the old mark of 400,401 - set seven years ago, also in round one.
It follows the new 'round zero' season opener two weekends ago, when the four games in NSW and Queensland also attracted healthy crowds.
Thursday night's crowd of 83,881 - the third-highest attendance for a Carlton-Richmond match - at the MCG set the tone.
Sydney's win over premiers Collingwood the following night attracted 78,933 fans - the highest Magpies crowd against a non-Victorian team and also a record for matches between the two sides.
Essendon and Hawthorn completed the MCG trifecta on Saturday when the two fierce rivals attracted their third-biggest crowd of 73,805.
The MCG has been pulling in plenty of supporters at the start of the 2024 AFL season.
Saturday night's crowd of 39,352 was the highest attendance at GMHBA Stadium since the 1981 record of 41,395.
"Footy is back and thriving and we're thrilled the momentum has continued across round one," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said.
AFL'S TOP FIVE ROUNDS FOR ATTENDANCE
1. Round 1 2024 - 413,4052. Round 1 2017 - 400,4013. Round 3 2018 - 393,5374. Round 1 2023 - 392,2485. Round 5 2017 - 391,980
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