AusLeisure

NSW’s growing calendar of major sporting events is attracting millions of tourists, with more than 3.5 million domestic and international overnight visitors travelling to state in the past year to participate in or attend a sporting event.

On the final day of the Australian Tourism Exchange (18th May), Destination NSW Chief Executive Sandra Chipchase said these latest National and International Visitor Survey figures show significant growth of overnight and day-trip visitors to NSW for sport.

Chipchase advised “sport has always been a significant driver of visitation to the State, yet the latest numbers show that year-on-year growth in this travel sector presents a strong opportunity for our State’s operators.

“In 2016, the millions of international and domestic overnight visitors, and day-trip visitors that came to the State to participate in or watch sport, represented a rise of almost 7% on the previous year’s figures.

“These visitors stayed in NSW for 2.6 million nights, and contributed more than $909 million to the local visitor economy. This is a fantastic result and means more heads on beds for NSW hotels, increased restaurant reservations, and visitors to our State’s attractions and in Sydney and rural and regional NSW.”

Looking forward, NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres today highlighted how Sydney will play host to a full calendar of major sporting events across the next three months starting with A-League Final winners Sydney FC taking on international greats Liverpool FC next Wednesday - 24th May.

Minister Ayres added “next week more than 75,000 fans will witness the SKY Blues face off against the Liverpool Reds at ANZ stadium marking the 125th year anniversary for Liverpool and the first match since Sydney’s knock out A-League Grand Final win.

“Record crowds are expected with 140,000 people set to watch the Arsenal games against Wanderers and Sydney FC next month, before the Blues and a further 80,000 to watch the Maroons clash in the State of Orgin II, not to mention the August Bledisloe Cup showdown.”

“International rugby fans can catch the Wallabies taking on Scotland next month, and for the second year in a row Sydney will play host to the College Football Cup - with powerhouse Stanford University (Stanford Cardinal) to go head-to-head with Rice University (Rice Owls) in a hotly contested affair at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 27 August.”

Former Liverpool FC legend, Australian Craig Johnston and current Socceroos and Sydney FC player Rhyan Grant today joined Minister Ayres to kick off the bumper sporting calendar.

Johnstone advised “I know there is a large number of football fans counting down the days to the Liverpool FC game next week which is going to be a magnificent spectacle, offering the best rendition yet of You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Upcoming events include:

Liverpool FC v Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium - Wednesday 24th May

Wallabies v Scotland at Allianz Stadium - Saturday 17th June

State of Origin II at ANZ Stadium - Wednesday 21st June

Arsenal v Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium - Thursday 13th July

Arsenal v Western Sydney Wanderers at ANZ Stadium - Saturday 15th July

Wallabies v All Blacks at ANZ Stadium - Saturday 19th August

College Football, Stanford University v Rice University at Allianz Stadium - Sunday 27th August

Image: Fans at the College Football Sydney Cup at ANZ Stadium in 2016. Courtesy of Damian Briggs Photography.

17th May 2017 - DESTINATION NSW FLAGS SYDNEY’S MAJOR EVENTS AT ATE 

7th December 2016 - ANZ STADIUM ROLLS OUT MASSIVE 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

28th August 2016 - OVER 61,000 ATTEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL SYDNEY CUP AT ANZ STADIUM

12th November 2015 - ANZ STADIUM AMONG TOP FOUR FINALISTS AT AUSTRALIAN EVENT AWARDS

11th June 2015 - SYDNEY VENUES WIN IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES AT WORLD STADIUM BUSINESS AWARDS

13th November 2014 - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NAMED AUSTRALIA’S TOP EVENT, SYDNEY SHOWGROUNDS NAMED BEST VENUE

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.