- Published:
- Monday, 8 August 2016
The Andrews Labor Government has secured an International Twenty20 blockbuster double-header for Geelong.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren today joined Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland and stars Ben Cutting and Meg Lanning at Simonds Stadium to announce the history-making matches.
The Southern Stars will square off against rivals New Zealand before Steve Smith’s all conquering outfit takes on Sri Lanka. It will be the first international fixture ever played in Geelong, and just the second in regional Victoria after a 1992 World Cup match in Ballarat.
When it comes to the big ticket cricket blockbusters, Geelong has the runs on the board: Simonds Stadium played host to the heavy hitters of the Melbourne Stars and the Melbourne Renegades as they fine-tuned for last summer’s KFC Big Bash, before a West Indies tour game on the eve of the Boxing Day Test.
It’s all possible thanks to the Labor Government’s $75 million upgrade of Simonds Stadium. We’re lifting the ground capacity to 36,000, and the big events are flocking. Just last week, Simonds Stadium played host to Fernando Torres and Atletico de Madrid as they took on Melbourne Victory.
Major sporting events attract visitors from all over Australia and the world, who see for themselves Geelong and the Bellarine have something for everyone and the best of everything. It’s a big boost to local bars, cafes and hotels – and that’s great for the economy.
Victoria already boasts an enviable calendar of major events, but we want to grow it. We’ve added $80 million to our war chest for major events, and established a $20 million Regional Events Fund to help regional and rural Victoria secure the great events.
The Labor Government has secured the future of Avalon Airport, paving the way for Jetstar to run services to Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide and the Gold Coast. It means more visitors than ever before will be able visit the region for the biggest and best events.
The double header Twenty20 will be played on February 19.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren
“We’re making history today. An International Twenty20 blockbuster is another stunning win for Geelong.”
“There’s nothing quite as inspiring as watching our cricketing heroes in action. This is a great chance for locals to watch the best of the best in their own backyard and for visitors to see all this region has to offer.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Geelong, Christine Couzens
“Our upgrade of Simonds Stadium is helping attract the biggest and best sporting events. They are great spectacles, but they’re a big boost to the economy too.”
“The Twenty20 blockbuster will be great for Geelong small businesses, especially in the hospitality sector. It’s jobs for locals and a stronger Geelong.”