Premier

Statement From The Minister For Sport

22 June 2016

On behalf of all Victorians, I pay tribute to Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stephen Gough, who will retire from his position next year.

Mr Gough has been at the helm of the MCC and the MCG for more than 17 years, and has played a leading role ensuring the iconic ground remains one of the best sporting venues in the world.

He joined the MCC in 1999 after seven years as chief executive of the Carlton Football Club, and oversaw a significant overhaul of the stadium that made it the world-class venue it is today.

The MCG is etched in Melbourne’s character and is a popular destination for more than three million sports fans and interstate and overseas visitors each year. Mr Gough was in charge of the venue when it staged the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The MCG is a key cornerstone of Victoria’s status as the sporting capital of the world. In the past 18 months alone, the venue has attracted record crowds for international cricket (93,013), domestic cricket (80,833), rugby league (91,513) and soccer (99,382) – it’s just one of the reasons why our visitor economy is so strong.

Victoria’s reputation as the sporting state doesn’t happen by chance, and I congratulate Mr Gough on his contribution to our title and to our treasured iconic venue.

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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