Stadia rebuild to revive Sydney as global major events destination

The Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF) has welcomed the call to establish a Global Events Taskforce to position Sydney as the new major events capital of the world.

TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond said a designated Taskforce, combined with the NSW Government’s investment into critical sporting and cultural infrastructure, will ensure Sydney is internationally competitive in attracting the world’s showpiece sporting and cultural events.

“Sydney cannot be a world-class major events destination without a suite of world-class stadia,” TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond said.

“Our stadia has served us very well, but the reality is that without the NSW Government’s investment into Sydney Olympic Park’s ANZ Stadium, Allianz Stadium at Moore Park and Parramatta Stadium, Sydney will not be able to compete for the world’s biggest events.

“With these refurbished, state-of-the-art stadia, Sydney will be able to confidently put its hand up to bid for any major global event, whether it be the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or the Soccer and Rugby World Cups.

“This infrastructure will also complement Sydney’s reputation as a world-class business events destination that has taken off since the opening of the International Convention Centre (ICC), and enhance the long-standing work undertaken by Destination NSW to promote NSW as Australia’s number one state to visit.”

Ms Osmond said investment in sporting and cultural infrastructure to lure more major events is vital to growing the State’s $33 billion visitor economy.

“NSW’s booming visitor economy is not just an increasingly critical part of the State’s bottom line but directly supports over 164,000 jobs in areas like food and beverage, retail and accommodation,” Ms Osmond said.

“Major events not only inject billions into the NSW economy, but provide benefits right across Australia; they are a significant drawcard for visitation, with more than 100,000 international visitors travelling to Australia specifically to attend a cultural or sporting event each year.

“TTF understands the role major events play in enlivening cities and regions, driving job-creating economic activity and putting Australia on the international stage and has commissioned a piece of research identifying our top 25 major events and the expenditure they generate.

“There is no doubt that many of these top events will only be strengthened by this investment in our sporting and cultural infrastructure.”