Goulburn’s Veolia Arena to host Indoor Hockey State Championships for another three years

Goulburn will continue to build on its reputation as a centre for indoor hockey with the announcement from Hockey NSW that the Indoor Hockey State Championships will be staged at the city's Veolia Arena for another three years from 2019 to 2021.

Welcoming the hosting, Goulburn Mulwaree Council's Mayor, Bob Kirk stated "we are delighted to bring 118 teams and their families to Goulburn over the next five weeks, and many more over the next three years as this has a significant economic benefit to everybody in Goulburn".

The current agreement, signed in 2016, between Hockey NSW and Goulburn Mulwaree Council has seen the State Championships played in Goulburn through to and including 2018.

The agreement will end in December, with five state championship tournaments yet to be played. Including the men's masters, open women's and men's as well as under 18s boys and girls. The women's masters’ took place from 19th to 21st October, 2018.

These championships will take place over the next five weekends and will see 118 teams travel to Goulburn along with families and officials. Competitors will travel from areas including: Sydney, the Central West, Illawarra South Coast, North Coast and Central Coast of NSW.

The current agreement has seen a fruitful relationship emerge between the state’s hockey community and Goulburn. A presentation by Hockey NSW stated that "feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive for the venue and we’ve seen an exceptional response from those that come from afar".

Hockey NSW also chose Veolia Arena as the venue for their inaugural Indoor Development Program, a new initiative focussing on up-skilling indoor players.

A Hockey NSW spokesperson advised "it only made sense to host the program in an area becoming renowned as a centre of indoor hockey in the country”.

This follows on from Goulburn hosting the Australian Indoor Championships in January 2018.

According to Hockey NSW the State Championships are expected to bring a total economic value of approximately $3.5 million per year to the regional centre.

For further information visit www.goulburnaustralia.com.au.