Major sporting events driving millions of visits to Sydney

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.

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