Melbourne to offer a packed program of summer events

Victoria will host an unprecedented number of international sporting, arts, cultural and trade events between 9th January and 29th March 2015 as part of the 80 Days of Melbourne initiative.

The Australian Tennis Open, Australian Formula One Grand Prix and key games in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup and Cricket World Cup are expected to attract huge crowds as well as global TV audience of around 2 billion viewers.

Packaged under as the ‘80 Days of Melbourne’ the packed season of events includes:

• AFC Asian Cup 2015 (seven matches) - 9th to 22nd January
• Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier @ NGV - 9th January to 8th February
• Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam – 19th January to 1st February
• Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – 31st January to 1st February
• ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (five matches) – 14th February to 29th March
• Chinese New Year Celebrations – 19th to 22nd February
• White Night – 21st February
• Melbourne Festival of Racing – 21st February , 7th and 14th March
• Superbike World Championship 20th to 22nd February
• Avalon International Airshow – 24th February to 1st March
• Melbourne International Food and Wine Festival – 27th February to 15th March
• Australian F1 Grand Prix – 12th to 15th March
• Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival – 14th to 22nd March
• Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show – 25th to 29th March 
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival – 25th to 29th March

A report by Ernst and Young shows that Victoria’s major events contributed $1.8 billion to the economy this year, and attracted almost 300,000 interstate and international visitors.

Looking to boost these benefits, the 80 Days of Melbourne is a coordinated business hosting initiative, designed to maximise the trade and investment benefits of these events to Victoria.

The initiative, led by Victorian Deputy Premier Peter Ryan and former Premier Ted Baillieu, plans to attract high profile, senior international business leaders to Melbourne to secure international investment and jobs for the state.

The Victorian Government is turning to the Victorian business community to invite up to 50 global business leaders to attend events of their choice over the 80 days.

While in Victoria, it is hoped that these leaders will network with Victorian business, discussing opportunities for trade, cooperation, or to set up offices in Melbourne.

Introducing the program yesterday (25th August), Victorian Premier Denis Napthine explained “the Victorian … Government has developed a coordinated business hosting initiative, designed to maximise the trade and investment benefits of these events to the state

“80 Days of Melbourne provides a great opportunity to drive growth, investment and jobs by taking advantage of this unrivalled calendar of events.

“The Opening Ceremony of the Asian Football Cup in January and the final of the cricket World Cup in March bookend an incredible 80 Day calendar of sport, arts and culture for Melbourne and Victoria.

“Victoria will also host the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and the Jean Gaultier Art Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.”

Minister Ryan said that the 80 Days of Melbourne sees government and business working as a team, leveraging our strength in major events to build our strength in business.

Minister Ryan added “iIt's through innovative teamwork like this that the Victorian Coalition Government is building a better Victoria.

“80 days of Melbourne will give our first class businesspeople the chance to network with global business leaders and show them that Victoria, with its AAA rated economy, is the best place in the world to do business.

“Investments and partnerships with businesses overseas mean more and better jobs for Victorians.

“80 Days of Melbourne complements our investment attraction and assistance programs which we run out of the Office of State Development.”

Last week, Melbourne was voted the World’s Most Liveable City for the fourth year running by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s liveability survey of 140 cities.

Dr Napthine concluded “our events drive tourism in the state. Tourism is Victoria’s most important industry, directly contributing more than $19.6 billion to the State’s economy each year and more than 200,000 jobs.”

The re-signing of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix contract for another five years, the new Margaret Court Arena construction, and the $298 million investment in Stage 2 of the Melbourne Park Redevelopment further strengthen Melbourne’s position as the sporting capital of Australia and one of the world’s ultimate sporting cities.

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