- Arsenal Football Club and NSW Government agree to Australian-first Tourism Partnership
- Arsenal to play Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers at Stadium Australia in July 2017
- Arsenal to become fifth European superclub to play at Stadium Australia since 2013
- Tickets for the two matches on sale August 2016. Stadium Australia Members will be guaranteed premium seats to both matches
Read the official Arsenal Football Club media release here.
Read NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, media release here.
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ENGLISH Premier League giants Arsenal will play back-to-back matches against Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers at Stadium Australia as part of a new strategic partnership with the NSW Government.
Arsenal Football Club and the NSW Government have announced a multi-year Tourism Partnership, which will culminate in Arsenal playing the two matches at Stadium Australia in July 2017.
The unique partnership will give the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the opportunity to promote and market NSW travel and tourism to Arsenal’s global followers before Arsenal embark on a Sydney tour in 2017.
At the Sydney Opera House to announce the partnership, Arsenal Football Club’s Chief Commercial Officer, Vinai Venkatesham, and Business Development Director, Peter Silverstone, proudly displayed the FA Cup, currently held by the Arsenal club.
Mr Venkatesham said: “We are excited to enter into this partnership with the NSW Government and Destination NSW. As well as being our first partnership agreement in Australia, the deal is unique in combining a tourism partnership with pre-season matches. We look forward to working with our new partner to promote NSW, before bringing our first team to Sydney for two games in 2017 in front of our passionate Australian fans.”
NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, said the partnership would see the State promoted to Arsenal fans around the world.
“This Australian-first partnership will see Sydney and NSW showcased to a global audience every week, giving our State exposure to millions of Arsenal and English Premier League fans. We are proud to be associated with Arsenal, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious football clubs, and look forward to welcoming them to Sydney in 2017,” he said.
Stadium Australia Group Managing Director, Daryl Kerry, said the unique partnership gave fans two huge sporting events to look forward to at Stadium Australia in July 2017.
“Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in the English Premier League, the reigning FA Cup holders, and a club steeped in history and with an enormous following here in Australia,” Mr Kerry said.
“The partnership with Destination NSW is a fantastic initiative and to have the Gunners bringing their elite squad for two games at Stadium Australia will have fans all over the country and overseas making plans to visit Sydney.”
Arsenal will become the fifth European superclub to play at Stadium Australia since 2013, following Sydney visits by Manchester United (2013), Juventus (2014), and Tottenham Hotspur and EPL Champions Chelsea in 2015.
More than 150,000 fans turned out at Stadium Australia earlier this year to see Spurs and Chelsea in action against Sydney FC.
Sydney’s two powerful A-League clubs, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, have agreed to take on Arsenal in back-to-back matches in July 2017.
Full details of the matches featuring mighty Arsenal at Stadium Australia in July 2017 will be announced soon, with tickets expected to go on sale in August 2016.
Further details will be found here.
Minister Stuart Ayres said the two Arsenal tour matches were expected to attract more than 28,000 domestic and international visitors, with a total visitor spend of $18.6 million.
“This continues the NSW Government’s record of attracting the world’s best football teams to Sydney. NSW is the home of world-class football, as this partnership again shows,” he said.
Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, said the partnership would see NSW promoted to millions of football fans around the world.
“Arsenal has an enormous global following, with more than 34 million Facebook fans and 6.6 million Twitter followers. This agreement will see NSW promoted through LED perimeter signage, player and legend access, digital and social promotions, in-stadium activations and match day hospitality,” Ms Chipchase said.
“NSW is Australia’s capital of major sporting events, and Arsenal’s tour in 2017 will join a packed major events calendar, including American College Football, Sydney Sevens rugby, State ockljb25PdmVyJx8IBR90aGlzLmNsYXNzny more.”
Arsenal FC Sydney 2017 was secured with the help of FIFA Match Agents Sidi Airouss and Lou Sticca.
*Stadium Australia Members will be guaranteed seats at the back-to-back blockbusters featuring mighty Arsenal as part of their annual subscription. Member bookings will open later next year, with Members to be advised of booking dates. Enquire here to become a Member.
Impress and indulge your clients with Stadium Australia’s Official Hospitality packages. Choose between a Private Suite, Zone Box or a table of 10 in our Trophy Room to entertain your important clients. Enquiries here.
