A series of sporting events backed by the state government over the past year have added value to Western Australia’s economy.
A series of sporting events backed by the state government over the past year have added value to Western Australia’s economy.
WA generated $286 million from government-funded events during the 2023-24 financial year, with $184 million of this courtesy of major and mass participation events.
"Our world-class facilities, including the international award-winning RAC Arena and Optus Stadium, provide incredible venues for major events, holding massive crowd numbers and delivering an event experience that often results in events returning to Perth time and time again,” tourism minister Rita Saffioti said.
"We have so much to offer visitors from all over the world, and this event strategy is clearing giving many thousands of people a reason to come to Western Australia and see all that we have to offer."
From a sporting tourism perspective, a decision to host a World Wrestling Entertainment: Elimination Chamber event at Optus Stadium, beamed live into the US during the early hours on a Saturday morning, paid off, adding $36.2 million in value.
Perth’s hosting of five 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches at HBF Park also generated $25.3 million to the local economy.
Despite host nation Australia not featuring in any of the matches, three of the five matches involved China, Colombia and Ireland – nations which have large numbers of expatriates living in either WA or on Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Other significant sporting events included the June pre-season friendly between Italian football clubs AC Milan and AS Roma – which resulted in 7,500 out-of-state visitors and generated $8.9 million, along with May boxing bout at RAC Arena between George Kambosos Jr and Vasily Lomachenko, which yielded $4.1 million.
There was also plenty of upside from the HSBC SVNS Perth tournament in January at HBF Park, which showcased rugby union’s condensed form.
A three-day event in which Australia qualified but proceeded to lose both men’s and women’s finals to Argentina and Ireland respectively, attracted more than 3,600 out-of-state or international visitors, along with generating an economic impact of $7.4 million.
Earlier this month, Western Force chief executive officer Niamh O’Connor told Business News that the club had been working with the state government over the past year and a half in order to harness available data, from events such as the HBSC SVNS, to enhance understanding of its target market.
