- Bunbury ready to host AFL's first-ever in-season regional WA match this Sunday
- Match supported by showcase of South West's world-class food and wine
- Supported by the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA
Bunbury will be buzzing with thousands of visitors this weekend, when the North Melbourne Kangaroos and West Coast Eagles play the AFL's first-ever in-season fixture in regional Western Australia.
It's estimated that half of the game day attendees will travel from outside of the region to attend the sold-out match at Hands Oval.
The region's world-class wine and produce will also be on display at the Western Australia's South West Tasting Experience marquee.
The marquee, which is open to all match attendees, will offer a boundary line view of the match as well as premium food and wine from producers from across the South West, shining a spotlight on the region's rich produce and culinary expertise to out-of-State and out-of-region visitors.
The match is the first of two annual North Melbourne home games taking place in WA as part of a three-year deal secured by the WA Government. The second game will take place at Optus Stadium on Saturday, 14 June against the Fremantle Dockers.
North Melbourne fans have also been able to take advantage of direct flights from Melbourne to Busselton to attend the Bunbury matches, driving visitation to the South West region and boosting local tourism.
A free limited-stop shuttle bus will run on Friday and Saturday to help footy fans arriving at Busselton Margaret River Airport from Sydney and Melbourne transit to Bunbury.
The City of Bunbury is adding to the festivities with the Bunbury Big Weekender, a city-wide four-day celebration with a jam-packed lineup of events, contributing to the hospitality and tourism boom which is expected to generate millions of dollars for the local economy.
Find out more at www.westernaustralia.com
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"This AFL match is more than just a Sunday at the footy for Bunbury - it's an economic supercharger that will bring thousands of visitors to the region who are going to spend valuable tourist dollars at bars, restaurants, accommodation providers, and local businesses.
"Adding to the vibrancy of the match is Western Australia's South West Tasting Experience, which will showcase some of the best of the South West's gourmet offerings - this marquee is something I'm particularly proud of, as we continue our strategy of 'festivalising' sporting events to deliver an elevated fan experience for all involved.
"With direct flights from Melbourne to Busselton, the upgrades to Hands Oval, and the natural and culinary appeal of the iconic South West region, we look forward to seeing this match deliver thousands of visitors to WA."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Hosting these events clearly has fantastic benefits for WA, bringing great value to our State's economy while providing our regional community the opportunity to experience an in-season AFL match.
"I have no doubt Bunbury and our South West will put on an incredible showcase for the many thousands of people travelling to the region for this event.
"Our government's significant investment in improvements at Hands Oval nearly $14 million as part of the $19.5 million redevelopment has meant this facility is now capable of hosting major sporting matches like this."
As stated by South West Minister Don Punch:
"Hosting an AFL fixture in Bunbury is a significant opportunity for us to showcase the offering of our amazing South West region and can I thank all the hard working volunteers who have helped make this happen.
"We're proud to be investing significantly in upgrades for our regional communities, and securing these matches is another example of the work we're doing to create local jobs, drive vibrancy and activate this great pocket of our State."
