Off the wire
• Bulgarian president wants referendum on key electoral issues  • Australian Open continues to be growing economic winner for Melbourne  • Kenya's Rudisha skips Birmingham meet over injury  • 3 civilians killed in E. Ukraine as peace talks stall  • China's Landocean to join exploration of Cambodia's Offshore Block D  • Spanish PM sends condolences to China over Yangtze cruise ship tragedy  • ECB keeps interest rates unchanged as euro area inflation rises  • Weather information for Asia-Pacific cities  • Feature: Nepal quake brings golden journey of living Goddess "Bungmati Kumari" to early end  • NATO to hold exercise to test communications systems  
You are here: 　 Home

Melbourne's push to lure top U.S sports

Xinhua, June 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Victorian government has revealed plans for a 543-million U.S dollar upgrade of its major sporting precinct in Melbourne as it actively pursues more world-class sporting events, such as NBA and NHL games.

Rod Laver Arena, part of the Melbourne Park precinct, is currently used for the Australian Open tennis tournament, concerts, and other marquee events like wrestling and basketball, but state Sports Minister John Eren wants the venue to be used more than it currently is.

At the unveiling of the second stage of plans to upgrade the 27-year-old venue and its surrounds, Eren told News Corp on Wednesday that he wants more American sports to showcase their best talent in the sporting capital of Australia.

He said the half billion U.S dollar investment could entice the USA's best basketball and ice hockey teams to use the venue during their respective off seasons.

"We like the sound of American football, we like NBA, we like the NHL hockey," he said.

"We like a lot of those events that people love and we want to ensure that we get those events."

The news comes just weeks after Etihad Stadium entered negotiations with U.S college football teams about playing an annual bowl game in the city from 2016.

Eren said taking advantage of demand for international marquee events would bolster the state's reputation and increase economic activity.

"We like a lot of those events that people love and we want to ensure that we get those events."

"We are the envy of not only other states and territories but the envy of the world."

The upgrades will bring 1,300 jobs to the Melbourne Park precinct, and include a brand new concourse and a facelift to the aging facade.

A footbridge link the precinct with the iconic Federation Square will be built, while a wider array of dining options and a new administration and media center will also be installed.

Eren said capacity would increase for concerts and other one-off events, but it is expected that tennis crowds will remain the same.

The venue is seldom used between April and October, and Eren said the upgrades to Rod Laver Arena would serve to grow the number of events on the calendar.

The construction contract is expected to be awarded later this year, while work will begin following the 2016 Australian Open next February.

The project is expected to take up to four years; the state government has flagged its intentions to have works finished by 2020. Endit