Port Macquarie has secured hosting rights of the celebrated Annual State Cup competition for a further five years in an announcement made at the NSW Touch Association media launch this week.
The agreement will see Port Macquarie the host destination until 2016, and continues the region’s long standing association with the state’s premier touch football competition, where it has been staged for the past 23 years.
Tourism and Events Manager Linda Hall said guaranteeing hosting rights of the largest senior touch football event in the world for another five years was critical to the local economy.
“Council is very proud to have been able to retain the event for Port Macquarie,” Ms Hall said.
“Bidding for events is a hugely competitive market, and even though the State Cup has been in Port for 23 years this was a very close win in the tender process.”
The event is a major coup for the region with more than 6000 players and participants converging on Port Macquarie each year, and provides a huge boost to the tourism industry in the usual visitation shoulder period.
“The conservative estimated economic impact for the Port Macquarie community in being the host destination is $2.64 million,” Mrs Hall said.
“Most people arrive on Thursday and stay until Monday which provides the opportunity for indirect marketing to these participants encouraging repeat visitation to our destination.”
With other NSW regional destinations eyeing the event Ms Hall said Council’s job will involve actively working with the organisers to continue to enhance the event each year and ensure Port Macquarie further cements their reputation as “the home of State touch’ in the years to come.
The 35th Annual State Cup was held at the Port Macquarie Regional Sport Stadium from Friday, December 2-4.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council has developed a strong working relationship with the NSW Touch Association and are proud to be a major sponsor of this year’s event.
