Arsenal Football Club and the New South Wales (NSW) Government have announced a multi-year tourism partnership, which will culminate in the Gunners playing two pre-season matches against Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers at ANZ Stadium in Sydney in July 2017.
The 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 following. Destination NSW is particularly focused on using the partnership to gain exposure in the UK, China and the United States, countries where the club has a particularly large and engaged fanbase.
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Destination NSW will become Arsenal’s official tourism partner for Australia, with the ability to utilise a wide range of rights including LED perimeter signage, player and legend access, digital and social promotions, in-stadium activations and matchday hospitality.
Arsenal’s chief commercial officer, Vinai 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.”
ANZ Stadium managing director Daryl Kerry said the tour would give Sydney two sporting blockbusters back-to-back in 2017.
“Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in the Premier League, the reigning FA Cup champions, 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 ANZ Stadium will have fans all over the country and overseas making plans to visit Sydney.”
Details of the Arsenal matches to be played at ANZ Stadium in July 2017 will be announced in due course, with tickets expected to go on sale by September 2016.
Further details will be found can be found at ANZSTADIUM.COM.AU/ARSENALFC