Orange’s high-profile reputation as a food and wine destination is being matched by its capacity to host major sporting events, attracting participants, spectators and supporters across the year.
Orange hosted 15 sporting championships during the last twelve months, bringing more than eleven thousand people to town, according to a report to the latest Orange City Council meeting.
Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said sports tourism was becoming a key part of Orange’s business economy.
TITLES : Hosting state-wide indoor hockey tournaments at Anzac Park stadium brings hundreds of people to Orange.
“There’s a common misunderstanding about the value of hosting key sporting events,” Cr Reg Kidd said.
“When a family comes to Orange to watch someone compete in a state championship, there’s a lot of time between games. People visit a local café or supermarket. They eat out at a hotel or restaurant. They buy petrol or browse at a local boutique retail outlet.”
“It all adds up.”
Orange City Council Sport and Recreation Committee chair, Cr Jason Hamling said the economy of Orange gets a major boost, compared to the costs of hosting sporting titles.
“This financial year, it’s cost Orange City Council around $83,500 to attract and stage these 15 sporting events, but it’s estimated the flow-on impact to local businesses is worth $5.2 million dollars,” Cr Jason Hamling said.
“It’s good to see the list of these sporting special events growing steadily in recent years. Three years ago there were 9 events, then it was 12 and in this financial year it’s grown to 15. Alongside our major food and wine festivals, it’s brilliant that another fifteen events spread throughout the year, can continue to deliver a boost for our accommodation, hospitality and retail industries.”
IMPACT : Sports Committee chair, Cr Jason Hamling unveils plans to bring another major sporting event to Orange.
“It’s important to note that this is the list of events where the Council has provided support, either through funding or practical work like preparing grounds. If you included other major events like the Running Festival or the campdraft which are self-supporting, the economic impact on Orange would be much higher.”
The list of major events hosted in 2018/2019 includes :
- 2018 Cycling NSW Masters Road Cycling Championships (September 2018)
- NSW Inter Academy Netball Challenge (September/1 October 2018)
- NSW U/13 Indoor Hockey State Championships (November 2018)
- Classic Wallabies v Central West Barbarians (November 2018)
- Mountain Bike Australia State Cross Country Championships (December 2018)
- Western NSW U/13 Cricket Carnival (January 2019)
- Western NSW U/15 Cricket Carnival (January 2019)
- NSW Over 50s State Cricket Championships (February 2019)
- NSW Over 70S State Cricket Championships (February/March 2019)
- 2019 Triathlon NSW Club Championships (March 2019)
- Water Polo NSW Under 12s Gala Festival (March 2019)
- Newcrest Orange Challenge (March 2019)
- Athletics NSW Orange Fun Run (March 2019)
- Shute Shield – Easts V Parramatta (June 2019)
- NSW Under 14 Rugby State Championships (June 2019)
The trend of hosting major sporting events is set to continue. The list of events confirmed for the coming months includes :
- 2019 NSW Touch Regionals 13 & 14 July 2019
- Karting NSW Jackpot Series 20-22 September 2019
- NSW Inter Academy Netball Challenge 28 – 30 September 2019
- NSW U/13 Indoor Hockey State Championships 1-4 November 2019
- Mountain Bike Australia State Cross Country Championships 16 & 17 November 2019
