Rural City of Wangaratta

The Wangaratta Rural City Council, in conjunction with Complete Sports Marketing, has secured the first state or national sporting association event for the Rural City of Wangaratta through the sports tourism initiative.

In August next year, Wangaratta will be the host venue for Baseball Victoria’s 2012 Under 16 State Winter Championships.  The championships will take place over the weekend of 4 – 5 August 2012 at the Wangaratta Baseball Club.  Joining our local baseballers will be participants from Ringwood, Dandenong, Diamond Valley, Geelong, Bendigo, the Latrobe Valley, Sunraysia and North East Victoria.

Mayor of the Rural City of Wangaratta, Cr Roberto Paino, said “the benefits of sports tourism to the region are many and varied, but include: more visitors to the area in off peak times, a greater awareness of the sporting facilities within the municipality and further diversification of our tourism offer.  On average, sports tourists generate approximately $244 income for the region per night as opposed to leisure tourists who usually generate $193 per night.  We see this program as a great opportunity to showcase the region’s strong and proud sporting history and the number of quality sporting facilities available within this region.”

Brett Hidson, Chief Executive Officer of Baseball Victoria, is very enthusiastic about holding the event here and said, “Our representative teams will come from across the state to Wangaratta for a festival of baseball. The Under 16 State Winter Championships provides our country affiliates with a chance to pit their skills against each other in fun, fair and competitive games of baseball.

“Given their strategic location and strong sporting culture the Rural City of Wangaratta and the Wangaratta Baseball Club together with the North Eastern Baseball Association, will provide a wonderful experience for all visitors to the region.”

Baseball Victoria anticipates that our teams will bring about 300 people into the area, all spending within the local community on accommodation, meals and fuel whilst also sampling other elements of the region’s renowned tourism product” he added.

For further information on this event please contact Shivaun Brown– Economic Development Officer – 03 5722 0776

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