Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host a 2013 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match that will generate new levels of funding for Indigenous community programs across the country.
The ARL Commission today announced the fourth annual Harvey Norman All Stars match would be held in Brisbane for the first time on Saturday, February 9.
ARLC Interim Chief Executive, Mr Shane Mattiske, today paid tribute to the Gold Coast community for the way they embraced the All Stars concept and noted the exciting opportunities that now lay ahead to grow the event in the future.
“The All Stars is a nationally significant event and it was always intended that it would grow and expand to new locations to allow other local communities to experience its atmosphere,” Mr Mattiske said today.
“The Gold Coast has provided a spectacular launch pad for the event and the inspiration of Preston Campbell, the Titans club and the local community in making the All Stars concept what it is has paved the way for its ongoing success.
“Certainly we will be bringing the match back to the Gold Coast in the future and next year we will be maintaining a presence there with our community activity during the week.
“It is also the right time for new communities to begin experiencing the excitement of the All Stars week and the move to Suncorp Stadium is a natural progression that will enable the event to grow even bigger.
“It will allow more fans to attend and will provide an opportunity to generate more revenue for the Indigenous community programs that are funded from the event.
“Already $4.5 million has been raised and invested in NRL and NRL Club programs and we are looking forward to broadening the reach of those community initiatives in the future.”
Learn Earn Legend! Ambassador Preston Campbell, whose dream inspired the All Stars concept, expressed his disappointment at the event leaving the Gold Coast while endorsing that the game should be shared with as many communities as possible.
“I think the Gold Coast will always be the spiritual home of the event but we want to spread the positive messages and share the All Stars experience with as many communities as possible,” he said.
“I am excited that the Indigenous All Stars and NRL All Stars will spend time on the Gold Coast as part of the week.
“This will acknowledge the work of the local Indigenous and Rugby League communities in founding the event and allow them to pass the baton of true reconciliation on to the broader Brisbane community.
“I look forward to joining NRL All Stars ambassador Darren Lockyer during the event to help ensure its continued success.”
The Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars is a week-long celebration of community, culture and diversity culminating in the match between the NRL All Stars and Indigenous All Stars that features the game’s biggest stars, as selected by the fans.
Importantly, the ARL Commission, with the cooperation of Suncorp Stadium, will ensure that the event is priced affordably to allow all fans the opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match.
The ARL Commission is in the final year of a three-year agreement with Events Queensland to host the event and discussions are underway to consider a renewal of the agreement.
