Some of the AFL’s biggest Clubs including Richmond, Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood will once again head to Metricon Stadium in what shapes as a bumper season for the Gold Coast SUNS following the 2014 fixture released by the AFL today.
The GC SUNS have received a balanced draw, with three home games at Metricon Stadium scheduled for Saturday nights while the Club will also contest four afternoon matches, with members also set to enjoy more Premiership action in the extremely popular twilight time slot.
Guy McKenna's top 22 will kick-start their 2014 campaign against Richmond at Metricon Stadium on March 15.
After facing the Tigers in Cairns for the past three years, Richmond make their first visit to the Gold Coast with an army of supporters expected to converge to the tourist strip for the season opener.
Speaking exclusively with goldcoastfc.com.au, Auld said the 2014 fixture would provide local businesses and services with a great economic boost, while on-field, would give the team a real opportunity to test themselves against the competition’s best.
“Our members and supporters should be really pleased with our 2014 fixture, on quite a number of fronts,” Auld said.
"Firstly, we kick off the season on the 15th of March, a couple weeks earlier than previously against Richmond.”
“The Tigers haven’t been to Metricon Stadium before. We’ve played them for the last three years in Cairns, and have developed a bit of a rivalry there, winning 2 of the 3 games.”
“They have a huge supporter base, and we are confident many of their fans will travel to Metricon Stadium to watch their team in action and make the most of a weekend away on the Gold Coast."
In a further boost, AFL powerhouse Collingwood will once again headline the list of teams travelling to the Gold Coast.
After an estimated $5 million was injected into the local economy as a result of the Club’s back to back encounters against Collingwood and Carlton in 2013, Auld said the city could again expect a strong return in tourism numbers, in particular with Collingwood and Hawthorn to visit the Gold Coast during Victorian school holidays.
“Importantly for our local economy we have the big Clubs coming here again, and we have seen in the last three years, the impact of having teams like Collingwood come up to the Gold Coast.”
“We have the Pies again which we are really pleased to host, and also Hawthorn and Richmond who have big supporter bases which will travel up to support their teams.”
“A couple of games also fall on the school holiday period, which will also benefit the local economy.”
Significantly the GC SUNS will also return to Cairns, playing the Western Bulldogs at Cazalys Stadium, ensuring the team will once again play 13 of 22 matches in Queensland.
All of the Club’s 22 home and away matches will be broadcast live on 7MATE throughout Queensland and FOX FOOTY throughout the country.
