Metricon Stadium, the home of the Gold Coast SUNS, will host its first International cricket match this summer after striking a deal with Cricket Australia.
Australia will play South Africa in a Gillette T20 International at Metricon Stadium on November 17.
Gold Coast SUNS Chief Executive Officer Mark Evans said the club was thrilled to host its first International cricket fixture.
“As manager of the venue the Gold Coast SUNS are absolutely delighted that Metricon Stadium will host an International T20 cricket match in November,” Evans said.
“Metricon Stadium is a world class regional multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue that has a proven track record of delivering outstanding events and experiences whether that be an AFL match, major international athletics meet, concerts and now cricket.
“Hosting cricket at Metricon Stadium was front of mind in the early stages of redeveloping the facility and after working collaboratively with Cricket Australia over what amounts to nearly eight years, we’re excited to partner with Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket. to deliver International Cricket to Metricon Stadium.
“We are thrilled that within a 12-month window Metricon Stadium will have hosted an International T20 fixture, the Australian National Athletics Championships, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games as well as its track and field events in addition to and AFL, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to bring more cricket to Metricon Stadium in the future.
“In collaboration with our Cricket funding partners, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to invest heavily in our cricket infrastructure, including the curation of drop in wickets – a first for an international stadium in Queensland, installation of practice wickets within the Metricon Stadium precinct and resourcing our horticulture and ground staff to bring this opportunity to life.
“We have been able to deliver some of these enhancements with support from the City of Gold Coast who share our vision of making the Gold Coast a real option for the games where elite cricket is readily accessible to the local community.
“It makes sense that cricket expands into Australia’s sixth biggest city and Metricon Stadium is the perfect home for cricket and its fans on the Gold Coast.”
Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Max Walters said Queensland offered greater venue versatility and hosting potential than any other State.
“Australian Cricket’s strategic vision includes a challenge to us as a sport to innovate and look beyond traditional boundaries,’’ Walters said.
“The Gold Coast and southern Queensland region is a major growth area and it is important for us to be active and innovative in what we can provide for fans and participants here.”
“Creating Metricon as a cricket venue in partnership with Cricket Australia, the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games, and the City of Gold Coast and Gold Coast Suns means that we can offer a greater variety of ICC approved venues than any other State in terms of hosting men’s and women’s international cricket.”
Tickets for the Men’s 2018-19 International summer will go on sale in June.
