The Gold Coast SUNS will return to Shanghai to play Port Adelaide in 2018.
GC SUNS Chief Executive, Mark Evans, said the club was looking forward to returning to Shanghai for the game to be played during the period the club is unable to play home matches at its traditional home ground, Metricon Stadium, because of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“We are tremendously proud to be representing the Gold Coast in Shanghai once again in 2018,” Evans said.
“While we didn’t reach the level we wanted to on-field last year, the outcomes the game generated for the Gold Coast cannot be underestimated.
“Over the last 12 months we have strengthened our links to the region and with the direct exposure this will generate for the city, we look forward to enhancing the tourism, education and trade & investment opportunities for the broader Gold Coast.
“The Chinese tourism, education and trade & investment markets are a major focus for our city and if we can support the Gold Coast’s endeavours in these three sectors, if we can use our profile to be out there pushing our community’s barrow, then that’s good for the Gold Coast.
“It’s our intention to return to China with a focus on addressing and improving travel arrangements for our players with our partner Virgin Australia, providing appropriate staffing and resources toward the venture and clearer and earlier communication to members and corporates on travel and ticketing options.”
Locally the Gold Coast SUNS will continue to build a connection to our game with the local Chinese community on the Coast.
The GC SUNS also welcomed the South Australian Government’s partnership to the game which will see the venue named Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai.
“The Gold Coast SUNS once again congratulate the Port Adelaide Football Club for driving our game forward globally and we look forward to working with them, the AFL and the games partners to further enhance the match in 2018,” Evans said.
The club will need to relocate four home matches away from Metricon Stadium in 2018 as the GC SUNS traditional home venue will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as well as the Track & Field events.
Evans said the Commonwealth Games had forced the club to be creative with its home games during the period Metricon Stadium is unavailable because of the Commonwealth Games.
“We worked with the AFL to push as many home games as possible into the back half of the season. Pleasingly we will play seven home games at Metricon Stadium after we return to the venue in early June,” Evans added.
“Our home games, played away from Metricon Stadium, in the first half of the season will affect a number of our traditional consumer products for 2018 and as such they will be priced to reflect these impacts.
“To pass on these reductions to our members and stakeholders we have had to work extremely hard to find ways to recoup and generate revenue for the club next season.
“Our game in Shanghai and our strategic partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland, which will see us play games in North Queensland in the future, are two examples of this.
Gold Coast SUNS travel packages will be available for this match through AFL Travel and will include flights, accommodation and match ticketing. Visit www.shanghai2018.com.au for more details and click on the AFL Travel logo.
Match details
Round 9 of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season
Gold Coast SUNS v Port Adelaide
Saturday May 19
Afternoon timeslot
Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium
Shanghai, China
