Mr Demetriou arrived at the Gold Coast ahead of the 2013 NAB AFL Draft which will be held at the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre at 6pm Thursday November 21.
Minister Stuckey said the partnership between the AFL and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland continued to strengthen.
“Events like the 2013 NAB AFL Draft showcase the Gold Coast as a leading sporting events destination,” Ms Stuckey said.
“2014 is set to be an exciting year for AFL fans in Queensland with matches to be staged from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
“The AFL action will kick off in February with a pre-season NAB Challenge in Townsville between the Brisbane Lions and GC SUNS.
“In July, Western Bulldogs fans will have a reason to escape the winter chill and book a trip to Cairns for Round 17 of the AFL Toyota Premiership against the GC SUNS at Cazaly’s Stadium.
“Rounding out the year, we will see the NAB AFL Draft return for the third consecutive year to the Gold Coast in November.
“Supporting major events like these through Tourism and Events Queensland forms part of our commitment to double annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020.”
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou stated that the Government’s support of the code ensured the continued growth of the sport in a key market such as Queensland.
“The AFL has enjoyed a great working relationship with the state of Queensland for many years, and we know we will do so into the future through the Premier Campbell Newman along with Minister Stuckey and their Government,” Mr Demetriou said.
“The Gold Coast is a fantastic background to showcase the next generation of talent getting selected by the 18 AFL Clubs,” Mr Demetriou said.
