The GIANTS’ long-term partnership with Canberra and the ACT Government is stronger than ever as the club prepares for it’s first-ever sell out at StarTrack Oval on Saturday.
Ahead of the GIANTS’ clash with Geelong at StarTrack Oval on Saturday, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr joined GIANTS CEO David Matthews and injured ruckman Shane Mumford to promote the game in the nation’s capital.
With tickets selling quickly for Saturday’s match, it’s on track to be the GIANTS’ biggest-ever crowd and one of the biggest AFL games in the nation’s capital.
“This is really what Andrew Barr and Andrew Demetriou and Tony Shepherd and everyone envisaged when we formed this partnership with the ACT Government,” Matthews said.
“We want to deliver great entertainment, we want to deliver big crowds and importantly, the GIANTS want to deliver wins on the field.”
Chief Minister Barr acknowledged the strength and benefits of the partnership for both the club and the community on and off the football field.
“Their on-field performances are now reaching levels I think we always knew was going to be possible for the team but off the field the GIANTS have been an excellent partner for Canberra right from day one,” Barr said.
“The support that we’ve seen for the team from the Canberra community and the broader ACT region has been very encouraging and we look forward to seeing that further develop in the years ahead.”
The GIANTS and the ACT Government are four years into a decade-long partnership that sees the club play three AFL premiership matches and a NAB Challenge match in Canberra every year.
Matthews and Barr met to discuss the 2016 draw on Monday with the GIANTS undefeated in their two games in Canberra so far this year.
The club are hoping to secure a match against a big Victorian club like Richmond in Canberra for next season as they push to bring the AFL's biggest clubs to the nation's capital.
"We'd love to see a club like Richmond, who's heavily supported, who is successful in building on the field,” Matthews said.
"Next year it'll be our turn to have them back into a home fixture and I'm sure that they'd support an opportunity to come to Canberra and develop their fanbase as well."
Matthews said the key to getting big clubs to the ACT was big crowds, and hoped this weekend's match would go some way to proving that.
The GIANTS play Geelong in a blockbuster clash at StarTrack Oval in Canberra on Saturday at 1.45pm with tickets selling fast, CLICK HERE to get yours today.
