Hockey to bring $7m windfall

THE Gold Coast has kicked another post-Commonwealth Games sporting goal by securing the Australian Men’s Masters Hockey Championships next year.

About 80 teams will compete in a competition for over-45 to over-75 age categories in June/July and another in October for the over-40 grade.

The Palaszczuk Government yesterday also announced Cairns would host the Australian Women’s Masters Hockey Championships next year in July.

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the package of events was expected to generate $7.4 million for the state’s tourism economy and generate 40,000 visitor nights across the state.

“Events help to grow our tourism industry and create jobs in Queensland,” she said.

Ms Jones said the Government had more than doubled the value of Queensland’s major events portfolio since 2015, with a calendar that has generated $800 million in 2019.

Assistant Tourism Industry Development Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon said the announcement was a win for the tourism industry on the Coast.

Mayor Tom Tate said it was important that the Coast had secured another major sporting event at a Games venue.

“We are delighted to have secured yet another significant sporting event,” Councillor Tate said.

Hockey Australia CEO Matt Favier thanked Tourism Events Queensland and the respective councils and hockey associations for bringing the events to Queensland.

“The Masters continues to get bigger every year which reflects how popular it is among our hockey community,” he said.