Sporting events to boost local economy

As part of the City of Stirling’s Economic and Tourism Strategy 2021-2025, the City will provide $26,456 to AusCycling to deliver part of the 2023 BMX National Series at Westside BMX in Balcatta. The upcoming event is the latest addition to a strong sports line-up in the City which includes:  

• 19 Perth Glory men’s and women’s team matches:​
  • Nine Perth Glory Liberty A-League games between 27 November 2022 and 26 March 2023
  • 10 Perth Glory ISUZU UTE A-League games between 10 December 2022 and 1 April 2023
• The 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships between 25 March and 2 April 2023
• Two rounds of the 2023 BMX National Series on 15-16 April 2023.

The AusCycling BMX National Rounds are some of the largest and most important BMX events in Australia, with the six rounds held throughout the year counting towards the BMX National Cup. Outside of the National Championships, these events represent the highest level of competition in Australian BMX.

In 2019, the City sponsored BMX Australia’s Bad Boy National Series Stage 2 at Westside BMX, an event that attracted 869 visitors and generated an estimated $286,000 for the local economy. Remplan modelling estimates a direct economic impact of $437,760 from the 2023 event, which would represent a substantial return on the City’s investment.

Support for these events stems from the City’s Economic and Tourism Development Strategy, which provides long-term strategic direction for industry development and support over the next 20 years, and aims to achieve over $200 million in external investment, 10,000 new jobs and 700,000 new visitors by 2041.

Mayor Mark Irwin said data indicated that continued support for major sporting events would stimulate the local economy and generate positive employment and economic impacts for City businesses.

“Supporting large sporting events such as the 2023 BMX National Series is part of Council’s vision to create a vibrant City, where economic investment is encouraged and visitors are attracted to local centres,” he said.

AusCycling anticipates the total number of visitors and competitors at more than 1,200, with 60 per cent of participants visiting from interstate.

“With the Perth Glory games starting in November, the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships returning to our shores in late March 2023 and the BMX National Series occurring in mid-April, the City is looking forward to a truly exciting line-up of sport.”

The 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (The Aussies) are expected to bring members from 314 surf clubs together to compete in more than 480 beach and ocean events at Scarborough and Trigg Beaches.

Western Australia last hosted the event in April 2018 at Scarborough and Trigg Beaches, generating about $15.8 million and bringing in more than 8,500 interstate and international visitors.

These two major sporting events complete the sports trifecta in the City of Stirling, with Perth Glory recently confirming their men’s and women’s teams will play a combined 19 games of their summer season at Macedonia Park, Balcatta between November 2022 and April 2023.

Mayor Mark Irwin said sporting momentum was building, kicking off with the women’s Perth Glory A-League fixtures at Macedonia Park from late November.

"These games are expected to have a significant economic impact in Balcatta and surrounding suburbs, and will offer a great opportunity to residents who will be within walking distance of this level of sport.

"The City is looking forward to working with the organisers, clubs and broader community to ensure these games are a great success."

The City has also released details of the 2022/23 events season including markets, street foods, fairs, festivals, shows and tournaments across the City.