Fans at the Melbourne Victory v Liverpool match at the MCG in July. Source: News Corp Australia
VICTORIA will roll out the welcome mat to the world's best soccer teams after the overwhelming success of a Melbourne tour by English giant Liverpool this year.
A new economic benefits study commissioned by the Napthine Government has found the historic July fixture between Liverpool and Melbourne Victory at the MCG poured more than three times more money into the state economy than anticipated.
Economists say the sellout match that lured more than 95,000 people to the MCG and painted the town red injected $35 million into the economy instead of the forecast $10 million.
One-third of visitors to Melbourne for the match were from interstate or overseas, spending money on hotels, food, retail and merchandise.
Now Victoria will try to replicate the success of the match, going toe to toe with Sydney in a battle to lure foreign teams Down Under.
The Government has not disclosed how much it cost to bring Liverpool to Melbourne, but Premier Denis Napthine said it would now look to attract other high-profile teams.
A list of potential teams is being drafted by the Government, with the wish list likely to include English Premier League leaders Arsenal and Chelsea and Italian power Juventus.
NSW is also vying for international soccer royalty after this year hosting a match between English champion Manchester United and an A-League Allstars squad and vowing to repeat the fixture with a foreign team next year.
The total attendance of 95,446 at the MCG match was the largest Melbourne soccer crowd in history and the second-biggest round-ball crowd in Australia, behind the 2000 Sydney Olympic final between Spain and Cameroon.
The Accord hotel operating group reported 100 per cent occupancy across 4700 rooms in its chain of Melbourne hotels from the CBD to Glen Waverley on the night of the match.
"Liverpool FC also indicated that the club recorded its highest 24-hour merchandise sales while the team was in Melbourne,'' Dr Napthine said.
"Melbourne, Victoria, once again demonstrated it is a world-leading host of major sporting events and an international sporting capital."
Have your say
Add your comment on this story