The Allan Labor Government is backing Victoria's summer of cricket and Melbourne's iconic Boxing Day Test with action inside and outside the MCG with the Summer Festival in Yarra Park.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today joined Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, Melbourne Renegades WBBL champion Nicole Faltum and Victoria player Todd Murphy at Australia's home of cricket to announce a three-day festival, with fun for the whole family.
The Boxing Day Test will be bigger and better than ever with a Summer Festival in Yarra Park before history is made in January with the Women's Ashes Test between Australia and England.
To match the excitement inside the ground, Yarra Park will be filled with family friendly activities - the Summer Festival will take place for the first three days of the Boxing Day Test match, helping celebrate the rich connection between India and Victoria, with a focus on food, music, art, cricket and community.
The Summer Festival will feature live music, Bollywood dance performances, celebrity chef demonstrations, food trucks and pitches for pop-up cricket games and each morning experts will provide a preview of the day's play and big screens will show all the action from inside the ground throughout the day.
When India travelled to Australia for the summer Test series in 2018, more than 176,000 cricket fans from Australia and overseas filling the 'G' across the five days.
And this year could smash those numbers with ticket sales this year at more than double those at the same stage in 2018/19, with more than 10 per cent of ticket sales from international fans.
As an added bonus after stumps on day three, fans will also have the opportunity to walk across to John Cain Arena to see the first ever professional Kabaddi matches played in Australia. The second biggest sport in India behind cricket, Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid will feature a double header with Indian and Australian sporting superstars.
Outside of the Boxing Day Test, Victoria's calendar of cricket includes men's Big Bash League action throughout December and January and a women's Ashes one day international leading to the historic women's test match.
The Boxing Day Test and the Women's Ashes Test are just two of many major blockbuster events across Victoria including the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Yayoi Kusama Exhibition at the NGV - all contributing to Victoria's $39.2 billion visitor economy.
To book your seat at the Boxing Day Test and the Women's Ashes, visit ticketek.com.au.
For tickets to Pro Melbourne Raid, visit johncainarena.com.au/event/pro-kabaddi-league-melbourne-raid-2024/.
As stated by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos
"This year's Boxing Day Test will be thrilling showdown between two test cricket-loving nations and a celebration of Victoria's strong ties with India. It'll be a huge boost to our local economy, filling our hotels, bars and restaurants as some of the world's most passionate cricket fans come to Melbourne to pack the MCG."
"This year there will be as much action outside the MCG as inside with the Summer Festival providing fun for fans of all ages."
As stated by Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley
"The Boxing Day Test at the MCG is globally recognised as one of the most iconic fixtures on the cricket calendar. The rivalry between Australia and India just gets bigger and bigger and we can't wait to see the MCG full on Boxing Day."
"We'd like to thank the Victorian Government for their support of the Indian-inspired Summer Festival in Yarra Park, which will certainly add to the experience of fans coming to the MCG. We encourage everyone to secure their tickets as soon as possible to be part of this historic and memorable occasion."
"We are also counting down to the Women's Ashes, which will culminate with the Pink Ball Test from January 30. Similar to the Women's T20 World Cup Final in 2020, this will be a celebration of another milestone moment for cricket with the first ever day-night Test at the MCG."
