THE Sydney Sixers made a popular return to Coffs Harbour this week as cricket fans embraced the carnival atmosphere of the Big Bash League.

Prior to Tuesday night’s match between the Sydneysiders and the Adelaide Strikers, Sixers opening batsman Josh Phillippe and spin bowler Steve O’Keefe were a big hit with local juniors, playing a game of cricket, signing bats and having photographs with their supporters.

A major coup for the region, City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh celebrated hosting the event, which will inject approximately $1.2 million into the region.

“C.ex Coffs International Stadium will once again take centre stage as we welcome these elite cricket
teams and the bumper crowds to watch them in action on Tuesday, 17 January,” Mr Singh said.

“This will be the third year the Sydney Sixers have played in Coffs Harbour and it’s proven to be a highly successful event, delivering significant benefits for the Coffs Coast and local and visiting cricket fans.

“Big events like the BBL put the Coffs Coast firmly in the spotlight and they build on our reputation as a regional sporting capital.”

Mayor Cr Paul Amos said the City of Coffs Harbour has invested in sports infrastructure to be able to host elite level sporting fixtures.

“We are so excited to welcome the Sixers back to the Coffs Coast,” he said.

“So much sport is only available in capital cities which makes us so proud that Coffs Harbour is the Sydney Sixers home away from home.

“The Sixers have created a great relationship with the community and cricket fans of all ages – and who wouldn’t want to return and play in a facility with the quality and reputation of the C.ex Coffs International Stadium and City staff,” Mayor Amos said.

The Big Bash event in Coffs Harbour was made possible by a $120,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Fund is supporting the growth of existing regional events and attracting new major domestic and international events to regional NSW.

“We are serious about driving investment and tourism in the regions – and the Regional Events Acceleration Fund will put more heads on beds, fill restaurants and cafés, and help drive regional NSW’s economic recovery from bushfire, floods, drought, COVID-19 and the current flooding crisis,” Mr Toole said.

“The fund has already supported more than 100 events and attracted an estimated one million visitors to the regions, laying the foundations for a strong recovery across regional NSW.

“Helping organisers host world-class events in their own backyard showcases our great regional towns to national and international audiences.”

Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said regional NSW is the heartland of cricket in NSW, and this funding provides the ability for fans to witness elite cricket in their communities.

“Despite having a significantly smaller population than Sydney, regional NSW accounts for around half of the state’s registered players, more than 250 adolescent cricketers in the Cricket NSW pathway system and produces over 50 per cent of NSW’s contracted professional cricketers,” Mr Germon said.

“Bringing elite cricket to regional NSW is a key priority for our organisation, we know the fans love it, the cricket community loves it and our regional towns benefit significantly from it.

“This funding greatly assists us in doing that.”

The $40 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund is part of the $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund, designed to support growing regional centres, activate local economies and improve services and community infrastructure for regional communities.

By David WIGLEY