With the pride and pomp of the award ceremony closing last night, Melbourne gears up for a colossal tourist weekend.
For many it’s all about the football and who will snatch the coveted Brownlow medal which was this year handed to Eagle Outsider, Matt Priddis.
Pictured: Brownlow medalist, Matt Priddis. Image Source: Getty.
For others it’s about the frocks and shocks that occur on the red carpet. There was no question that Geoffrey Edelsten’s latest love catch, Gabi Grecko won the worst dressed this year with her version of a macabre Lady Gaga.
Pictured: Macarbe Gecko. Image Source: The New Daily.
For Melbourne, the Brownlows mean big bucks in the tourist stakes.
And the proverbial buck doesn’t stop at the crystal chandeliers of the Crown Palladium.
This week’s AFL Grand Final is likely to provide a $40 million boost for Victoria’s economy.
The Sydney Swans showdown against Hawthorn is expected to inject an extra $10 million into the economy, thanks to the arrival of interstate fans, State Treasury figures show.
It is estimated more than 30,700 interstate fans will visit Melbourne for the Grand Final, staying for an average of 2.1 nights
To accommodate these numbers, airlines have succumbed to footy fever and are providing extra services for the Grand Final weekend.
Tigerair Australia is putting on additional services between Sydney and Melbourne this weekend to cater for the anticipated extra demand from Sydney based fans eager to see the Swans take on the Hawks at this year’s Grand Final in Melbourne on Saturday.
Tigerair Australia’s Commercial Director Adam Rowe says that the airline is thrilled to enable sports fans to catch their team in action, particularly around AFL finals time when demand for travel is so great.
“Tigerair is committed to being the consumer champion when it comes to providing value and choice for Australian consumers and we know how important it is to see your team potentially become 2014 champions,” he said.
Virgin Australia, the official airline of the AFL, has also jumped on the extra flights bandwagon.
“We are adding seven extra flights over the weekend to help Sydney fans travel to Melbourne to support their team in the Grand Final,” Virgin Australia Chief Commercial Officer Judith Crompton said.