This ends a successful 12-year partnership with Wollongong Touch Association, Tourism Wollongong and Wollongong Council who have acted as hosts of the event over this period of time. Both Wollongong and Port Macquarie presented compelling tenders in an effort to win the bid and the Board of the NSWTA faced an agonising decision over which proven venue would hold the event for the next three years. The final decision came down to a view on the capacity to grow the event.
“We have had a fantastic relationship with our partners in Wollongong however the unfortunate reality is that with the rate of growth being experienced in this event we have outgrown capacity in both venue and accommodation and this was the delineating factor between the two bids,” NSWTA General Manager, Dean Russell, stated.
Of concern to the Board was the very real situation that the NSWTA would be forced to turn children away from playing the sport in future years had the event remained at Wollongong. In essence the success of the event at Wollongong has also seen its demise as a venue with the 2012 event notable being beyond capacity with 311 teams. The Board is very aware of the popularity of the Wollongong venue however must also keep in their mind the need for the youth of the sport to continue to develop and grow. The Port Macquarie venue has a proven record in hosting major events of both the NSWTA and Touch Football Australia and has both field and accommodation capacity to continue the growth of the event and in context allow for more youths to be exposed to the Junior State Cup.
“Although we are sad to be leaving Wollongong we are extremely confident that the partnerships already established in Port Macquarie with the NSWTA will continue the strong development of this event,” Russell said.
“The Board are extremely aware of the difficulties this will place on those from the southern regions of New South Wales in attending. These are similar to those already being faced by youths who are not able to participate from the far northern parts of the state in its current location. We will be reviewing ways and means to provide further opportunities in the southern part of New South Wales to continue youth development during the 2013-2015 period.”
While the NSWTA will be leaving the Wollongong venue with fond memories it is looking forward to an exciting new chapter. The strong partnership that already exists with the NSWTA and the Port Macquarie region were also strong points of reference when considering Port Macquarie as a venue.
“The Port Macquarie tender was, as it is always, strong and the existing relationships at all levels were a binding force when the Board considered the move. We are extremely excited about the potential that the move to Port Macquarie for the Junior State Cup offers us,” Russell said.
The 2013 Junior State Cup will be held in Port Macquarie at the Regional Stadium and Tuffins Lane Complex on Saturday, 16 and Sunday, 17 February 2013.
