Ballarat Identified as Possible Asian Cup Venue

Matches and training leading up to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup could be played at Ballarat’s new soccer stadium in 2014, potentially providing a boost to the city’s tourism industry and sporting.

Football Federation Victoria CEO Mark Rendell said the new purpose-built stadium at Morshead Park would be considered for training and matches if its pitch was of a suitable standard.

“Ballarat would be a superb location to host visiting Asian national teams as they arrive early to acclimatise and prepare for the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, ailment ” he said.

“I understand that the new stadium is planned to be in great shape by then, but much will depend on the quality of the pitch, the standard of media facilities, lighting and the proximity of quality accommodation as well.”

National teams may arrive in Australia up to three weeks before the competition starts in mid-January, giving Ballarat the potential to host training sessions of teams such as Japan, China, UAE, India and South Korea training in the city in the lead-up to the tournament.

“If a pre-Asian Cup international friendly were to be broadcast and played in Ballarat, it would attract tens of millions of television viewers and would no doubt put Ballarat on the world sporting stage,” Rendell said.

Ballarat Red Devils vice-president Andrew Burgess said he was excited about the prospect of international soccer in Ballarat.

“This really is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get football, and more broadly the City of Ballarat, well and truly front and centre in Australia and, for that matter, Asia,” he said.

“We need to get on the front foot now and start the work, so that we can in two-and-a-half years look back and say we did whatever it took to get this done.”{jcomments on}