- All eyes on Western Australia as Wallabies vs Springboks 2024 Rugby Championship test match and UFC 305 arrive in Perth
- Massive weekend of international sport expected to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors, injecting millions into the WA economy
- First time the Wallabies have played a test match in Perth since 2017
- UFC 305 the only UFC Pay-Per-View event currently scheduled for Australia in 2024
- Supported by the Western Australian Government
Western Australia is set to reap the benefits of a huge blockbuster weekend of international sport, with a rugby and UFC doubleheader expected to generate millions of dollars for the local economy.
The weekend action kicks off with the Wallabies taking on reigning Rugby World Cup champions the South African Springboks at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, before UFC 305 takes over RAC Arena on Sunday morning.
UFC 305 is the only UFC Pay-Per-View event currently scheduled for Australia in 2024, and will be headlined by recently crowned UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former champion and current No.2 contender Israel Adesanya.
The weekend drawcard is expected to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors to Perth, particularly from South Africa with the new non-stop direct flight up and running between Johannesburg and Perth.
Athletes from both the Wallabies and Springboks, as well as the UFC fighters, have spent the week in Perth preparing for the weekend and participating in local activities, including a joint visit to Perth UFC star Jack Della Maddalena’s training gym, rugby clinics at local schools and clubs across Perth and regional WA as part of the Gold Blooded Tour, as well as a UFC open workout in the lead-up to the ceremonial weigh-in tomorrow.
The Wallabies vs Springboks test match is a fixture in the 2024 Rugby Championship and will be the first time the Springboks have played a test match in Perth since 2017, and the first time the Wallabies have played at Optus Stadium since their underdog triumph over England in 2022.
UFC 305: DU PLESSIS vs ADESANYA was a quick sellout when general public tickets went on sale and features a stacked main card, with Perth’s own and recent flyweight title contender Steve Erceg taking on New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France in addition to the Du Plessis vs Adesanya championship bout.
Both events are expected to draw a significant broadcast audience, putting eyes across the world on Western Australia, particularly with UFC 305 being broadcast live to more than 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries and territories in 50 different languages.
The return of UFC comes after the Perth-hosted UFC 284: MAKHACHEV vs VOLKANOVSKI event set a series of records in 2023 – including the highest grossing ticket revenue for any arena in Australia, beating The Rolling Stones’ 2014 record in Sydney.
UFC 284 injected a massive $16 million into the Western Australian economy and attracted more than 8,400 out-of-state visitors, with more than 33,300 hotel room nights booked over the event weekend in February 2023.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“The eyes of the world will be on Western Australia once again this weekend.
“This blockbuster weekend of international sports will draw thousands of visitors to our State, delivering a massive boost for local businesses and local jobs this winter.
“It’s part of our plan to turn WA into one of the region’s major events capitals, to strengthen our economy and set up our State for the long term.”
As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Our huge weekend of international sport is finally here, and not only are we excited to see all the action unfold, we’re also very keen to reap the tourism and economic benefits that these major events bring to our State.
“We pride ourselves on having an always-on, year-round schedule of exciting and unique events that attract more visitors to Western Australia, and hosting these international rugby and UFC events is so important, particularly during our winter months.
“Of course, with the new direct flight now up and running between Perth and Johannesburg, it’s much easier for South African fans to travel to Perth to cheer on the Springboks and their UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis which, importantly, will also boost out-of-state attendance across the two events.”
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
“We know that sporting fans love to come to Perth for a high-stakes sporting event in any one of our world-class sporting venues, and I have no doubt Optus Stadium and RAC Arena will be packed out this weekend with passionate fans.
“Major events like these deliver a huge return on investment for our State’s economy, repaying our investment into state sporting infrastructure time and again, ensuring a sustainable, long-term sports and events industry.”
