Melbourne secures Grand Prix for another five years
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4 July 2008
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Melbourne will host the Australian Grand Prix until at least 2015 after securing a new contract with Formula One Management in London.
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Victorian Premier John Brumby said the Grand Prix was the jewel in Melbourne’s major events strategy.
“The Grand Prix has been an outstanding event for Victoria over a long period of time and has helped put Melbourne on a global stage. Retaining the event is important to Victoria’s ongoing growth and prosperity.
The race will be held at 5pm next year and an agreement has been reached to not use any artificial lighting for the term of the contract.
Next year’s later start time will mean even greater TV audiences in the United Kingdom, Asia and European markets which means more exposure for brand “Melbourne” than ever before.
Mr Brumby said the Grand Prix delivered value for money for Victoria, in terms of the event itself, the international exposure for Victoria and its capacity to act as a drawcard for other major events.
“The Grand Prix brings big spending tourists, creates employment and business opportunities and provides Victorians with another opportunity to enjoy world-class entertainment in their own capital city,” Mr Brumby said.
“The massive television exposure that Melbourne receives year in year out has helped build our world-wide reputation as a great place to visit and a great place to live.
In 2008, more than 300,000 people attended the four-day event and saw Lewis Hamilton win, the return of the V8 Supercars and a two-hour concert rock concert from KISS at the conclusion of the race.
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