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http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/04/12/214175_local-news.html
Far North's rugby league kicks in $65m to economy
Nick Dalton
Thursday, April 12, 2012
RUGBY league is worth $65 million a year to the Far North. A new study revealing the value of the sport will be used by rugby league to leverage sponsorship, council and government funding as well as other fundraising.
The $60,000 economic impact study was commissioned by all rugby league interests in the Far North and has taken nine months to complete by Cummings Economics, in conjunction with a strategic plan by Kleinhardt Business Consultants.
Northern Pride chief executive officer Chris Sheppard said the study involved all league organisations, including the Pride, Cairns District Rugby League, Remote Area Rugby League and schools speaking as "one voice".
"We as a sport are speaking as one voice and it proves rugby league is more than just a grassroots sport," he said.
Mr Sheppard said it would provide league with a factual, quantitative document with which it can prove to the national and state league, all levels of government and businesses the true value of the sport to the region.
He said he believed it showed that league was the leading sport in the region, with 340,000 people watching games each year and $14 million in revenue generated from that, including air fares, accommodation, tickets and canteen sales.
He said the documents would be used in submissions for grants, fundraising and sponsorships.
"We will no longer have to go hand on heart when asking for funding. We can show them facts and figures," Mr Sheppard said.
He said the reports would help grow the sport in Cairns and be used to improve infrastructure, including the construction of a rectangular stadium and to lure an NRL game to be played in Cairns.