Hume City Council has broken ground on a Victorian-first entertainment facility for the municipality.
Set to open at Melbourne Airport next year, the custom-built AFL Max entertainment and education centre will add to the landscape of specialist tourism attractions and sports venues near Melbourne Airport alongside Australia’s first surf park URBNSURF and the Essendon Football Club.
“AFL Max is set to be a game-changer for Hume, offering a unique entertainment and education experience that will create jobs, boost tourism, and provide new opportunities for families, schools, and footy fans,” said Mayor, Naim Kurt.
“This $10 million capital investment will provide 120 jobs to our local economy and drawing over 200,000 visitors annually to our City, enhancing our reputation as a premier leisure destination.
“With the introduction of AFL Max alongside URBNSURF, and the Essendon Football Club, Hume is fast cementing itself as a home for destination sport facilities in Melbourne.”
It will be Victoria’s first AFL Max venue, which has already proven to be a huge success in South Australia, featuring indoor footy field, trampolines, climb zones, interactive screens, skill-testing attractions and more.
Given Victoria’s strong affiliation with Australian rules football it’s projected AFL Max will attract an annual visitation of up to 200,000 people, Council said in a statement.
“The introduction of this unique offer will further position Hume as a visitor destination with diverse experiences for both locals and visitors, helping drive spend and repeat visitation, stimulating overnight stays, and disperse visitors across other tourism and hospitality businesses in Hume including hotels, cafes, restaurants, retail, attractions and parks,” it said.
“It also presents opportunities for local schools to participate in curriculum programs such as overnight camps and excursions, that are facilitate within the safety of the venue.
“Welcoming AFL Max to Hume supports Council’s commitment to delivering experiences that give all people the opportunity to get active, have fun and engage in lifelong learning.
“By delivering entertainment, education, and engaging programs, AFL Max supports Council’s vision to offer our community access to safe, unique and fun experiences.
“We look forward to growing Hume City’s already strong connection to our national game, and seeing our youth develop their physical, social and emotional wellbeing in this unique environment,” the Council said.
