Stadium to host Girls of Gridiron

The Girls of Gridiron will play in Dunedin in a New Zealand-first.
The Girls of Gridiron will play in Dunedin in a New Zealand-first.
Another national first is being staged at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Australian event promoter Darryl Tombleson has announced he is bringing the Girls Of Gridiron to Dunedin on November 16.

The show will comprise a 90-minute game between two teams of 10 female athletes, from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Live music as well as entertainment by cheerleaders would also be provided, in the first and only Girls Of Gridiron show in New Zealand, Mr Tombleson said.

The game would be followed by an ''on-the-pitch afterparty'' where audience members could meet the players, he said.

''It hasn't been done in New Zealand before and will actually be the first Girls Of Gridiron tour in Australasia.''

Last year the Sydney-based promoter brought the world's largest indoor rodeo show to Dunedin's stadium, which attracted about 7500 people.

He was ''giving the rodeo a break'' this year, he explained, so he could focus on other events.

Mr Tombleson hoped 10,000 people would buy tickets to the American football game in Dunedin.

It would follow a Sydney game on November 2.

About 40% of audience members at Girls Of Gridiron events were females, he said.

The players wore tight shorts and tops under their padding, and less clothing in promotional photographs.

But the women were all well-trained athletes and not just pretty to look at, Mr Tombleson said.

''They are actual athletes who have trained for quite a few years at gridiron. They look the part and physically play the part too.''

The average ticket price would be about $35, and tickets would be available through TicketDirect, Mr Tombleson said.

He chose Dunedin's stadium because he had ''formed a relationship'' with Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML).

''The stadium is underutilised and we want to build on that relationship,'' he said.

DVML yesterday confirmed the event was planned for November 16 and tickets were on sale.

rosie.manins@odt.co.nz

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