THE head of Optus Stadium is reportedly keen to poach either the MCG’s Boxing Day Test or the SCG’s New Year’s Day Test.
The $1.6 billion venue’s chief executive Mike McKenna says he’s very keen for talks about hosting the events, with Cricket Australia’s deal with the MCG expiring at the end of the summer and its deal with the SCG set to run out in 2022.
“If the opportunity comes to talk to us, we would be very keen to have those conversations,” Mr McKenna told The Age.
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“We had a very good conversation with Cricket Australia and we know what the timings are and what the opportunities are.”
Mr McKenna said if iconic sporting events like the Boxing Day or New Year’s Day tests were to become available, the WA government would be keen to assist.
“It’s a decision for them (CA) but we as a venue, we are here to host the biggest and best events and if the opportunity came to host the Boxing Day Test here, or even the New Year’s Test, we would be all over it,” he said.
“We are definitely keen to attract as many iconic events.
”If we could get an iconic cricket date – Australia Day has worked really well for SACA (the South Australian Cricket Association) over the years – things have now become a bit more fluid, so it’s those sorts of dates.”