SYDNEY, Nov. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sports fans will get the rare chance to attend an American college football game when the College Football Sydney Cup is played next year. The game will be the opening round of the 2016 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One College Football Championships, and will be held at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Saturday 27 August 2016. 

The game will see the University of California Golden Bears play the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.  It is the first time the NCAA has started its season in Australia.

Travelling and local fans are set to get the full American football experience with both University teams bringing cheerleaders, mascots and marching bands.

The New South Wales (NSW) Government Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, said the American Football event would provide a fantastic day of entertainment, a huge live broadcast audience and a boost of $10 million to the NSW economy.

"The University of California and the University of Hawaii have well recognised and established football programs which will ensure that this game delivers all the excitement and atmosphere of college football to Sydney.

"Both Universities have enormous followings in the USA, and will see thousands of fans from across Australia and around the world travelling to NSW to watch this opening round game," Mr Ayres said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase said, "As Australia's home of major events, Sydney is the perfect destination for the College Football Sydney Cup. Sydney knows how to welcome its visitors and is a wonderful place for fans to begin a memorable holiday in NSW."

The College Football Sydney Cup follows recent successes where Sydney has secured a major US sporting event. In 2014 Sydney hosted the Opening Series of the Major League Baseball, in a sell-out game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the LA Dodgers.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 December with travel package details to be released.

For information on Sydney and New South Wales, visit www.sydney.com or www.visitnsw.com.

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Media Contact:
Laura Kelly, Destination NSW
Email: laura.kelly@dnsw.com.au
Tel: 02 9931 1164/ Mob: 0411 777 676

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SOURCE Destination NSW