Melbourne and Sydney will stage the first-ever U-NITE clash at Etihad Stadium on October 9 to celebrate multiculturalism and diversity.
The Hyundai A-League Round 10 match, which will feature two of the competition’s strongest rivals, will also celebrate the cultural diversity of both cities, with international music and food on offer as well as top-quality football.
The Victorian state government has contributed $20,000 to the concept, which will be used to give 800 disadvantaged young people from around Melbourne a chance to watch the game and experience the famous Etihad Stadium atmosphere.
Acting Victorian premier Rob Hulls helped launch the match on Thursday and said it was a great way to encapsulate the multicultural feeling of the city.
“Victorians are proud of our multicultural heritage and that’s why we are proud to support programs that both promote and strengthen our rich cultural diversity,” Hulls said.
“Football is a passion for so many Victorians and the success of the Melbourne Victory is helping bring diverse communities together to celebrate their passion for the world game.”
Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord said it was an excellent opportunity to engage with existing supporters and bring new supporters through the gate.
“Our football club is all about the fans and we have created a fantastic environment for people to come to enjoy our game,” he said.
“We have had a lot of positive feedback in relation to the welcoming atmosphere on offer at our games, so it’s great to celebrate a concept like this in recognising cultural diversity and the unify message.”
