AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan today congratulated the Gold Coast SUNS on achieving Saturday’s record attendance at Metricon Stadium, the Club’s first ever home sell-out.

The SUNS’s Round 16 match against Collingwood on Saturday set a new home ground record with an attendance of 24,032, surpassing the previous record (23,302) between the same two teams at Metricon Stadium in Round 18 of the SUNS’ inaugural season in 2011.

Mr McLachlan said the record attendance was a reflection of the position of the two Clubs involved and the manner in which the Gold Coast community have embraced the SUNS since entering the League four years ago.

“I want to congratulate the Gold Coast SUNS for setting a new attendance benchmark at Metricon Stadium, a sell-out is an outstanding achievement and exciting for the game’s development in Queensland,” Mr McLachlan said.

“It was great to see a match between two exciting teams vying for a finals berth generate so much interest and be so well received by the Gold Coast people.

“The quality of football and the atmosphere at one of the country’s best stadiums was electric. Anyone who saw that game witnessed a terrific match, one of several outstanding games across the entire Round.

“The match day experience at a Gold Coast SUNS home game continues to be a major draw card for the Club and a real asset for the Gold Coast and wider Queensland community. The SUNS deserve great credit for putting on a terrific show at every home game as they continue to attract fans from all Clubs to the Gold Coast each season.”

This week Round 17 of the 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership Season sees AFL matches played in every state around the country, including matches in Cairns and Hobart. The full list of Round 17 matches is as follows (all times are local) for tickets visit either www.ticketek.com.au or www.ticketmaster.com.au

Round 17 – 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Friday, July 11

Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn - Adelaide Oval (7:20PM) 

Saturday, July 12

Melbourne v Geelong Cats - MCG (1:45PM)

North Melbourne v St Kilda – Blundstone Arena (2:10PM)

Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns – Cazaly’s Stadium (4:40PM)

Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles - Gabba (7:40PM)

Sydney Swans v Carlton – SCG (7:40PM) 

Sunday, July 13

Richmond v Port Adelaide - Etihad Stadium (1:10PM)

Essendon v Collingwood – MCG (3:20PM)

Fremantle v GWS Giants - Patersons Stadium (2:40PM)