In an afternoon of excitement at a jam-packed Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs thrashed the Gold Coast Titans 32-0 as the NRL celebrated Multicultural Round.

Drawing a crowd of 12,037 people and putting the Belmore precinct firmly in the spotlight, Bulldogs fans from near and far flocked to witness the home side hold the opposition scoreless for the first time at the historic venue since the Bulldogs defeated the Illawarra Steelers 12-0 in May 1996.

Back to Belmore Patron Luke Brailey said hosting large sporting events such as NRL matches at Belmore Sports Ground provided a well-needed boost to local businesses and the local economy generally.

“The Bulldogs have now successfully staged thirteen NRL premiership games at their spiritual home since 2015 which means more than $4.5 million has been pumped into the local economy over the past nine years through spending by locals and visitors on game days. That is a massive win for our community. The event on Saturday has been attributed to a major spike in spending at the cafés, eateries and restaurants in Belmore. It was great to see retailers on Burwood Road benefitting tremendously from over 12,000 visitors to the precinct for the NRL match,” Mr Brailey said.

“Moreover, it was wonderful to witness this incredible facility and our amazing cultural diversity being showcased and celebrated for Multicultural Round. Over 45% of the residents in the City of Canterbury Bankstown come from countries where English is not the first language. May we continue to lead the way by highlighting the power of culture and sport, learning from each other about each other to develop a narrative for the future.”

The Bulldogs will return to Belmore in Round 22 on Sunday, 4 August when they face off against the Canberra Raiders.