Collingwood’s 2023 premiership victory and Taylor Swift helped the Victorian economy outpace the growth of Australia’s most populous state last financial year.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today showed gross state product (GSP) grew by 1.5 per cent in Victoria during the 2023-24 period, compared with 1.2 per cent for NSW, and 1.4 per cent nationally.

Growth in livestock and fruit and vegetable production were the main drivers of growth for both NSW and Victoria, but the latter also benefited from record attendance at major sporting events according to the ABS.

The MCG was Australia’s most attended sports stadium in 2023, with 3,682,701 people filling the stands across the year, while 1,644,139 fans attended events at Marvel Stadium, also in Melbourne. Third on that list was Perth’s Optus Stadium, with 1,488,167 attendees.

During its 2023 premiership season, Collingwood played in front of an average crowd of 60,200 during the home and away season. Their three finals games at the MCG in September last year attracted 290,000 people including 100,024 for their victory over Brisbane in the grand final.

Western Australia recorded the lowest economic growth in the states and territories at 0.5 per cent, while the Northern Territory and ACT had the biggest increase at 4.6 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.