For the first time in the 30-year history of Gridiron Victoria the league’s showcase game will be played outside of Melbourne.

The Tom Flood Sports Centre, home of the Bendigo Dragons, will host the Vic Bowl on August 30.

“The people of Bendigo have really embraced our sport, in particular the Dragons, and we are delighted to be bringing our biggest day of the season here,’’ Gridiron Victoria president Sam Weller said.

“Tom Flood (Sports Centre) is one of the best facilities in the state for gridiron, they get a bumper crowd that is always lively and we expect this to be our biggest day of the season here.”

The Bendigo Dragons sit in third spot in their Gridiron Victoria conference and are in play-off contention.

After seven rounds of the season, the unbeaten Geelong Buccaneers and the Monash Warriors are the favourites to qualify for the Vic Bowl.

Dragons president David Barker said securing hosting rights of the Vic Bowl was a coup for the club.

“Securing the Vic Bowl here at Tom Flood is certainly a huge step forward for the city and the sport,’’ Barker said.

“The work the City of Greater Bendigo has done to keep TFSC in the best condition possible has been fantastic and come August 30 the facility will be on show during Gridiron Victoria’s biggest day of the year.”

COGB major events manager Terry Karamaloudis said the event was another win for central Victorian sports fans.

“You certainly aren’t limited for choice in terms of what sporting event you see in Bendigo, be it top level basketball, world-class snooker or international table tennis, Bendigo is delivering the options and Vic Bowl is just the latest in a long list of acquisitions,’’ Karamaloudis said.

“The city would like to acknowledge the collective input of our major sporting event partners for without their ongoing financial support we would struggle to attract events like this one to Bendigo.”