Alcoholic beverage giants Foster’s Australia, Diageo Australia, Tyrell’s Wines and Samuel Smith and Sons have won access to the thousands of thirsty people who will attend events at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Aussie Stadium for the next four years.

The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust has announced the companies have won the rights to supply alcoholic beverages at the two popular venues from January 1, 2006 following a tender process.

And it’s a contract that means a lot of drinks sold — in the year to February this year sporting as well as other special events held there, including Waveaid and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, attracted more than 1.6 million spectators and covered 85 days.

In the coming months several other non-sporting events have booked the venues including Green Day which will perform at the SCG in December. The Trust continues to have hiring agreements with Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW, National Rugby League, NSW Rugby, Sydney Roosters, AFL, Sydney Swans, Football Federation Australia and Sydney FC.

The Trust’s chief executive officer Jamie Barkley said the new contracts — which sees Diageo and Samuel Smith & Sons added to the beverage suppliers roster — gave spectators the widest range of top quality beverages they had ever had at the venues.

Foster’s Australia is the beer market leader in Australia with brands including Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Crown Lager, Carlton Cold and Cascade, and imported brands including imported beers including Corona, Stella Artois, and Asahi. Foster’s Group has wine brands including Wolf Blass, Lindemans and Rosemount.

Diageo Australia owns brands including Bundaberg Rum, Snirnoff Vodka, Johnnie Walker Scotch Whiskey, Guinness, Bailey’s Irish liqueur, Gordon’s Gin and UDL.

Samuel Smith & Sons has the Yalumba, Angus Brut, and Peter Lehmann, among its brands.