In a blow for local sport lovers, Port Douglas has lost the hosting of the Bulls Masters cricket match due to unacceptable gate takings in 2012.

Cricket Far North president, Greg O'Neill, told The Newsport the decision to move the game, played by former Australian and Queensland cricket legends among others, was a necessary one to maintain interest in the event.

"We wanted to try and attract a bigger gate crowd, that's probably one of the primary reasons.

"The first year we held it there (Port Douglas) we were satisfied with the crowd. Last year we weren't.

"There's a difference between those that pay and those that don't. Obviously kids are free, but we only ended up with about 600 paying customers," he said.

This year's event, to be held on Saturday 11 May, will be played at Griffiths Park in Westcourt.

"We certainly love the venue at Port Douglas, it's a lovely aspect for a cricket match, but it's one of our major fundraising events for the year and we're just seeing what we can push out of Cairns and go from there," Mr O'Neill said.

"Cricket Far North feeds those funds back into the clubs throughout the zone."

He added that the match, and associated events including the charity golf day and sportsman's dinner, could be moved around the wider region in the coming years such as Cairns and the Tablelands.

"If we can try and move it around our zone a bit, it's a little bit more exciting in a new location each year, so I suppose time will tell whether the Cairns' public will support it."

But all is not lost. Mr O'Neill said the match could eventually return to Port Douglas with the new $400,000 sports complex lighting potentially adding another dimension to the event.