The official fixture, unveiled by AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson on Tuesday, sees the eight first-round games of the competition split evenly over two weekends starting with the Eagles-Bombers series opener on February 12.
Saturday, February 13, was the date that had proved a sticking point between the AFL and management of Etihad Stadium, which had leased the venue to rockers AC/DC despite contractual obligations to the AFL's NAB Cup fixture.
But an agreement reached by the two parties after drawn out negotiations sees the only two matches on that day played interstate, with Adelaide hosting cross-town rival Port Adelaide and Hawthorn up against Richmond at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
Anderson said due consideration had been given to the prevailing high temperatures around that time of year with no game scheduled to start earlier than 4:40 pm as a result.
The 2010 NAB Cup will be the last pre-season competition held in the current knockout format due to the entry of the Gold Coast into the AFL in 2011.
"That provides an immediate challenge to the current structure of the NAB Cup," Anderson said, adding the competition itself would remain in some form.
"We've been talking with our clubs about what sort of preparation they require for the season, but the one thing we're really keen to preserve, no matter what the format, is to take games to regional communities that don't usually get the chance to see footy first-hand."
The Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions complete the first weekend of NAB Cup football with a twilight encounter at Canberra's Manuka Oval.
St Kilda and Collingwood share the following Friday night timeslot with a first-round clash at Etihad Stadium.
The AFL has positioned the Sydney Swans-Carlton clash at Blacktown Olympic Park to give maximum exposure to its push into the rugby heartland of western Sydney.
The night game at the new $20 million headquarters of the Greater Western Sydney franchise, which is bidding for the 18th AFL licence, is the only match scheduled on the second Saturday of the opening round.
Depending on results, the new stadium could be called on to host a second match, with the Swans to play a semi-final at the venue if they advance to the penultimate round.
Geelong set up the first leg of a historic double, defeating the Magpies to claim the 2009 NAB Cup, and the Cats launch their title defence against North Melbourne in a twilight fixture at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, February 21.
The final match of the opening round sees Adelaide take on Fremantle at Subiaco Oval late on Sunday afternoon.
As in previous years, the NAB Challenge series will take AFL football to regional areas of the country with a match to be played in Yea in country Victoria to support those areas devastated by this year's bushfires.
"The response from the AFL community to this year's bushfires has been outstanding," Anderson said.
"We're extremely pleased that we'll be able to hold … a game at the Yea Recreation Reserve.
"[It's] the home of the Yea Tigers who play in the Yarra Valley Mountain District League which is home to a number of clubs who have been devastated by bushfires including Alexandra, Kinglake, Thornton Eildon, Yarra Glen and Yea itself."
The venue for the NAB Cup grand final will depend on the teams involved, but is set to be a night match played on Saturday, March 13.
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