Page 38 – Ministry of Sport

Illawarra Hawks Partner with STOIC360

Posted on December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 by Courtney

The Illawarra Hawks have announced a partnership with global sports consultancy STOIC360, securing representation aimed at significantly expanding the club’s commercial and cultural footprint across the Middle East.

The partnership is strategically timed to capitalise on the immense momentum building in the region ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.

Under the terms of the agreement, STOIC360 will act as the Hawks’ official representative in the Middle East, focusing specifically on driving sponsorship, strategic alliances, and brand activations.

This effort is important for diversifying the club’s revenue streams beyond traditional domestic sources and is a proactive step in building international commercial value.

The partnership is founded on the shared values of integrity, innovation, and global community engagement, which lends a layer of honour to the commercial enterprise.

Qatar’s preparation to host the 2027 FIBA World Cup guarantees massive investment and attention directed towards basketball across the Middle East.

By positioning the Hawks at the forefront of that momentum, the NBL organisation creates new avenues for significant commercial growth through high-value regional sponsorship and strategic alliances, which would typically be unattainable through a domestic-only focus.

Furthermore, the relationship opens doors beyond purely financial metrics, as it aims to generate opportunities for player development and cultural exchange, allowing the club to build its global recognisable profile.

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Sunshine Coast Lightning Secures QEBS

Posted on December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 by Courtney

Sunshine Coast Lightning has confirmed a commitment to regional netball development by announcing QEBS Design & Build as the club’s official Pathways Partner for the 2026 season.

This partnership channels local business support directly into the Super Netball Reserves program, aiming to establish long-term success and retain the region’s best emerging talent.

Reinforcing the strategic necessity of the partnership, Sunshine Coast Lightning CEO, Justin Pascoe, said: “Providing a clear pathway for athletes to aspire to follow is essential for any sporting franchise.”

“We are thrilled to welcome QEBS on board this journey as we build out our pathway programs with shared values of community and excellence,” Pascoe said.

The investment is designed to prevent top local netball talent from being lured away by other Super Netball franchises, protecting the club’s long-term competitive advantage.

Highlighting the commercial rationale behind investing in the program, QEBS general manager, Mark Woodford, added: “As a locally owned organisation, we recognise the importance of investing in initiatives that strengthen community capability and create sustainable opportunities for emerging athletes.”

The partnership effectively acts as a corporate social responsibility platform, giving QEBS a recognisable community presence while supporting excellence and growth in a key regional sport.

The commercial arrangement sees the locally owned and operated QEBS logo featured prominently on the Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts playing dress.

This branding provides QEBS with direct association with the club’s future success, aligning its brand honour with athlete development and community capability, a key objective for the Queensland-based organisation.

The deal ensures the necessary financial backing to sustain and strengthen the critical junior-to-elite athlete pipeline.

Special Olympics Australia Launches Refreshed Inclusive Coaching eLearning Program

Posted on December 9, 2025December 10, 2025 by Courtney

Special Olympics Australia has launched a fully updated and expanded version of its flagship e-learning course, Coaching Inclusive Sports for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism.

This next-generation version is a commercial and strategic investment designed to lift inclusive coaching practice across Australia, building on the success of the original 2018 course that reached over 2,500 coaches.

Commenting on the launch, Special Olympics Australia CEO, Jamie O’Connor, stated: “This refreshed course strengthens our commitment to ensuring every athlete is seen, supported and empowered through sport.”

“This new version gives coaches across Australia the practical skills they need to create environments where people with intellectual disability and autism can thrive,” O’Connor said.

The course’s success is evidenced by the Academy supporting over 10,000 learners.

The content features insights from respected contributors, including PGA professional, Scott McDermott, and incorporates the lived experience of Special Olympics athletes to keep the athlete voice at the centre of the learning.

Playbk Sports COO, Damian Hecker, confirmed the blend of evidence-based practice with real coaching insight, ensuring the course is both credible and practical.

The new course strengthens the foundation of the original program by integrating contemporary research, modern coaching practice, and a richer digital learner experience.

Developed in partnership with Playbk Sports and delivered through the Inclusive Sport Academy (a recent recipient of a LearnX Platinum Award for education technology excellence), the course provides coaches, educators, and volunteers with a clear and accessible pathway to build crucial skills.

The commercial implication for the upgrade is two-fold: to meet the growing demand for expertise in inclusive sport and to ensure every athlete is seen, supported, and empowered.

Wrexham AFC Secures Apollo Sports Capital as Minority Investor

Posted on December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 by Courtney

Wrexham AFC has secured a strategic minority investment from Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), an affiliate of global alternative asset manager Apollo, reinforcing the club’s long-term growth ambitions and Premier League aspirations.

This investment introduces world-class financial partners while ensuring controlling owners, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, maintain operational oversight, safeguarding the original vision for the organisation.

Framing the move as essential for achieving their ultimate objective, Wrexham AFC Co-chairmen, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, noted: “Growth like that takes world-class partners who share our vision and ambition, and Apollo absolutely does.”

“The dream has always been to take this club to the Premier League while staying true to the town,” they noted.

Confirming the strategic confidence the deal represents, Wrexham AFC CEO, Michael Williamson, added: “Their investment represents both confidence in the Club’s direction and commitment to our long-term vision.”

The aim of the deal is the financial backing ASC will provide for the redevelopment of the STōK Cae Ras stadium, specifically helping to advance the construction of the new Kop Stand.

This infrastructure upgrade is a key element of the broader Wrexham Gateway Project, a large-scale regeneration program designed to boost the city’s connectivity and economic future.

ASC’s involvement provides the necessary “long-term, patient capital” required to fund such a significant, non-revenue-generating asset build.

Wrexham AFC has achieved three straight promotions, recently entering the EFL Championship, which dramatically increases its media value and global recognisable profile.

The capital injection follows a previous minority investment by the Allyn Family Office in October 2024, demonstrating a clear and successful strategy of sourcing external funding to support sustainable growth.

Australian Sports Commission Launches ‘The Park’ Innovation Hub

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has launched its virtual innovation hub, ‘The Park’, naming five Australian sports technology companies that will receive grants and participate in the inaugural project at the AIS campus in Canberra next week.

This initiative is designed to drive innovation within the sector, align technology development with priority sporting challenges, and ultimately support Australia’s performance strategy on the road to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The five selected companies:

3D body scanning company Bodd
Concussion management system HITIQ
Facility booking tool Pitch Up
Club Governance and Child Safety Organisation Safeguarding You
Athletic performance monitoring company Sports Velocity Systems

These companies will spend a day collaborating with major sporting organisations like Swimming Australia and the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS).

The goal of this immersion is to understand critical technology challenges across the sector, with representatives from the Australian Army also in attendance to explore cross-sector applications.

The initial six-month program will see the ASC and the grant recipients focus on high-priority areas for the future commercial and competitive viability of Australian sport.

These areas include harnessing data, AI and machine learning, next-generation wearables, digital twin technologies, brain performance, and environmental sustainability.

By concentrating co-creation efforts in these specific domains, the ASC is strategically investing in solutions that offer the highest potential competitive advantage by 2032.

The commercial model of The Park is based on co-creation, where the ASC and the technology companies will jointly evaluate products and services through close collaboration with athletes, coaches, performance support staff, and administrators.

This process mitigates product risk for the tech firms while ensuring the resulting solutions meet the genuine, practical needs of the sporting ecosystem, thereby guaranteeing a faster rate of adoption and market readiness.

The Australian Sports Commission is committed to funding and facilitate its innovation hub to elevate the profile and honour of Australian sports technology on the global stage.

Gold Coast Titans Secure Two-Year Extension with Village Roadshow Theme Parks

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

The Gold Coast Titans have renewed their premier partnership with Village Roadshow Theme Parks (VRTP) until the end of the 2027 season.

This long-term commitment solidifies the relationship between two of the Gold Coast’s most recognisable organisations and leverages VRTP’s assets, including Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, and Wet‘n’Wild, to enhance fan engagement and membership value.

Commenting on the partnership, Village Roadshow Group CEO, Clark Kirby, said: “We have had a strong and long partnership with the Titans; and with our shared values, ambitions, and home here on the Gold Coast, we are delighted to continue this incredible partnership for a further two years.”

The extension reinforces the Gold Coast’s identity as a hub for businesses delivering world-class experiences, a key honour for both the club and the theme park organisation.

The value of the partnership is measured not just in direct financial contribution, but in experiential benefits, as VRTP remains the official host of the Titans’ iconic Superhero Round, transforming Cbus Super Stadium into a major calendar highlight.

This annual event, alongside joint initiatives like full team signing sessions and the Member Christmas Party, directly creates a memorable experience for their members and fans, as highlighted by Titans CEO, Steve Mitchell.

In addition, the partnership is strategically designed to drive membership and acquisition. Titans members continue to enjoy exclusive benefits, including exclusive pricing on theme park tickets available throughout the year.

The continued visibility of the VRTP logo on the top back of both the NRL and NRLW jerseys ensures the partnership secures significant media exposure throughout the season.

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson Announce Resignation

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

Wests Tigers Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shane Richardson has announced his resignation, concluding his tenure ship after advising the club of his decision today December 08, 2025.

The departure, which was accepted by the Holman Barnes Group, signals a shift in the club’s corporate governance and operational direction as the joint venture seeks a renewed path forward.

Richardson’s resignation comes at a time of change, despite the veteran administrator overseeing commercial growth and operational improvements during his two-year term.

Commenting on his resignation and confirming the team’s positive trajectory for the future, Richardson, said: “I’m proud of what had been achieved throughout my time at the Club.”

His departure, however, allows HBG to appoint a new leader to drive their specific vision for unity and future commercial success.

Confirming the strategic decision to embrace the change, HBG CEO, Daniel Paton, added: “We thank Shane for his service.”

“His resignation paves the way for a new path forward for the football club, and we will be making an announcement about the new leadership in the near future,” Paton said.

The incoming CEO will face the immediate commercial and strategic challenge of consolidating the club’s administrative gains, leveraging the existing team’s efforts across administration and football, and fully executing HBG’s vision for the organisation.

The search for Richardson’s successor is crucial for the club’s corporate program, as the new leader will be tasked with unifying stakeholders and driving the reality of moving “forward together as one.”

By swiftly accepting the resignation and committing to a rapid announcement about the new leadership, HBG is signalling its intent to maintain corporate momentum and secure the long-term honour and competitive recognisable standing of the Wests Tigers in the NRL.

The focus is now entirely on the new executive appointment and the next direction they will implement.

NSW Government Secures Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC for Sydney Super Cup 2026

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

The Minns Labor Government has secured a major international sporting coup, announcing that Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur will headline the four-team Sydney Super Cup 2026.

The tournament, staged exclusively in Sydney across Accor Stadium and Allianz Stadium, is projected to inject more than $25 million into the NSW visitor economy, solidifying the state’s ambitious $91 billion Visitor Economy Strategy 2035.

Confirming how the “why” strategy behind the government’s investment, Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper, said: “As we work towards our goal of a $91 billion visitor economy, major events like this are crucial, they help create memorable experiences that inspire visitors to stay longer, return again and explore more of our great state.”

Hosting the Super Cup aligns perfectly with the Strategy’s pillar of delivering a dynamic, nation-leading calendar of major events.

The event’s core commercial draw is the three-match format, which includes a highly recognisable ‘London Derby’ between the two English Premier League giants, alongside fixtures against local A-League clubs Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

The two main fixtures are scheduled for Accor Stadium on July 29 (Chelsea vs Wanderers) and August 1 (Tottenham vs Chelsea), maximising visitation during the mid-winter tourism window.

In addition, the event’s commercial value is further supported by a major women’s football fixture.

Chelsea FC Women, featuring Matildas stars Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter, will face the A-League Women All Stars at Allianz Stadium on August 12.

This commitment to elite women’s football, featuring internationally recognisable Australian talent, provides a second revenue stream and extends the duration of the state’s tourism benefits.

The multiple matches will attract thousands of both local supporters and international visitors, with the commercial goal being to encourage an extended stay in Sydney.

By committing significant government funds to secure the appearance of two major international sporting organisations, the NSW Government is making a calculated investment designed to generate high-volume tourist revenue and strengthen Sydney’s honour as Australia’s home of football.

Wet & Forget Joins NZC as Super Smash Front-of-Shirt Partner

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

Iconic Kiwi business Wet & Forget has entered into a major partnership with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), becoming the front-of-shirt sponsor for the upcoming Super Smash season.

The deal is an important commercial boost for the domestic Twenty20 competition, which follows a record-breaking 2024/25 season in terms of viewership and digital engagement, confirming the tournament’s rising brand value.

The partnership sees Wet & Forget’s branding prominently featured on the front of all Super Smash team playing kits, as well as integrated across match-day, broadcast, and digital platforms throughout the 64-game competition, which runs from Boxing Day (December 26) to the finals on March 1.

Highlighting the strategic value of the alignment and noting the partnership strengthens the commercial foundation of the tournament, NZC CEO, Scott Weenink, said: “This partnership strengthens the commercial platform for Super Smash and supports our wider ambition to grow the reach and relevance of cricket across New Zealand.”

Confirming the commercial fit of the partnership, Wet & Forget CEO, Andre Gargiulo, added: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with New Zealand Cricket and to see Wet & Forget on the front of the Super Smash playing shirts this season.”

Gargiulo emphasised that cricket is part of the “fabric of Kiwi life,” which aligns perfectly with the company’s brand identity.

The continuity of the domestic competition, featuring BLACKCAPS, WHITE FERNS, and rising stars across 30 double-header match-days, provides sponsors with guaranteed, high-frequency exposure.

Furthermore, the commitment to broadcast the continuous flow of Super Smash cricket live and free on TVNZ+, TVNZ 1, and TVNZ DUKE ensures maximum audience reach, delivering strong advertising value and a significant return on the new sponsorship honour for Wet & Forget.

NY Jets Back Largest Collegiate Women’s Flag League With $1M

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

The NY Jets and the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation have committed a USD1 million (AUD1.5 million) grant to the ECAC to launch the nation’s largest collegiate women’s flag football league, set to commence in spring 2026.

This investment is a commitment that solidifies a competitive pathway for young female athletes, directly capitalising on flag football’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the NCAA’s designation of the sport as an Emerging Sport for Women.

Commenting on the grant, NFL EVP of football operations, Troy Vincent Sr, said: “By establishing the largest collegiate women’s flag football league, we are collectively building a future where young women can dream bigger and continue playing the sport they love in a competitive setting.”

The new Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League will feature 15 universities across six states, with ten institutions starting competition in 2026.

This financial commitment is crucial as it directly funds team operations, equipment, and competitive expenses for each participating school, effectively eliminating the initial financial barriers to entry for collegiate organisations.

The league creates hundreds of immediate roster spots, linking the Jets’ vast 14-year investment in grassroots flag football to the highest level of amateur competition.

Strategically, the league completes a pipeline that the NY Jets have been funding since 2011, which now includes 260 club teams and over 7,500 participants across New York and New Jersey.

With flag football set to become a high school varsity sport in New York (2024) and New Jersey (2026), the new ECAC league provides the essential clear pathway for student-athletes to compete, grow, and lead on the field and beyond.

The organisation plans to host a Media Day and a USA Football Talent ID Camp at MetLife Stadium, providing professional-level exposure and standardised evaluation opportunities crucial for athletes with Olympic aspirations.

This investment not only delivers on the Johnson family’s commitment to women’s sports but strategically aligns the Jets brand with a rapidly growing, internationally recognisable sport. By establishing the infrastructure for collegiate competition now, the Jets are securing the honour of being the foundational commercial backer for the sport’s ascension toward the 2028 Olympics and future professional opportunities.

FloSports Launches Two FAST Channels on Prime Video and Fubo

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

FloSports has launched a two new FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels: FloRacing 24/7 and FloHockey 24/7, on major platforms Prime Video and Fubo.

This move broadens the organisation’s reach to over 130 million monthly viewers across the US and Canada, making its extensive library of premium racing and hockey content freely available on millions of connected devices.

The launch aims to strategically convert passive viewers into paid subscribers for FloSports’ core subscription service.

By making a high volume of live and on-demand content, including over 3,000 events, freely available, FloSports is leveraging a format that grew by 43 per cent year-over-year to rapidly increase brand awareness and audience sampling.

Commenting on the launch, EVP Corporate Development and Strategic Finance, Kevin Boller, said: “Our launch of these FAST channels marks the most significant introduction to date of freely available FloSports content…”

“while expanding our reach to millions of potential new customers on the apps and channels that they love and access daily,” Boller said.

FloRacing 24/7 offers grassroots racing from partners like NASCAR and the High Limit Sprint Car Series, showcasing elite drivers such as Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch.

Meanwhile, FloHockey 24/7 is the only FAST channel broadcasting live hockey games nationally, featuring high-potential talent from leagues like the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), competitions that feed directly into the NHL.

The expansion builds on the organisation’s existing off-platform distribution program, which recently included the launch of the FloSports Connected TV app on Samsung and VIZIO televisions.

This effort drastically increases FloSports’ household footprint, aligning the company with the growing media consumption trend where 20.4 per cent of all FAST channels are already focused on sport.

Queensland Government Unveils ‘The Next Lap’ Racing Plan

Posted on December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

The Queensland Government has announced ‘The Next Lap’, a program and response to the independent Queensland Racing Review, committing a $200 million Racing Future Fund to secure the long-term economic, social, and integrity pillars of the state’s $2.5 billion racing industry.

The Next Lap, which flows over half of its benefits to regional communities and supports 14,500 jobs, guarantees financial stability and delivers a clear operational roadmap for Racing Queensland (RQ) and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC).

The commercial core of the plan is the establishment of the $200 million Future Fund, which will finance modern, fit-for-purpose infrastructure across all three codes.

Emphasising the opportunity on how this roadmap presents for industry participants, Minister for Sport and Racing, Tim Mander MP, said: “This is more than a moment of change; it’s a moment of opportunity.”

“With clear purpose, collaboration, and determination, Queensland racing can step confidently into a new era,” Mander said.

The plan also focuses on long-term sustainability by introducing a nation-leading lifetime traceability framework for animal welfare and a new framework to provide accredited qualifications for industry professionals.

Key beneficiaries of this investment include the upgrades to Eagle Farm (including a new grandstand), the development of Albion Park into a new Racing HQ (co-locating RQ and QRIC administration), and essential regional infrastructure at locations like Marburg Showgrounds and Bundaberg Greyhound Racetrack.

This investment, coupled with the commitment to maintain standard and feature prize money levels, is designed to combat interstate competition for wagering investment, despite the government’s highly controversial decision to reject recommendations to lower the Point of Consumption Tax (POCT) rate.

On another note, the plan addresses key operational bottlenecks. It introduces a streamlined governance model to improve efficiency between RQ and QRIC by transitioning QRIC’s non-core functions back to RQ.

Furthermore, the commitment to developing a coordinated South East Queensland Night Racing Schedule is a move to boost wagering turnover by attracting new audiences during high-demand viewing windows.

The organisation’s commitment to country racing, through infrastructure investment and the expansion of the recognisable Battle of the Bush series, ensures the plan’s economic benefits are spread widely.

FIFA Adopts Super Bowl Model for 2026 Final Halftime Show

Posted on December 7, 2025December 8, 2025 by Courtney

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has confirmed a major shift in the commercial and entertainment packaging of the FIFA World Cup Final, announcing the introduction of the first-ever Super Bowl–style halftime show for the 2026 tournament.

The decision, revealed during the Final Draw in Washington, D.C., is a clear alignment with the North American sports-entertainment model as the 48-team competition heads to the region for the first time since 1994.

The introduction of entertainment-driven programming is a direct response to modern media economics and changing consumption patterns.

The halftime show is a high-stakes, a move designed to significantly expand the event’s cultural footprint and maximise commercial inventory during the most lucrative moments of the broadcast.

By mimicking the Super Bowl model, the organisation instantly creates new, premium revenue streams, including: sponsorship packages specific to the halftime programming, branding integration tied to performer partnerships, and expanded digital and social media activations.

The World Cup Final already commands one of the highest global viewing audiences, but the halftime show now provides broadcasters with premium content that can help counter audience fragmentation.

For FIFA, it allows the organisation to diversify its product ahead of future rights negotiations and appeal to younger and entertainment-oriented demographics, an important activation for sustaining the long-term revenue growth of its flagship asset.

The 2026 tournament, with 48 teams and 16 host cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico, is already projected to generate record commercial revenue.

The halftime show gives official tournament sponsors an intensely engaged, high-absorption moment similar to the high-value advertising cycles seen during US NFL broadcasts, further justifying investment and increasing the honour of the overall sponsorship package.

Sport Integrity Australia Deputy CEO Elected UNESCO Anti-Doping Fund Chair

Posted on December 5, 2025December 7, 2025 by Courtney

Luke McCann, Deputy CEO of Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), has been unanimously elected as the chairperson of the UNESCO Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport Approval Committee for the 2026–2027 biennium.

This high-profile appointment solidifies Australia’s global diplomatic and commercial commitment to clean sport, placing an Australian executive at the centre of international integrity funding and policy decisions.

Confirming the wider strategic implications of his new position, McCann, said: “This appointment reflects Australia’s ongoing commitment to protecting the integrity of sport globally.”

“I look forward to working with my new colleagues to ensure the Fund delivers meaningful outcomes for all nations, particularly those most in need of support, along with strengthened communication and coordination across regions.”

McCann’s role as chair is highly strategic, as the committee oversees the allocation of global grants aimed at strengthening anti-doping capacity, policy, and education worldwide.

The two-year mandate involves an ambitious program to advance compliance with the UNESCO Anti-Doping Convention, particularly through the Regional Capacity-Building Programs (RCBP) targeting Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries—a key foreign policy and regional stability initiative.

The appointment leverages and directly benefits from SIA’s proven track record in integrity delivery.

Sport Integrity Australia recently co-hosted the first RCBP in Brisbane, bringing together representatives from 17 countries across Oceania. This event was important for strengthening clean sport across Australia’s immediate region as the organisation prepares for the massive international governance scrutiny that comes with hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Return of the Australian Boomers to Hobart a Major Success

Posted on December 5, 2025December 7, 2025 by Courtney

The Australian Boomers’ return to Hobart after a 20-year absence has proven to be a major commercial success, establishing Tasmania as a viable and enthusiastic host market for major international basketball events.

The sold-out FIBA World Cup 2027, Asian Qualifiers clash against New Zealand on November 28, combined with an extensive week-long community and industry engagement program, delivered returns for important commercial partners and the Tasmanian Government.

Confirming the impact, general manager – marketing & events, Nicole Thompson, said: “It was really important to us to be able to promote and showcase basketball as whole throughout our time in Hobart… The engagement with the community across all of the activities that were run will leave a lasting impact.”

The immediate financial success was underlined by the swift sale of all 4,137 tickets for MyState Bank Arena.

Confirming the economic strategic win for the State, Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Jane Howlett, added: “The fact tickets to this international match sold out proves Tasmanians love our sport, and we love basketball.”

“We look forward to the Boomers returning again, and the boost games like these bring to our tourism and hospitality sectors, while strengthening our reputation as a world-class host for major events,” Minister Howlett said.

Basketball Australia’s strategy was focused on building long-term value, not just staging a single game.

The organisation implemented a comprehensive engagement program, including a coaches clinic, officials workshop (which used freshly accredited local specialists), and the She Hoops initiative to encourage women’s participation.

The Tasmanian Government’s financial support was important in making the event possible, while key commercial entities like the Ford Dealership Network, a Major Partner of Basketball Australia, received valuable local activation.

Australian Boomers players engaged directly with the Ford organisation’s local dealer, Tilford Ford, who supplied essential event transport, providing an authentic and recognisable return on their sponsorship honour.

The week-long presence and deep engagement across the basketball ecosystem, culminating in four clinics, four community visits, and a massive game, successfully demonstrated to Basketball Australia, TEG Sport, and FIBA that Tasmania offers both high-demand fan base and strong administrative capacity.