News from all sports industry sectors, headlined by the NRL Vegas announcements
AFL
Broadcast and media
- Nine Entertainment CEO Matt Stanton has played down speculation the company is pursuing broadcast rights for the English Premier League, after snaring Rugby World Cup rights through to 2029 as the company eyes a push to expand its sports offering.
- Sports Entertainment Network’s (SEN) have announced it will be broadcasting the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, as well as the upcoming Australian Men’s Test tour of the West Indies.
- Stan becomes the exclusive home for the entire PFL portfolio across Australia, streaming live and on-demand via Stan Sport, with select premium events available on Stan Pay-Per-View. Additionally, key PFL events will air free-to-air on 9
- Sports-focused platform DAZN reported an 11% increase in global subscribers (its highest quarterly growth) fueled by under-34 audiences and the introduction of a personalised sports feature. Notably, football fans now represent half of DAZN’s user base.
Football
- Football Australia is bracing for the worst financial result in its history, with the governing body to post a record loss of over $8 million and write off millions in bad debt from the organisation running the A-Leagues
- Juan Mata wants to extend his storied playing career – if not as a player, then perhaps a part owner.
- Ticket prices for the match at Go Media Stadium in Auckland range from $45 upward, compared to $27.50 upward throughout the season. Why have prices risen? the APL set finals ticket prices and take all of the ticket revenue.
- Wrexham’s success shows that content is now truly king in football
Government
- The highly anticipated Glenorchy Sports Centre has marked a significant milestone, with the Tasmanian Government lodging a development application to the Glenorchy City Council.
- The Crisafulli Government has committed to upgrading key facilities in Longreach in partnership with the Longreach Regional Council as part of the Games On! program. The Longreach Showgrounds will receive $280,000 in upgrades
- The Crisafulli Government has secured the future of greyhound racing in Bundaberg with the delivery of a new sand track for the community.
- In a master stroke for Victoria’s major events calendar, Melbourne will be the home of the Men’s Australian Open for the next two years with Rory McIlroy headlining, locked in by the Allan Labor Government.
- The Cook Government continues to prioritise community sporting infrastructure and encourage female participation in sport, with upgrades at the Wauhop Park soccer ground in East Fremantle complete.
- Northern suburbs sports clubs, community groups and residents will soon be able to enjoy new amenities at the Heath Park Pavilion in Eglinton. The new hub was supported by $710,000 in funding from the WA Labor Government
- A new Para Sports Unit has today been launched at the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) to drive Paralympic success at future Paralympic Games.
NBL
- A second team will join in Supreme Court action seeking a cache of documents from the NBL and its billionaire powerbroker, Larry Kestelman, as officials warn that a mounting feud with owners risks bringing down the league.
- Larry Kestelman has no concerns the NSW Supreme Court will take issue with the NBL’s financial operations, labelling the Illawarra Hawks boss who lodged the matter a “hater”.
Netball
NRL
- The NRL Vegas reduction from four to three games has seen the women’s international game dropped from the schedule, which had been flagged after the Jillaroos’ 90-4 win over England this year.
- The Canterbury Bulldogs are on track to become the best supported NRL club in Sydney – and possibly Australia, with officials setting the ambitious target of attracting 30,000 fans to every home game
- The Bulldogs will play the Dragons, while the Knights will face the Cowboys. There will also be a Super League match after thousands of fans made the trip across from the UK to Vegas.
- The NRL must bash down the front door to convert an insecure and floundering Western Australia to rugby league by approaching two insanely rich Perth business people – worth a combined total of $90 billion – to help with the demolition job.
- The NRL has been rocked by revelations player agents are targeting budding league stars as young as 11 in predatory behaviour labelled “disgusting”.
- Clubs and other stakeholders across rugby league are reportedly concerned time is running out for the game’s ambitious Pacific project — so much so that PNG’s entry could be pushed back a year.
- There will be a Toy Story takeover at the Cowboys home game on Saturday Night.
Rugby Union
- The chances of a US team adding to the quality of the comp are close to 0, the chances of Super Rugby Pacific fans embracing a dud team in Los Angeles are 0, and the chances of that team adding in any way to the commercial clout of the competition are 0.
- World Rugby is mapping out a swathe of events involving major nations to lure American eyes before they host the 2031 World Cup, which is expected to deliver more than $2 billion to the code.
- Science in Sport will support the energy and recovery needs of the Wallabies for what is one of the most iconic series in global sport and as part of the agreement are also fuelling the British & Irish Lions.
Stadiums and Infrastructure
- Hospitality and gambling giant Federal Group says the proposed Macquarie Point stadium will negatively impact the landscape of Hobart, especially around the popular waterfront area – and not be exempted from the existing planning approvals process
- North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker says the council will play its part to ensure North Sydney Oval can host the Perth Bears and called for the state and federal governments to commit to funding to get the boutique ground up to NRL standard.
Motorsport
- A newly-inked contract, almost 30,000 fans on the hill and some of the closest racing Symmons Plains has ever seen had Supercars boss Shane Howard smiling from ear to ear on Sunday.
- A flood of entries has seen the re-boot of Targa Tasmania booked out six months before a wheel is turned in the world’s premier tarmac rally coming in November.
- The Victorian government has announced it will redevelop Albert Parks pit buildings to modernise the facilities, with new garages, race control area, media facilities, hospitality areas and viewing spaces. The upgrades could cost around $350 million
Racing
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