The Diamonds’ gold medal success at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games has helped seal a huge financial boost to Netball Australia that will help solve the sport’s cash crisis and secure its future.
In a deal that will be announced imminently, Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan confirmed Australia’s most popular female sport had signed a new commercial partner.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Sports Australia, Ryan revealed:
* A new commercial partner would be announced ahead of the Constellation Cup against New Zealand in October;
* The deal was worth in excess of six figures;
* Energy company Origin was locked in talks to renew their sponsorship as naming rights partner of the Diamonds;
* The Suncorp Super Netball Evolution Review would be completed by early October.
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Ryan, who recently fronted a Ministry of Sport Conference at the Gold Coast, also revealed the sport had been in discussions with an international broadcast partner.
While CEO Ryan has not ruled out selling all or part of the Super Netball competition, she said the key to success was to stop underselling itself and do the right thing for the sport.
“There are two extremes, honouring history and history but also embracing the responsibility to ensure the sport is thriving. Sometimes that does not exist in perfect harmony … but we have to make decisions based on what is right for the sport,” she said.
“Collectively, women’s sport must stop apologising and being so polite … we have to be audacious for what we are asking for.
“I have been in discussions for a while with an international broadcast partner who loves our product, loves our athletes, acknowledges we have the best league in the world, and knows we can deliver a package that is easy to consume.
“But they don’t want to pay for it. So, should we do that? We want to grow our sport internationally, we want to reach new markets, but in not wanting to pay for it this says they don’t value it.
“We will no longer accept that. That’s our commitment to women’s sport. “So … they don’t get the opportunity to broadcast our product.
“We will no longer accept undervaluing our product. We have put a line in the sand – if we don’t value it, no one else will.”
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Netball Australia confirmed it had lost $7.2 million over the past two years and had debts of about $4 million that are due and payable at the end of this year.
Ryan has also previously confirmed a “going concern” notice had been issued to the organisation.
In response, a Tier 1 global private equity group headed by Matt Berriman had pitched a $6.5 million bid to buy the competition outright.
It has since been reported that Berriman had withdrawn his offer.
“We are doing our due diligence and looking at all our commercial opportunities. If we were to go down the path of private equity, and I appreciate the offer came out of the base innate need to reverse the financial situation – we want the full picture.
“This financial moment won’t define us and to give away our biggest commercial asset just to appease a short-term need is incredibly short-sighted.
“Every dollar that comes into our sport we want to reinvest.
“We don’t know whether private equity is what is best for our sport just yet. But can Netball Australia recover without a takeover, yes and we are already making great progress to turn the business around.”
Coverage of the Diamonds is part of Kayo’s commitment to Women’s Sport which features a record number of broadcast hours for women’s sport in September through to October. Every match of the Constellation Cup and England Series will be shown streamed live on KAYO.
Constellation Cup
Wednesday 12 October – Spark Arena, Auckland, NZ
Sunday 16 October – Trustpower Arena, Tauranga, NZ
Wednesday 19 October – John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Sunday 23 October – Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
England Series
Wednesday 26 October – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
Sunday 30 October – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Thursday 3 November – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
