Matildas football fan suite in Sydney a world first

Staff Writer
Matildas Fan Suite
Image via The Star

Destination NSW and The Star Sydney have created the world’s first-ever CommBank Matildas Fan Suite, with the partnership providing another reason to cheer.

Existing for two days to coincide with the Australia v Republic of Ireland match on July 20, the luxury two-level penthouse has been completely transformed into a football fan’s paradise where one lucky competition winner and their three guests will stay.

Featuring amazing views of the Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, everything has been meticulously curated to pay homage to Australia’s national women’s team. Styled in striking green and gold, a giant four metre long Matildas scarf hangs above the suite’s shelves, filled with football themed ornaments and books charting the history of the Matildas.

On every wall, traditional hotel artwork has been replaced with framed photos of legendary past and present Matildas players, alongside autographed jerseys and the real international trophies won by the team, including AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Cup of Nations and the Tournament of Nations. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a fan to celebrate the CommBank Matildas as they push for glory on home soil.

Decided by a game of skill, the competition winner will also receive a meet and greet with CommBank Matildas legend and A-League Women’s top goal scorer, Michelle Heyman (cap #170), to talk all things football, as well as tickets to the opening match in Sydney on July 20. They will also receive exclusive goodie bags with official Matildas merchandise and to get into the match-day mood, renowned DJ and football fan Nina Las Vegas has curated an exclusive pre-game party playlist for the winners to enjoy.

Steve Cox, CEO at Destination NSW, said: “Sydney is the national home of football and we’re excited to see the city buzz as football fans visit from around the world to experience the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific. The Matildas Fan Suite brings even more excitement around the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sydney. Fans from within Sydney and across the country will have the opportunity to really get behind the Matildas while enjoying this one-of-a-kind experience. We can’t wait for the team to hit the pitch on July 20 as well as open the doors to this football fan’s dream at The Star Grand Sydney.” 

Michelle Heyman, former Matilda player and A-League Women’s record goal scorer, said: “This is the ultimate experience for any football fan! Not only do you get to stay in this incredible football suite, you get to fully immerse yourself in the Matildas hype ahead of their first match on home soil. You even get tickets to the Matildas sold out opening game, so overall it’s a money can’t buy experience and an incredible way to get behind the Matildas and celebrate women’s sport here in Sydney.”

Nina Las Vegas, Australian Producer and DJ, said: “I’m one of the biggest football fans there is, so to have the best teams in the world competing in Sydney is a dream come true. I’ve been following the Matildas since I can remember and even helped record an exclusive song for their 2019 campaign, so to say I’m a super fan is putting it lightly! Who could ask for anything more than staying in luxury with one of the best views in the world all while supporting the Matildas! Just a shame I can’t enter and win it for myself!” 

For the opportunity to win a stay at the CommBank Matildas’ Fan Suite in Sydney, you will need to head to The Star website and describe in 25 words or less why Sydney is the best city in the world to see the Matildas play in the upcoming women’s football tournament. Entries close 9:00pm Wednesday July 12 2023

Full details of the experience include:

·       Two nights’ accommodation in the Matildas Fan Suite for one lucky winner and three guests from July 19 – July 21

·       Domestic flights and airport transfers for four people (if winner is from interstate or regional NSW)

·       Four tickets to the Australia v Republic of Ireland match on 20 July (transfers to match also included)

·       Meet and greet with former Matildas star, Michelle Heyman 

·       Pre-game party playlist by Nina Las Vegas created especially for the stay

·       Four official Matildas official merchandise packs 

For images of the Matildas Fan Suite head HERE and for a video tour head HERE.

About Destination NSW: 

Destination NSW is the champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW is responsible for leading the delivery of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 in partnership with government and industry. Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Eastern Suburbs Football Association Announces First All-Female Referee Course and Expanded Women’s Competition

Avatar
Image Credit: Football NSW

The Eastern Suburbs Football Association has opened its 2026 season with three structural investments that reflect the growing ambition of community football associations to address participation, representation and development gaps simultaneously, beginning with the delivery of its first all-female Football Match Official Course.

The course, held at Matraville Sports High School and led by female liaison committee member Michelle Hilton and 2025 Referee of the Year Ariella Richards, brought 25 new female referees into the association ahead of Round 1. The initiative targets one of the most persistent imbalances in community sport, with women remaining significantly underrepresented in officiating roles at every level of the game, by creating a dedicated entry point separate from the mixed course environment that many women find unwelcoming.

The Women’s Premier League has also expanded, now featuring eleven teams and introducing a WPL1 and WPL2 structure following the first ten rounds of the season. The tiered format creates more competition opportunities for clubs across the region while providing a clearer development pathway for teams at different stages of growth. Returning clubs Randwick City, Glebe Wanderers, Easts FC and Sydney University join established sides in what the association describes as one of its most competitive women’s seasons. ESFA clubs have continued to perform strongly in state-wide competitions including the Football NSW Sapphire Cup, State Cup and Champion of Champions.

Building the next generation

The season opened with an inaugural Development League Gala Day for Under-9 to Under-12 boys and girls, bringing eight clubs together in a structured development environment ahead of Round 1. Sydney FC A-League Women’s players attended the event and engaged directly with young participants, a deliberate effort to connect grassroots players with visible examples of where the pathway leads.

“We are committed to creating more opportunities for clubs, players, coaches and referees to thrive, with a strong focus on participation opportunities to suit participants of all abilities and aspirations,” said ESFA CEO John Boulous.

The three initiatives, a new referee entry point for women, an expanded women’s competition structure, and a development-focused junior gala day with elite role models present, together reflect an association responding to the participation pressures the AFC Women’s Asian Cup has brought into sharp relief across Australian football.

More Than One in Five Football Australia Staff to Lose Jobs Amid Growing Financial Losses

Avatar
Image Credit: ESPN

Australian football finds itself in a curious position.

From the outside, the game appears to be riding a wave of momentum. Attendances, visibility and public interest have all experienced significant uplift in recent years, while major international tournaments and growing discussion around football’s future continue to place the sport firmly within the national conversation.

Yet behind that momentum, Football Australia is now confronting a far more challenging internal reality.

 

A compounding deficit

Chief Executive Martin Kugeler has reportedly indicated the governing body’s projected financial losses for 2025 are expected to exceed the organisation’s reported $8.5 million deficit from the previous year. Accompanying the financial outlook are substantial organisational changes, with reporting from Tracey Holmes indicating more than one in five Football Australia employees are expected to lose their positions through restructuring measures.

The figures represent more than a difficult balance sheet. They point toward a significant period of recalibration inside the organisation responsible for overseeing the sport nationally.

 

Losing the wisdom of existing staff members

For governing bodies, restructures are often framed as strategic necessities for future sustainability. However, workforce changes on this scale also raise broader questions around the challenges of such a transition.

People are often the carriers of knowledge, relationships and long-term strategic understanding. When organisations undergo significant structural change, the effects can extend beyond immediate financial outcomes.

 

Contradicting timing

The timing is what makes the developments particularly notable.

Football in Australia has spent recent years discussing expansion, growth and long-term opportunity. The conversation surrounding the game has increasingly centred on future potential. Often headlining stronger pathways, larger audiences, infrastructure development and greater visibility.

Against that backdrop, news of deep financial losses and substantial staffing reductions creates a different conversation: one focused not on where the game wants to go, but on what may be required to sustain that journey. Therefore, this announcement points toward stagnancy, rather than growth.

Further detail surrounding Football Australia’s strategy and long-term direction will likely emerge over coming months. For now, the developments serve as a reminder that growth stories are rarely straightforward.

Often, the periods that appear strongest from the outside can also be the moments organisations face their most significant internal tests.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend