Brisbane Roar calls Ballymore home for the 2023/24 A-League Men’s season

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Brisbane Roar and Ballymore training venue
Image credit: Brisbane Roar

Brisbane Roar have announced an agreement with Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) that sees the Roar men’s squad using Ballymore Stadium as their training base.

With the 2023/24 A-League Men’s season already kicking off, the Roar have recently settled into their newly redeveloped venue and have used the world-class facilities for their training sessions.

Earlier this year, the QRU and Brisbane Roar agreed to let the A-League women’s squad play all their league home matches their permanently. It is public that the relationship between the Roar and the QRU is fantastic and that more deals like this would occur in the future.

QRU CEO David Hanham explained how the Ballymore facilities were perfect for the Roar squad after the recent developments

“It’s great to have the Brisbane Roar back at Ballymore. Having the men’s program train at our world-class facility reinforces the QRU’s vision for Ballymore as a multi-sport high-performance hub,”  Hanham said via Roar press release.

“It’ll see two Olympic sports in rugby and football come together at the one precinct – a milestone moment as we build towards the 2032 Brisbane Games.

“Our future vision for the Ballymore precinct is for the Eastern Stand to become a high-performance centre of excellence for Olympic sports, and the first home for women’s rectangular sport with stage one of Ballymore’s redevelopment now complete following the construction of the NRTC and McLean Stand.

“We look forward to welcoming their men’s program to the precinct but also the women’s squad to the venue for their upcoming home fixtures at Ballymore.”

BRFC Chairman and CEO Kaz Patafta expressed his excitement at the new opportunity for both Roar squads.

“The Ballymore Sports Hub is a state-of-the-art facility, and we are delighted to have our men’s squad utilise the venue as their training base,” he added via media release.

“Providing our players with a professional and consistent training environment will have a great impact on our club moving forward.

“We look forward to continuing to strengthen and expand our partnership with the QRU and we’re committed to ensuring our teams are exposed to high-performance facilities and infrastructure.”

This is a great move by the Roar, who are utilising their fantastic relationship with the QRU to give the women’s team a suitable home for league matches as well as using the world class facilities to help develop the men’s team with the potential to play a few home matches there for the 2023/24 campaign

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Adelaide United renews StudyAdelaide partnership for Asian campaign

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Image Credit: AFC

Adelaide United has brought back a familiar commercial partner for its return to continental competition, with StudyAdelaide signing on as front-of-shirt sponsor for the club’s 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two campaign.

The partnership reconnects two South Australian organisations after StudyAdelaide previously featured on Adelaide United’s shirt during their 2010 AFC Champions League campaign.

Adelaide commenced their six-match group-stage campaign on Thursday at Hindmarsh, defeating Hong Kong’s Tai Po 3-0.

For StudyAdelaide, the value of the partnership extends beyond traditional football sponsorship. The organisation, a partnership between the South Australian Government and more than 50 education institutions, is using Adelaide United’s Asian competition to promote South Australia as an international study destination.

The club’s continental schedule provides exposure in several key Asian markets, with Adelaide travelling to face BG Pathum United in Thailand and Lion City Sailors in Singapore during the group stage.

StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnston said the partnership would provide a great opportunity to connect with young people across Asia.

“Having StudyAdelaide featured throughout this international competition is a unique platform to connect with young people across Asia and highlight the many reasons South Australia is their best option to study, live and build a career,” Johnston said.

The deal illustrates how football’s international competitions can provide commercial value beyond traditional brand exposure, particularly for organisations looking to promote to a specific or new region.

The Reds’ ACL Two campaign continues against BG Pathum United in Thailand on October 15.

Arncliffe Aurora’s Riverine Park investment creates a platform for growth

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Image Credits: Arncliffe Aurora

Arncliffe Aurora Football Club has started a new chapter with the launch of Riverine Park, creating a larger platform for football, community engagement and long-term growth in Sydney’s St George region. More than 2,500 people attended the community opening on 8 August, marking the club’s first matches at its new home and showcasing a significant upgrade in its operating capacity.

Riverine Park provides two full-size natural turf football fields, modern player and community amenities, and a new clubhouse. The additional capacity responds to strong growth in Arncliffe Aurora’s football programs, particularly at junior level. The club has also highlighted a $2.5 million investment in facility upgrades. Together with its existing Arncliffe Park base, Riverine Park gives Aurora two homes and a stronger physical platform for its football operations.

More capacity allows the club to accommodate more teams, players and programs, while updated facilities can support stronger member retention and recruitment. They create more opportunities for coaching, development programs, events and community activities. The new site can also strengthen the club’s commercial proposition; a modern facility gives sponsors greater visibility and provides more opportunities to activate partnerships around football and community events. It can also help the club build relationships with schools, community organisations and football bodies. That matters as grassroots clubs increasingly operate as community hubs rather than simply sporting organisations.

Riverine Park also creates opportunities for the wider football ecosystem. Football St George has identified the facility as a platform to grow participation and provide opportunities for players of different ages, abilities and backgrounds. Bayside Council’s project includes upgraded change rooms, toilets, canteen facilities, lighting, seating and solar panels, adding further functionality to the precinct.

For Arncliffe Aurora, the investment is therefore about more than adding fields. It creates infrastructure that can support participation, player development, community programs and commercial activity over the long term. The challenge now shifts from construction to utilisation. The club must maximise the new capacity, maintain the assets and convert greater participation into a sustainable operating model to benefit the community long-term.

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