Construction begins for Melbourne City’s South East Melbourne home

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Following a historic inaugural A-League championship and premiership double, Melbourne City have confirmed that construction has begun on the brand-new Etihad City Football Academy Melbourne.

A formal ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony attended by senior executives and community leaders from the City of Casey, the City of Greater Dandenong, Cardinia Shire Council and Melbourne City FC formally kicked off construction at the 84-hectare sporting precinct in South East Melbourne.

The first stage of construction includes the central elite training pitch, with its 115m x 115m hybrid grass surface, due for completion by the end of 2021. The new pitch is adjacent to the site’s existing four full-sized pitches – one grass and three synthetic – which will be primarily used by the Club’s Academy teams and for City in the Community programs, as well as for City of Casey school and club programs.

Fields

The next stage of construction will see the development of Melbourne City’s new two-storey administration and high-performance building at Casey Fields, currently in detailed design phase. Construction on that phase of the facility is due to commence in the coming months, with completion estimated for mid-2022.

The Club’s Academy teams started training and playing at Casey Fields in February, while administration staff will begin working from Casey Fields next month. Melbourne City’s championship-winning A-League team and four-time Westfield W-League championship winning side commence 2021-22 pre-season training on site in August and September respectively.

Melbourne City CEO Brad Rowse and City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson were on hand to put the first spade in the Casey Fields ground.

“This has been a momentous season for Melbourne City FC – starting with the announcement of our move to South East Melbourne and right up until last weekend’s grand final win,” Rowse said.

“Both moments are just the beginning of an exciting future for the Club, the fans, the staff, players and the wider community.

“The welcome we have received in the South East has been extraordinary, and we cannot wait to see the Etihad City Football Academy come to life. This is more than an elite training facility, it’s a home for football in South East Melbourne.”

Players training

City of Casey Chair of Administrators Ms. Noelene Duff PSM celebrated Melbourne City’s firm establishment in the South East of Melbourne.

“The commencement of construction on the City Football Academy at Casey Fields is another exciting milestone in this wonderful partnership that is developing between the City of Casey and Melbourne City Football Club,” she said.

“The December announcement of Melbourne City’s move to South East Melbourne was met with great enthusiasm in our community, and to now see signs of life in the development of the next stage of what will be a truly world class facility will only increase that level of excitement.

“The impending move of some of Australia’s best footballers, coaches and sporting administrators will be a wonderful addition to our community, providing positive role models and engagement opportunities on many levels.”

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Senix and Newcastle Jets unveil exciting multi-year deal

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Image Credit: Shutterstock - IOIO Images

The Newcastle Jets have announced a multi-year partnership with power tool and equipment company Senix.

Through the deal, Senix branding will feature on Newcastle Jets Women’s and Men’s teams’ shorts across the 24/25 and 25/26 seasons.

This grants Senix with extremely visible advertising, highlighting the Jet’s dedication to the collaboration and providing a significant marketing opportunity for Senix as the company seeks to grow its new portfolio in Australia.

As a rapid developer within its industry, Senix has grown to operate in American, Southeast Asian, and recent Australian markets, with plans to move into New Zealand, Japan, Korea, India and the Middle East.

Vice President of Senix Australia & New Zealand, Tim Paton, described his pride and excitement for the partnership between Senix and the Jets.

“We are excited to partner with the Newcastle Jets as they embark on their new journey,” he said via press release.

“Senix is the fastest growing power tool company in the world and the Australian market is a key focus area, so it was a natural fit to partner with the Jets given their footprint in New South Wales.

“Jets fans and people of the broader Newcastle region will love our products. We create powerful but affordable products that remain eco-minded with low-to-no-emissions. Bottom line, we deliver premium performance at an exceptional value.”

Newcastle Jets CEO, Maurice Bisetto, outlined the benefits of the deal.

“Senix are a global powerhouse in the power tool and equipment category so for the Jets to be able to partner with them is a real coup for us,” he said in a press release.

“Senix are supporting the club as a whole with branding on our A-League and W-League teams and we are excited to work with them to grow their footprint in the Australian market and give Jets fans the opportunity to win some of their tools.”

 

Signality: Revolutionising Sports Data with AI Technology

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Image credit: Signality

Signality was founded in 2016 with a clear vision to transform sports data. The company was driven by the ambition to make sports data as efficient and autonomous as a self-driving car.

With a rise in AI technology, the Swedish-based company are changing the way sports data is captured, analysed and utilised.

Signality have focused heavily on using their technology to create an extensive and complex soccer data system thanks to their automated cloud-based platform.

This platform processes thousands of live soccer games every year, delivering unparalleled data insights. It can ingest feeds from a single panoramic camera to multiple cameras, with more inputs resulting in richer data.

As the company continues to grow, it is expanding in the sports media landscape, after recently being acquired by automated camera and video production company Spiideo, another Swedish sportstech brand.

Signality’s Soccer API

The company’s prized product is their Soccer API which comprehensively tracks data sets from all different angles of the sport to help clubs, leagues and athletes perform at their best.

This is how it works:

Revolutionising Soccer Analytics with Automated Tracking and Event Data

A cutting-edge Soccer API is transforming the way soccer data is collected and delivered. Through fully automated tracking and event data collection, the platform leverages static video camera streams to derive accurate positional and event data without the need for manual intervention.

Automated Data Collection and Low-Latency Delivery

By connecting video streams to the platform’s system, users can initiate an automated process that generates real-time data feeds. These feeds, accessible via an open and user-friendly API, ensure low-latency data delivery, providing crucial insights for analysts, coaches, and broadcasters.

Comprehensive Tracking Data

The platform provides detailed positional data for all players, including the ball and referee. This data forms the basis for numerous Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that can be easily derived, such as:

  • Total Running Distances
  • Speed Zones
  • Number of Sprints
  • Player Separation Metrics
  • And Many More

This positional data is presented with high accuracy and precision, allowing teams to analyse movement patterns and player performance comprehensively.

Rich Event Data

In addition to tracking data, the API delivers extensive event data, covering a broad range of on-field events. Each event is timestamped and linked to the respective team and player. The list of supported event types is continuously expanding and currently includes:

  • Kick-Off
  • Goals
  • Passes
  • Substitutions
  • Red Cards
  • Yellow Cards
  • Corner Kicks
  • Dangerous Free Kicks
  • Penalties
  • End of Phase

This comprehensive event data enables deeper tactical analysis and enhances the storytelling for media coverage.

Proven and Validated Technology

The quality of the platform’s services has been validated by Gothenburg University, ensuring reliability and accuracy. In addition, continuous in-house validation and collaboration with partners help maintain and improve the high standard of service. Interested users can request further details about the validation process.

How It Works

  1. Connect Video Streams: Users can connect their respective video streams to the API and optionally provide additional match information, such as team lineups, home and away teams, and kick-off time.
  2. Automated Processing: The platform’s AI models process the video streams, automatically extracting positional and event data.
  3. Access Data via API: The processed data is made available through an easy-to-use open API, enabling seamless integration into existing systems.
  4. Quality Assurance: Built-in QA services ensure data accuracy by continuously training and refining AI models based on feedback and new data.

Conclusion

Signality’s Soccer API offers a revolutionary solution for automated soccer analytics. By providing fast, accurate, and comprehensive data through a robust open API, it empowers teams, analysts, and broadcasters to gain unparalleled insights into the game. With proven technology and continuous improvement, this platform is set to become a key player in the future of soccer analytics.

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