Every football match must take place somewhere

Whether it’s a local park that consists of 90% mud or the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium, all matches have a location.

But for some teams, namely those with strong supporter bases all around the world, sometimes that’s not enough. In our day and age, nearly any team can make a meteoric rise up the football food chain and establish themselves as a ‘big club’.

As an example, let’s look at Manchester City. A club that 20-30 years ago was a relegation battler in the First Division. They would go up and come back like a yo-yo. They weren’t a mainstay in the top flight, and they weren’t even close to the financial powerhouse that they are today.

In fact, let’s fast forward a little bit to the end of the 2007/2008 Premier League season. They weren’t relegation battlers, but they were still hardly world-beaters. It was the last day of the season, nothing was on the line.

Middlesborough had come off a disappointingly uneventful season and also had nothing to play for. With City in managerial turmoil with Sven Goran Eriksson on the way out, City were smashed 8-1 by a Middlesborough side that with respect to players like Mark Schwarzer and Stewart Downing, was nothing special. Boro were relegated last season and have only come back up once since (2016-17).

But soon after that dark day, City were overtaken by Shiekh Mansour and ever since, he and his endless streams of money have turned Manchester City into a dominant football club.

From playing at Maine Road to the jaw-dropping Etihad Stadium, City have come a long way. Maine Road seated 35,000 fans but was consistently under construction, plainly designed and bluntly, nothing spectacular.

Now, they have the magnificent Etihad Stadium. A rich, strong club with 60,000 fans (most weeks anyway). It’s futuristic, sleek and above average for a standard Premier League stadium. It even has world class training facilities right next door for their stars as well as their youth academy players.

The point I’m getting at is this. Your stadium can go a long way to defining your club. If your stadium looks the part and has a fanbase that can back up your players on the pitch, it gives everyone a good idea who you are as a club.

Stadiums are a place where people can come together. It’s a place of unity for thousands of passionate fans. They are all united in the same cause. Bringing together tens of thousands of people to fight for one thing is what makes football unique and it’s what makes stadiums special.

It’s the place where magical moments take place. Etihad Stadium was the location for perhaps the greatest moment in Premier League history. Needing a win to take home the league title, City were 2-1 down to relegation threatened QPR. Manchester United, City’s old foes, were the only challengers and they were leading away at Sunderland.

Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero then scored to put City ahead in injury time, derailing United’s title hopes and creating the most iconic piece of commentary in world football. Martin Tyler’s ‘Agueroooooooo!’ call will forever in football folklore, as will City’s title win.

For Australians, it will be where John Aloisi scored the winning penalty against Uruguay in 2005 to send the Socceroos to the World Cup. A moment forever entrenched in the minds of Australian soccer fans.

ANZ Stadium was the location and regardless of what takes place in the future, it will always be associated with that infamous penalty.

As will Wembley Stadium with England’s 1966 World Cup win. Same goes for Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul for Liverpool fans after their heroic 2005 Champions League victory. Every set of fans will always hold a moment close to their heart.

And they will always remember when, who and most importantly, where.

All these moments are just that. Moments in time that are so significant to so many fans across the world. And they all take place somewhere.

A cauldron. A theatre. A stadium, where extraordinary and unforgettable moments happen all the time.

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Chelsea FC Partners with Ticketmaster on Digital Ticketing Strategy

Chelsea FC has secured a multi-year partnership with Ticketmaster, appointing the global ticketing company as its Official Ticketing Partner.

This agreement marks a significant operational shift, with Chelsea set to introduce a digital-first ticketing system for the 2025/26 season, designed to simplify access, enhance security, and combat ticket resale fraud.

This collaboration marks a significant upgrade to Chelsea’s matchday operations, aligning the club with world-class ticketing infrastructure already used by leading sports venues globally.

Starting with the 2025/26 season, digital tickets will replace physical tickets for all fixtures at Stamford Bridge, providing fans with a more efficient and secure access system. This move also aims to tackle ticket touting, a persistent issue in top-tier football, by leveraging Ticketmaster’s secure and traceable digital delivery platform.

Teaming up will grant Chelsea access to Ticketmaster’s suite of tools, including:

  • Seamless mobile ticket delivery
  • Anti-touting features
  • Scalable event ticketing for high-demand matches
  • Real-time ticket validation and fan data insights

Chelsea FC’s Chief Revenue Officer, Casper Stylsvig, reflected on the importance of the club’s new partnership with Ticketmaster.

“Partnering with a leading force in the industry brings significant value to our operations, ensuring we offer our fans a smoother, safer experience with best-in-class products, while continuing to address the issue of ticket touts,” he said via press release.

As one of the most recognised football brands globally, Chelsea’s shift to Ticketmaster’s platform underscores the club’s commitment to modernising fan engagement and match day experiences.

Managing Director at Ticketmaster Sport, Chris Gratton, shared his enthusiasm about the new partnership with Chelsea FC.

“Chelsea FC is one of the biggest clubs in football, and we’re excited to be part of their journey. Our goal is to make ticketing as simple as possible for fans,” he said via press release.

This move reflects a wider trend in the industry towards contactless, mobile-first stadium entry, which has become increasingly common in Premier League and UEFA competitions, especially after the accelerated adoption of digital solutions during the COVID era.

The alliance between Chelsea FC and Ticketmaster signals a new era for the club, introducing leading technology and expertise to elevate the match day experience for fans.

New initiatives advancing girls’ and women’s football participation

A Government program designed to increase female participation in sports will provide almost 50 clubs and organisations with support to upgrade and develop sporting facilities, programs and equipment.

Around $5.4 million has been allocated for the 2024-25 round of The Power of Her – Infrastructure and Participation Program (IPP), which aims to create more inclusive spaces for girls and women in sports.

The funded projects include things like unisex clubrooms, better lighting and playing surfaces, new uniforms and equipment, and opportunities for professional development.

The South Australian Government led by Peter Malinauskas launched the program to build on the success of the Matildas and the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

To support the growth of girls’ and women’s football, 14 football clubs will receive nearly $2.4 million in funding this round.

Other sports also benefit from the program, such as basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, gymnastics, and Australian Rules Football, providing more chances for girls and women to get involved and succeed in their chosen sports.

For example, Norwood Basketball Club is receiving $14,600 to launch their ‘Rising Flames’ program, helping girls progress to elite senior levels and develop local talent.

Other projects funded through the program include:

  • Metro United Women’s Football Club, Pooraka: $25,000 for new uniforms.
  • Booleroo Centre Tennis Club: $80,000 to resurface three tennis courts, replace fencing, and build a new equipment shed for their drought-affected club.
  • Cove Netball Hub: $392,700 to build four new netball courts in Hallett Cove.
  • Elizabeth Grove Soccer Club: $750,000 (through the council) for a new clubroom, synthetic soccer pitch, and multi-purpose oval at Munno Para Regional Sportsground, Davoren Park.

So far, over $7.6 million has been distributed through the IPP, with the second year providing more than twice the amount of support compared to the first round.

Nearly half of the infrastructure project recipients this round – including Jervois Bluds Netball Club and Murraylands Gymnastics Academy – are located in regional and greater metropolitan areas, showing the broad impact on communities across South Australia.

The State Government has committed $18 million to the IPP over three years, with $10 million specifically set aside for football.

This effort is part of a wider push to eliminate barriers to female participation, including support for clubs with period products and menstrual health training.

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Emily MLC Bourke highlighted the importance of supporting women in sport at a grassroots level.

“Our Government recognises the importance of supporting grassroots sports to ensure girls and women have opportunities to thrive in whichever sport they pursue,” she said in a press release.

“Having the right facilities, programs and equipment in place gives girls and women the space and confidence they need to get involved and stay active with their local club.

“As The Power of Her investment continues to grow, it’s inspiring to see clubs and organisations finding new and creative ways to grow female participation and facilitate high performance pathways in their communities.”

For more information, you can find the full list of 2024-2025 IPP grants here.

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