Football Tasmania welcomes further $3.5m Valley Road commitment

Football Tasmania has welcomed Tuesday’s announcement by the Liberal Party that it will commit $3.5 million towards the redevelopment of Valley Road if elected after May 21.

Announced by Member for Braddon, Gavin Pearce, the funding would allow Devonport Strikers to complete Stage One of its redevelopment of Valley Road, including increased seating, lighting and pitch upgrades, as well as refurbished clubroom and kitchen facilities.

The funding would be in addition to the State Government funding committed to Valley Road to give the venue the best chance of being selected to host 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup basecamps.

Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley thanked Pearce for supporting the growth of football in Devonport and the north west coast.

“As the home of one of the state’s most successful clubs in Devonport Strikers, Valley Road is an iconic Tasmanian football venue and the premier facility on the north-west coast,” Bulkeley told Football Tasmania.

“Football continues to go from strength-to-strength in the region, and these upgrades will help the venue keep pace, allowing for further growth of the game in Devonport and surrounds.

“Improved facilities will also put Valley Road in contention to host A-League men’s and women’s games, which would be a great and deserved addition to the north-west sporting calendar.

“On behalf of the Tasmanian football community I thank Mr Pearce for this commitment.

“Sporting upgrades such as this bring so much to the community and we encourage Labor to follow suit to ensure the growth of football continues on the north-west regardless of the election result.”

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How James Johnson Is Shaping Canada Soccer’s Billion-Dollar World Cup Commercial Future

Canada Soccer has confirmed a renewed long-term commercial agreement with Canadian Soccer Media and Entertainment, marking a significant reset in the federation’s revenue strategy as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The updated partnership extends CSME’s control of Canada Soccer’s commercial rights, including sponsorship, broadcast and media licensing, while introducing revised financial terms designed to provide the federation with greater long-term revenue certainty and growth potential. The agreement replaces a previous deal that faced heavy scrutiny from players and stakeholders over concerns surrounding commercial valuation and distribution of revenues.

CSME, led by Group Chief Executive James Johnson, played a central role in renegotiating the structure, which aims to better align commercial returns with the sport’s accelerating domestic and international profile. The revised framework is expected to support increased investment across national team programs, commercial development and broader football growth initiatives.

The agreement arrives at a pivotal moment for Canadian football, with momentum building across both men’s and women’s programs and global attention increasing ahead of 2026. Securing a more sustainable commercial model is viewed as critical to ensuring the federation can maximise opportunities generated by hosting football’s largest tournament.

The renewed partnership also signals a shift toward long-term commercial planning, providing Canada Soccer with a more stable financial platform as it looks to strengthen its competitive standing and expand participation nationwide.

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