Football Tasmania’s four-year Facilities Strategy to increase grassroots participation

Football Tasmania Facilities Strategy

Football Tasmania has released a new Facilities Strategy for 2023-2026, as they transition from their 2019-2023 strategic plan.

The Facilities Strategy is an evidence-based strategy, designed to ensure sufficient football facilities are available to cater for unmet demand and support the projected growth of football in Tasmania, from grassroots to elite level.

Football Tasmania is seeking support from all key stakeholders – clubs, associations, state and local government, schools – to address the challenges they face in terms of growing the sport in the state.

Bulkeley stated via media release that while the primary focus of the Facilities Strategy was to support grassroots growth, it was also prepared with the view of future-proofing football in Tasmania for eventual A-League teams of its own.

There are key statistics mentioned in the Facilities Strategy by Football Tasmania that highlight where the current state of football is at as of 2022.

38,068 people participated in football, both indoor or outdoor, across Tasmania, with 13,093 of them registered for outdoor football alone. This is the most highlighted and important statistic that Football Tasmania are trying to rapidly increase in the grassroots game.

More importantly, there was a decent 39.4% increase in participation from 2020 to 2021, proving that the growth of the sport has its foundations in Tasmania and they can build on it.

There is an estimated $1,900 annual economic benefit per participant to the State, with social and health benefits
additional. It’s a system right now that can be hugely successful for the state financially and building upon it with this Facilities Strategy is key.

3,768 women and girls are registered to participate in football in Tasmania in 2023, highlighted due to the importance Football Tasmania are putting on 50:50 participation across both genders and is one of their key pillars in the Facilities Strategy.

3,954 people registered for Futsal and participated in it for the year 2022.

Football Tasmania have set foundations for the plan to ensure it succeeds in improving individual facility development at all three levels of football in the state which include:

  • State
  • Regional hubs
  • Local facilities

The Facilities Strategy is based over three planning periods (horizons), to assist in prioritisation and resources allocation to ensure long-term sustainable outcomes.

Horizon 1 –  The First Half (2023-2024)

This is considered the planning stage before the implementation of their new facilities and will lay the foundation for long-term success. Includes:

  • Facilities Strategy endorsement – including narrative, priorities and resourcing
  • Collecting up-to-date data about grassroots football
  • State & Federal Govt. engagement – incl. State Sport and Recreation Strategy

Horizon 2 – The Second Half (2025-2026)

The second stage that plans to tick boxes and aim to complete the goals set in the Facilities Strategy. Includes:

  • Start and finish work on Regional hubs
  • State facility Master-planning / delivery
  • Football association / club integration model – juniors and seniors

Horizon 3 – Extra Time (2026+)

The future past this Facilities Strategy that will ensure perennial growth of football in Tasmania. Includes:

  • Lobby for Developer Contributions Program
  • Embedded planning for elections across all tiers of government
  • Creating additional Regional hubs

The growth of football participation is vital for Tasmania, and they are expecting a large amount of growth throughout this 4-year period in the strategy.

Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley confirmed that football is the largest participation team sport in Tasmania, with around 38,000 participants.

“Football in Tasmania is growing across all categories and is expected to continue to grow,” he said via press release.

The currently have 13,093 registered outdoor football participants as of 2022 which is a 5.8% increase from 2020, indicating the growth is subtle but the demand to play the sport is most certainly there.

There is also more of a focus on the women and girls representation in Tasmanian football. Bulkeley explained the importance of improving facilities to keep the participation for women and girls healthy.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year will add to that demand, and we want to ensure that participants – particularly women and girls – aren’t turned away due to the lack of suitable facilities,” he added via press release.

Women & Girls participation and demand numbers

  • 3,768 registered outdoor football participants from 2022
  • 6.2% increase in registered participants from 2021
  • 16.5% increase in registered participants over last 4 years
  • 28.8% of total outdoor participants are women and girls with a goal to level this to 50:50 gender participation by 2027

The Facilities Strategy set out by Football Tasmania is in-depth and is a sign that they are positively pushing for suitable facilities that will attract the youth of the state in participating in the sport. Whilst the sport continues to grow, capitalising off the FIFA Women’s World Cup has also been a big talking point in the plan and certainly will help their ambition to grow the women’s game rapidly.

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Juventus FC confirms 2025/26 Jeep & Visit Detroit shirt deal

Juventus FC has unveiled a landmark dual front-of-shirt sponsorship deal for the 2025/2026 season, with both jeep and Visit Detroit set to appear a co-branded collaborators across the club’s men’s, women’s, and Next Gen sides. The announcement marks a first for Serie A and European football, as a destination marketing organisation (DMO) joins a top-tier club’s shirt sponsorship.

The agreement builds on Jeep’s long-standing connection with Juventus, dating back to 2012, while welcoming Visit Detroit — the world’s first convention and visitors bureau — in a bold move to merge global tourism promotion with elite football.

Shared Shirt Real Estate, Expanded Global Reach

Under the agreement:

  • Jeep and Visit Detroit will co-feature on the front of Juventus’ domestic kits
  • Jeep retains sole front-of-shirt rights for international fixtures

The co-branding strategy reflects a broader shift in club commercial models, as Juventus looks to diversify revenue streams, grow its global footprint, and strengthen ties to the North American market.

Breaking New Ground in Tourism & Sport

While tourism boards have collaborated with clubs before, this is the first time a CVB has secured front-of-shirt branding at this level — signalling the rise of cross-industry partnerships blending travel, sport, and city branding.

The deal also aligns with Juventus’ push to build deeper connections in the U.S., where Serie A’s popularity continues to climb.

A Shared Focus on Innovation and Reach

All three parties — Juventus, Jeep, and Visit Detroit — say the collaboration is grounded in shared values: innovation, community, and global ambition. Jeep brings legacy and loyalty, while Visit Detroit represents a fresh, lifestyle-led approach to brand engagement.

Both brands will benefit from:

  • Widespread global exposure across multiple teams
  • Integrated marketing and activation opportunities
  • Hospitality and fan engagement initiatives in Italy and abroad

A Sign of Things to Come

Juventus’ new sponsorship model reflects broader commercial trends in football: dual-brand kits, destination marketing, and increased U.S. market integration. The agreement could set the stage for similar deals, especially among clubs seeking to balance heritage brands with emerging categories like tourism and experiential branding.

‘Football For Good’ partnership launched by PFA and Juan Mata’s ‘Common Goal’

'Football For Good' partnership launched by PFA and Juan Mata's 'Common Goal'

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has announced a partnership with Juan Mata’s ‘Common Goal’, which aims grow and support the ‘Football For Good’ community in Australia.

This collaboration is the first of its kind between Common Goal and a players’ association, and it aims to tap into football’s potential to create real social impact—both in Australia and around the world.

The partnership was officially launched at a media event in Sydney on last Tuesday afternoon.

As part of the agreement, PFA and Common Goal will work together to:

  • Raise awareness about the Football For Good community among socially conscious and community-focused Australian footballers;
  • Host ‘Football For Good’ events and fundraising campaigns; and
  • Use the PFA’s Footballers’ Trust to help identify and support community projects that players can contribute to.

Australian footballers will also be encouraged to get involved by pledging 1% of their football earnings to Common Goal, or by donating any amount to causes they care deeply about.

All contributions will go toward supporting PFA-accredited grassroots and community-led organisations that use football to create positive social change.

These include:

  • Australian Blind Football
  • Football Empowerment
  • Football Futures
  • Football United (Creating Chances)
  • Heartbeat of Football
  • John Moriarty Football
  • One Ball
  • PlayrProject
  • Pride Cup
  • Reflect Forward
  • Transplant Australia Football Club

 

Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Juan Mata, who co-founded Common Goal in 2017, was on hand to help launch the partnership and share the message of using football as a force for good.

“Australia has a passionate football culture and has an incredible opportunity to lead with purpose,” Mata said in a press release

“Through this partnership with the PFA, we want to inspire Australian players to see how they can use their platform to make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond.”

Common Goal Advisory Co-Chair and founder of Football United, Anne Bunde-Birouste highlighted the importance of the partnership.

“Professional player engagement is paramount to supporting our work with children and young people for the inspiration they bring,” Bunde-Birouste said in a press release.

“This world-first collaboration will greatly enable Australian players to get involved with football for good organisations, helping us help our communities through the magic of football.”

A growing number of Australian footballers have already joined Common Goal, including Alex Brosque, Caitlin Foord, Aivi Luik, Angela Beard, Winonah Heatley, Izzy Dalton, Libby Copus-Brown, and Alex Chidiac.

Here in Australia, the initiative is backed by the PFA’s Footballers’ Trust, which gives players a way to donate a portion of their football earnings to causes they care about.

Since launching in 2019, the Trust has helped direct $500,000 in player contributions to 24 different charities, human rights groups, inclusion initiatives, and football-based programs both locally and overseas.

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