GIS partners with University of Newcastle to launch stadium campus in Sydney

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has announced a landmark partnership with the University of Newcastle to launch a state-of-the-art campus in Sydney.

Sydney’s iconic sporting precinct, which is home to the historic Sydney Cricket Ground and the world-class Allianz Stadium, is set to welcome a new wave of students preparing for careers in the sports industry.

With the nation heading into a golden decade of sport in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the new campus is set to play a key role in developing the talent that will drive the industry forward.

This collaboration will offer postgraduate programs at these inspirational sporting venues as well as the University of Newcastle’s Sydney CBD campus, thanks to a partnership with Venues NSW.

The unique ‘stadium-based’ campus model of learning is based on GIS’ success of campuses including Wembley Stadium in London and Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium in the USA.

The new Sydney campus will offer two master’s degrees: a Master of International Sports Business and a Master of Sports Analytics, along with a Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics.

These programs are the first Australian university degrees with teaching from inside stadiums and are open to both domestic Australian and international students from January 2026.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone for GIS and reinforces our commitment to providing world-class sports education,” said Sharona Friedman, President and CEO of Global Institute of Sport.

“By combining our global expertise with the academic strength of the University of Newcastle and the unique access to elite venues provided by Venues NSW, we are creating a first-of-its-kind learning experience for Australian students as well as producing the next generation of leaders for the ever-growing Australian sports industry.”

The Master of International Sports Business will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the global sports landscape, covering areas such as sports marketing, sponsorship, economics, sustainability, leadership, integrity and athlete management.

The Master of Sports Analytics and Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics will focus on the use of data analytics to improve sporting performance, fan engagement, and business decision-making, one of the fastest growing areas within sport.

“We are excited to be partnering with GIS to offer these Australian-first programs which will deliver experiences far beyond the traditional classroom setting,” said Professor James Skinner, Dean of the University of Newcastle’s Business School.

“To further mark the University of Newcastle’s 60th year delivering world class education, this unique collaboration offers our students unparalleled access to international experts, hands-on experience and world-renowned facilities to set them up for successful careers in the dynamic sports sector.”

Sydney-based students will also be able to learn at GIS’ professional sports facilities around the world which in addition to Wembley Stadium and Chase Stadium also includes the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, RSC Anderlecht’s Lotto Park in Brussels, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s BMO Field in Toronto, and football academies in Dubai and Jamaica.

This access, facilitated in Sydney by Venues NSW, will provide students with real-world insights into the operations of major sporting venues, events and organisations as well as access to a vast network of sports industry guest speakers that has already included the likes of Socceroo and Liverpool legend Harry Kewell, former Wallabies captain James Horwill, and senior executives from Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia, AFL clubs and A League clubs.

“Venues NSW is delighted to support this partnership and contribute to the development of future sports industry leaders, as well as the sector and the economy more broadly” said Matt Hart, General Manager – Commercial at Venues NSW.

“The Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground are inspiration venues, and we are excited to provide students with the opportunity to learn in these world-class settings.”

Applications for the Master of International Sports Business, Master of Sports Analytics, and Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics are open now. For more information about the programs and how to apply, please visit www.gis.sport.

Information session

An open evening and networking event will be held at the Allianz Stadium on Monday 12th May from 5.30pm. Register at www.gis.sport/events.

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Boroondara Eagles Secure Landmark Victory as Macleay Park Set to Become NPLW Home

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Image Credits: Boroondara Eagles

A long-awaited breakthrough for the Boroondara Eagles Football Club has brought the vision of a permanent home for women’s football one step closer, with Boroondara City Council endorsing plans for an NPLW-compliant pitch at Macleay Park.

For the Eagles, the ambition to provide women with deserving facilities took a significant step forward this week after the Boroondara City Council committed to upgrading the pitch as part of the Macleay Park Masterplan.

This masterplan involved new sports lights on Macleay Park Oval 3 but failed to see any further development to the soccer facilities or the Boroondara Eagles until Monday night.

The decision marks a defining moment in the club’s history and provides a platform for sustained growth, particularly for its thriving women’s and girls’ football programs.

While the resolution represents an important planning milestone, its significance extends well beyond the construction of a new playing surface. It signals a commitment to ensuring female footballers have access to facilities capable of supporting elite development pathways while remaining connected to their local community.

Purpose-built facilities remain one of the biggest challenges facing women’s football across Australia. As participation continues to surge, many clubs have outgrown venues originally designed around significantly smaller player bases.

For a club that has experienced rapid growth in recent years, the announcement provides the opportunity to establish a permanent home capable of meeting the demands of National Premier Leagues Women’s football.

The investment also reflects a broader shift within local government and football stakeholders towards recognising the infrastructure required to support the continued growth of the women’s game.

The Council’s decision was underpinned by strong community support, with players, families, coaches, volunteers and supporters filling the Council Chamber in a powerful display of unity.

The overwhelming attendance demonstrated the depth of connection between the club and the local community, highlighting how football facilities can become important social and sporting assets beyond matchday.

Although the inclusion of the NPLW-compliant pitch within the Macleay Park Masterplan represents a significant victory, the project remains at the beginning of its journey.

Funding, planning and delivery will now become the focus as the Boroondara Eagles works alongside Council, partners and the wider community to bring the Macleay Masterplan to life.

The club has already called on local businesses, sponsors and community members to become involved in the next phase, recognising that delivering modern sporting infrastructure is a collaborative effort.

Should the project progress as envisioned, Macleay Park has the potential to become more than simply the club’s home ground. It could emerge as a center point for women’s football in the local Boroondara community, supporting participation, talent development and community engagement for years to come.

For the Boroondara Eagles, the Council resolution is not the destination—it is the foundation upon which the club can build its next chapter.

Tottenham Hotspur deliver player development workshop for Football NSW

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Image credit: Football NSW

The workshop focused on sharing knowledge and insights regarding player development, bringing together more than 120 coaches from across NSW with those from Tottenham Hotspur.

 

Experience, insight and education

Valentine Sports Park hosted the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop, uniting Football NSW coaches and members of Tottenham Hotspur’s coaching staff to encourage discussion and learning opportunities about player development.

Tottenham’s player development pathway – from the academy to the first team – has produced some of the most respected names in Premier League history, including Harry Kane and Ledley King.

Under the leadership and guidance of Tottenham Hotspur Player & Coach Pathway Co-ordinator (and UEFA A Licence Coach), Jimmy Martin, as well as members of Tottenham’s coaching staff, Shannon Maloney, Kevin Moffatt and Tyler Blackwood, the workshop was a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced coaches in the game.

“Coach education is a vital part of developing football across NSW, and having more than 120 coaches attend this workshop highlights the appetite within our football community to continue learning and improving,” explained Football NSW Head of Football, Edward Ferguson.

Ferguson continued to outline the value of learning from an organisation like Tottenham Hotspur, a team who have helped grow some of the game’s most exceptional talents. The lessons taken will consequently help to inform future approaches to coaching in NSW.

“The focus remains on creating better learning environments for players, encouraging decision-making, creativity and long-term development.”

What the workshop involved

The workshop encouraged coaches to dive into all aspects of player development: the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects which contribute to the English academy setup.

Furthermore, Maloney, Moffatt and Blackwood – all of whom helped deliver a practical session for attendees – showed how a club’s playing identity can work alongside challenging training environments for players.

Game understanding, creative problem-solving and technical proficiency underpinned the main themes driving the workshop. In an age where individual expression on the pitch appears a dying art, Tottenham Hotspur coaches remain committed to encouraging players to feel confident adapating to a range of in-game scenarios.

Football NSW coaches were also able to attend a Q&A session with King, who spoke about his playing experiences for both club and country.

 

Final thoughts

As Australia continues to nurture the current and upcming generations of talented footballers, workshops such as this are a vital, fundamental part of the journey.

The fastest way to be among the best is to learn from them. The aim now is for Football NSW coaches to take the lessons learned, and apply them to football development in their own academies and teams across the state.

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