Iconic Barton Park precinct re-opened in Banksia

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Image via St George FC website

The Bayside Council confirmed the re-opening of the iconic Barton Park, formerly known as St George Stadium after a long hiatus, in fantastic news for Australian football.

The precinct, located in Banksia in South Sydney, has been undergoing a mega  $51.7 million upgrade that has transformed an old sporting field into a state-of-the art sporting and recreational facility which will be enjoyed by Bayside’s growing population.

The upgrade includes three new full-size natural turf soccer fields, a new state-of-the-art facility with a 450-seat spectator grandstand, two multi-use courts suitable for basketball, futsal and handball, four tennis courts, new amenities, improved road access and parking.

Last weekend, Barton Park had a Recreational Precinct Opening Day to celebrate its return and hosted two football matches including an exciting 2-1 St George FC vs Sydney Olympic clash in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.

In April 2024, St George FC confirmed that Bayside Council has been granted licence 1 of the new Barton Park Sports Complex to the club. This licence includes fields 1 and 2, the newly named Frank Arok Grandstand and the canteen facilities.

After plenty of pitch and grandstand issues in the stadium, it forced multiple relocations from St George FC over the past two decades, however, it’s great to see this stability back in the NPL and the club who get to enjoy this fantastic facility for the future.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas emphasised the importance of this storied stadium re-opening for Australian football and to host official NPL matches again.

“The facility accommodates much more than that with numerous outside fields and recreational areas. Special acknowledgement to Bill Saravinovski and the team Bayside Council (NSW) and NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper who have worked on this project for a long time,” Tsatsimas mentioned on LinkedIn.

“The campaign for modern football facilities across all areas and regions continues.”

Always a great sign to see one of Australian football’s most historic venues re-open to hosting official league matches in its improved state.

Football NSW have a plan to continue renovating football grounds to improve the facilities standard across the state and this is one big announcement early on in the season.

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Football Australia Announces Broadcasting Partnership with LIGR

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Image credit: Preston Lions FC

Football Australia has unveiled a partnership with Live Graphics Systems (LIGR) to establish a world-first centralised production and distribution model for over 3,500 matches annually across multiple competition tiers.

This ambitious undertaking is set to transform sports broadcasting efficiency whilst unlocking future commercial opportunities for Football Australia and its nine State and Territory Member Federations.

The collaboration comes as Football Australia prepares to kick off the Australian Championship this October.

In mid-2024, Football Australia began developing a new production strategy, defining requirements across multiple tiers of Australian football.

The strategy encompasses the Hahn Australia Cup, NSD and the top tier of Federation Competitions for both men and women (National Premier Leagues), Futsal and National Para-Football Championships included as well.

LIGR’s appointment followed a rigorous Request for Proposal (RFP) process, led by Football Australia in alliance with Member Federations, aimed at identifying a single partner capable of managing the complex scale.

LIGR, an Australian tech business recently acquired by European-based tech company Crionet, will provide technical and operational broadcast management, live monitoring and AI integration across Football Australia’s multi and single camera productions.

Additionally, LIGR’s world-leading streaming, graphics and highlights automation platform will enable seamless integration of key sponsors on broadcasts.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“This partnership marks a defining moment in Australian football and represents a paradigm shift in the way the game is produced, distributed and commercialised both in Australia and abroad,” Johnson explained via Football Australia official press release.

“By unifying production across thousands of games and multiple tiers of competition, we are not only streamlining operations but also reshaping the future of football broadcasting in this country. This is innovation at scale.

“Through this centralised model, we are building long-term operational and cost efficiencies and can focus on building sustainable revenue streams for the connected football pyramid.”

Luke McCoy, CEO of LIGR, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.

“At Crionet and LIGR, our mission is to disrupt the traditional sports production, streaming, and distribution landscape,” McCoy commented via Football Australia’s official press release.

“Our partnership with Football Australia and its State and Territory Member Federations represents a groundbreaking shift towards a truly aggregated model, marking a significant milestone for sports coverage in Australia.

“Our cutting-edge technology and innovative approach sets us apart, and we are excited to elevate the game, enhance fan engagement, and drive innovation across all levels of the sport.”

This multi-tier integration represents an unprecedented approach, as no other Australian rights holder has consolidated production across such a diverse range of competitions under a single centralised model.

This new centralised approach will allow the sport to optimise its production workflows and unlock new commercial opportunities in the evolving broadcast and streaming landscape.

An exciting development in increasing viewership and commercial viability for, as Football Australia’s 2024 National Participation Report confirmed, the most popular and fastest growing sport in the country.

Sydney FC and Arnotts Collaboration Enhances Team Spirit

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Sydney Arnotts
Image Credit: Sydney FC

Sydney FC have announced an impressive partnership with iconic Australian brand, Arnotts.

The collaboration will see Arnotts’ branding feature in a highly visible location on the back of the Sydney FC Men’s team shorts for the rest of the A-League 2024/25 season.

Sydney FC CEO Mark Aubrey expressed how valuable the partnership was to the Sky Blues.

“We are thrilled to bring Arnott’s on board as an official partner of Sydney FC,” he said via press release.

“This is a brilliant alignment between two recognised brands that specialise in creating moments that matter.”

We also both value the importance of a high performance, high integrity environment as well as standing for equality and diversity.

“I hope this will be the beginning of a long and trusted partnership, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.”

From the collaboration, both Sydney FC and Arnotts will work on a special content series featuring the “Arnotts Moments Matter” campaign.

Arnotts Group CMO Jenni Dill highlighted how excited the organisation was for the partnership.

“This partnership builds on Arnott’s desire to support Australian’s on and off the football field with healthier and delicious lunch and snacking choices,” she said in a press release.

“Whether it’s a Vita-Weat with your favourite lunchtime toppings, or a pack of Snack Right Puffs on the way to game, we look forward to inspiring Sydney FC players and fans with more tasty and convenient ways to enjoy a snack or lunch.”

Further highlighting the importance of the brand deal, Arnotts branding will not only feature on the Sydney FC Men’s kit but will also appear on the LED screens on matchdays, presenting with Arnotts with highly desirable marketing material.

The Arnotts-Sydney FC partnership is yet another major landmark deal for the club in recent months, adding to collaborations with Guaraná Antarctica and WHEN Fertility.

 

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