Lake Macquarie City FC strategically join up with Newcastle Jets

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Newcastle Jets and Lake Macquarie City
Image credit: IOIO IMAGES / Shutterstock.com

Newcastle Jets and Lake Macquarie City FC will collaborate on facility upgrades and ways to utilise these facilities more effectively as part of a strategic relationship, which will also provide Lake Macquarie the benefit of coaching expertise and specialised resources.

The home site of Newcastle’s academy is directly next door to Lake Macquarie City, thus a relationship is only logical. Greater accessibility to academy personnel and other resources will be advantageous for Lake Macquarie as they have A-League quality resources at their disposal.

Lake Macquarie undoubtedly benefit from this partnership, while Newcastle seek to take advantage of the strategy by using their partners fields as part of their youth academy. Both clubs are working on ways to bring new investments into facilities. This partnership also grows football in the region as Lake Macquarie City raise excitement for local players and communities with the partnering of an A-League side, effectively creating further opportunities in the future.

On the back of this strategic partnership, the Newcastle Jets will pursue supporting other Premier Clubs throughout the region (Northern NSW) to assist in player development. The initiative shown by Newcastle Jets is a positive step in the right direction for football in Australia as more action must be taken into growing the next generation of footballers the country has to offer. The Jets are setting a strong template for other clubs to follow by not only investing heavily in youth academies, but by allowing the jump from NPL to A-League become more realistic for players that are talented enough to do so.

Lake Macquarie President Steve Graham stated via press release:

“We are focused on the benefits that can be created by promoting a strong working relationship, and collaboration between the Newcastle Jets Football Club and Lake Macquarie City Football Club to deliver tangible football outcomes for our Club,” he said.

“We acknowledge the strong and vital histories that each club brings and the values we share on player development and ensuring each organisation’s activities are sustainable into the future.”

Ultimately, the collaboration will be built on a focus on possibilities and overlaps for knowledge exchange and support, effective facility utilisation and development.

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GIS Sydney continues to connect students with Australia’s sports industry

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Image Credits: Global Institute of Sport

Following the launch of its Sydney campus in 2025, the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is continuing to establish itself in the nation’s sports industry. A leading provider of degrees and executive education in sport, GIS provides students the chance to study at two of Australia’s biggest sporting venues: Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Programs such as Sports Analytics and International Sports Business are delivered in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and feature the chance for students to gain exclusive access to the sports industry.

More than 50 guest speakers have shared their experience with students studying at GIS Sydney, representing organisations like FIFA, Red Bull, Cricket Australia, and the AFL. While learning about the regional and national sports industry in the classroom, students have also had the chance to gain an international perspective through GIS’ signature Global Sports Summits, which have given Sydney students access to iconic sporting venues around the world from London to Miami.

Outside of the iconic venues students can call their classrooms, the organisation prioritises the real, industry placements needed to put theory into practice by providing each student with 140 hours of relevant work experience throughout their studies. Included in this are several sporting organisations who are keen to welcome GIS students on board, including the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), Football Coaches Australia, and Basketball NSW.

GIS also has a partnership with popular network and app Yakka Sport to connect students with paid employment opportunities while they study.

Behind these advancements at the GIS Sydney campus is an Industry Advisory Board which features a host of experienced figures from the world of sport. Included in the Asia-Pacific branch is Chair James Rosengarten, GM of the Melbourne Renegades; Kevin Jang, Managing Director of CAA Stellar Korea; and Brad Lloyd, GM of the Carlton Football Club.

Since launching, GIS’ Sydney campus has ultimately combined its locations and industry connections to provide the next generation of sports professionals with the knowledge, network, and confidence to tackle the rapidly evolving sports industry.

Melbourne Victory partners with The Pass to expand fan experience

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Image Credit: Australian Professional Leagues

Melbourne Victory has added The Pass to its commercial portfolio, with the partnership designed to give supporters more ways to follow the club away from matchday.

The Pass becomes an ‘Associate Partner’ of Victory, while Hickens Hotel has been named the club’s ‘Official Away Game Venue Partner’. The arrangement will see the Russell Street venue host Victory watch parties and provide a dedicated gathering point for supporters during away fixtures.

The partnership also gives Victory supporters access to The Pass’ broader network of more than 200 venues around Australia, extending the relationship beyond a single location.

For Melbourne Victory, the deal forms part of a wider approach to creating commercial partnerships around the supporter experience rather than limiting sponsorship to traditional branding opportunities.

Hickens Hotel will host Victory fans for selected away matches, while The Pass will provide members with access to offers and experiences through its venue network.

The agreement also connects with Victory’s broader business community, with The Pass joining the club’s commercial network and creating potential opportunities for corporate engagement alongside its consumer-facing activity.

The partnership comes ahead of the 2026/27 A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women seasons, with Victory continuing to develop its commercial offering around both its membership base and matchday audience.

For The Pass, football provides a way to bring its network of hospitality venues into the supporter experience, giving fans a physical destination to watch matches when Victory is playing on the road.

The agreement reflects a broader trend across professional football, with clubs increasingly looking to partnerships that can provide tangible benefits to supporters while creating additional opportunities for commercial partners.

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