Matildas dominate in attendance and TV ratings across Seven Network

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Matildas
Image via CommBank Matildas

Last night, the Matildas’ enthralling opener against the Republic of Ireland in the FIFA Women’s World Cup saw a record of 75,784 in attendance in what was the biggest ever turn-out for a Matildas match, and an all-time record for attendance in a women’s football match.

The numbers were equally amazing on Seven’s coverage, griping the nation with their football-loving fans tuning in was an out-of-the-park hit with viewers, reaching 4.88 million people around the country.

The pulsating game had an engaging audience averaging 1.94 million, with the match reaching its climax at 2.28 million viewers to dominate the broadcasting schedule.

The demographic of the match was 53.9 percent in the 25-54 age group, and 57.8 percent in the 16-39s.

Seven’s Head of Sport and Managing Director Lewis Martin said via press release:

“It was fantastic to see the Matildas in action last night and their victory over Ireland was a great start to their campaign to claim the Cup, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the biggest global sporting event of the year, the most-attended standalone women’s sporting event in history and a true celebration of women’s sport,” he said.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the biggest global sporting event of the year, the most-attended standalone women’s sporting event in history and a true celebration of women’s sport.

“We’re honoured to be bringing the key matches to all of Australia live and free.”

The Matildas next opponent will be Nigeria in Brisbane on Thursday July 27 – followed by Canada in Melbourne on Monday July 31.

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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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