AusLeisure

Netball Australia has announced Suncorp as its new principal partner for the next five years, with the banking and insurance group taking on the naming rights for the sport’s new national league and NetSetGO program from 2017 to 2021.

Described as a “landmark agreement”, the deal sees Suncorp replace ANZ Bank as the sport’s major sponsor after Netball Australia ended a nine-year association with the bank in September.

The new five-year sponsorship will support and benefit netball from a grassroots level right through to national representation with the Australian Diamonds.

Netball Australia Chief Executive Kate Palmer said the new partnership is another significant step forward for netball and one that reflects the value of women’s sport in the community.

Palmer stated “we are delighted to welcome Suncorp to the netball family.

“It is an exciting time for the sport and Suncorp’s commitment is another important milestone in the continued progression of netball as Australia’s premier women’s sport.”

Along with naming rights of the National Netball League and major partnership of the Australian Diamonds, Suncorp will also support Netball Australia’s introductory netball program to be known as Suncorp NetSetGO.

Palmer added “one of the most pleasing aspects of this partnership is that it will see Suncorp support the journey of Australian girls from the age of five in the Suncorp NetSetGO program, all the way through to the elite National Netball League competition and our world champion Australian Diamonds.

“Together with Suncorp we are committed to empowering women and girls to create a better today and future. As the most popular and biggest women’s participation sport we are in the box seat to deliver this.”

The procurement of Suncorp is the first major commercial announcement since Netball Australia signed its history-making broadcast deal with Nine Network and Telstra.

It follows Netball Australia’s recent confirmation that the 80 athletes contracted to next year’s National Netball League will share in a total payment pool of $5.4 million, making elite netballers the highest paid female athletes of any code in Australia.

With the trans-tasman netball league, formerly known as the ANZ Championship, dissolving at the conclusion of the 2016 season, Australia’s revamped domestic netball league will begin in February 2017 with three new teams expanding the competition to eight.

Images: The Aussie Diamonds during their recent Constellation Cup clash with New Zealand at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. Images courtesy of Damian Briggs Photography.

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