.@Storm is a preferred bidder for the new national netball league, proposed to be based at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
— Netball Australia (@NetballAust) May 19, 2016
Our second preferred bidder is @NetballNSW, in partnership with @GWSGIANTS and based in Sydney.
— Netball Australia (@NetballAust) May 19, 2016
Our third preferred bidder is @CollingwoodFC, based in Melbourne.
— Netball Australia (@NetballAust) May 19, 2016
The Storm’s franchise will most likely be based out of the University of the Sunshine Coast, meanwhile the Giants franchise bid is made in partnership with Netball NSW and will be based in Sydney. Collingwood’s netball franchise will operate out of Melbourne and will utilise the same Holden Centre facilities that their AFL squad currently occupies.
Netball Australia chief executive Kate Palmer heralded the announcement as the biggest day in Australian netball history.
“It’s time for our sport to take another leap forward, to challenge the norm, to be innovative and to take more risks.”
“It is truly transformative. It lays the foundation for the full professionalisation of elite netball and the cementing of Australia’s reputation as having the prime netball competition in the world. At the grass roots, it will encourage participation and allow girls and young women to realise their dream of a career in netball.”
Meanwhile, QLD Firebirds star player Laura Geitz stated that the new national league has wide-ranging implications for the quality of Australian netball, which in turn will foster increased participation amongst young women and girls, and will ultimately result in a far strong Australian Diamonds national side.
“This allows more girls to be out on court … as a result, we’ll see a stronger Australian Diamonds side.”
“[We can now see] these wonderful women playing, this wonderful game, and know that they too can grow up and head down the path of being a professional athlete.”“I hope that we continue to encourage that message across to all of our participants coming through grass roots.”
The ANZ Championship has been enjoying extremely solid viewership and live attendance numbers, both of which have been growing steadily as the sport captures the attention of more and more Australians. The new league and TV deal pushes women’s domestic netball in Australia forward from being a semi-professional sport all the way to the brink of being a full-time professional for our athletes.