Gold Coast Suns: Queensland will be bigger in AFL than South Australia

A confident Gold Coast Suns chief has made a big AFL claim as the club inks a new sponsor deal.

Exclusive: The AFL will have more television viewers in Queensland than South Australia in as little as three years, Gold Coast Suns chief Mark Evans claims.

The Suns have inked a new three-year jumper sponsor deal with car company Sixt, to be announced on Thursday.

The club was still searching for a stadium rights agreement for next year with struggling builder Metricon deciding not to renew its partnership.

Mr Evans said the deal with Sixt, which includes jumper naming rights for both the men’s and women’s teams, was a sign of optimism at the club.

“In the COVID years, when we brought every game and every team up here, it really activated south east Queensland even more and within the next three to five years Queensland will be a bigger TV market than South Australia for the AFL,” Mr Evans said.

Gold Coast Suns Chief Executive, Mark Evans. Picture: AAP Image

The Suns had more than 21,422 members in 2022, with more than 55,000 people playing community football after a widespread schools program.

The Brisbane Broncos NRL team had 30,221 members this year.

“We do more than probably any other club investing into local coaching and local clubs to try and keep kids connected to the sport for longer and become lifelong fans,” Mr Evans said.

The ratings claim was mentioned at a recent meeting of AFL club chief executives.

Ratings in Brisbane for AFL matches averaged 27,000 on Channel 7 in 2022, according to Sports Industry AU, while in Adelaide it was 77,000.

AFL players Jarrod Witts and Tara Bohanna of the Gold Coast Suns in front of a rollercoaster as the team signs Sixt as a new sponsor. Picture: Supplied

The AFL has poured $200 million into the Gold Coast Suns since it was established in 2009 as the league pushed into Queensland with a second team to complement the Brisbane Lions.

The club has had some early struggles, but finished 12th in 2022, just two wins outside the finals series.

The club’s deal with Sixt has an option to extend another two years, to bring the potential commitment to five years.

Neither Sixt, nor the Gold Coast Suns would provide the detail of how much the deal was worth but it was believed to be several million dollars.

Sixt Australia chief executive Matthew Beattie. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian.

Sixt chief executive officer Matthew Beattie said the AFL was a “blue chip” sport and he wanted to sign on because it had a national footprint.

“We want to be able to support the Suns to contend and win,” Mr Beattie, a former NBL referee said.

“They’re also in a position to help us contend and win in our own market as well.

“We’re particularly focused on growth and the south east Queensland region – it’s really important when you start to consider the economic development that’s going on in that part of the country.”

AFL player Matt Rowell of the Gold Coast Suns, as the team signs Sixt as a sponsor. Picture: Supplied

Sixt is a global car hire brand but the franchise is owned by NRMA in Australia.

The membership club previously had the licence for Thrifty, but switched to Sixt in December 2021.

Sixt already sponsors the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns: Queensland will be bigger in AFL than South Australia