Gold Coast Suns sponsor to re-evaluate partnership with AFL club

One of the Gold Coast Suns’ biggest sponsors has revised its contract for 2020 and is “re-evaluating” its partnership with the AFL club beyond next year.

ONE of the Gold Coast Suns’ biggest sponsors has revised its contract for 2020 and is “re-evaluating” its partnership with the AFL club beyond next year.

Gold Coast’s founding patron partner, Southport Sharks, have made changes to their agreement for next year with both parties confirming Southport were unsure if they would be linked to the Suns in 2021.

It’s understood the deal, estimated to be $1 million per year, will be scaled back next year but officials from both parties declined to reveal by how much.

Sean Lemmens handballs during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session at Metricon Stadium on December 09, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

“The Southport Sharks are our founding patron partner and none of that has changed,” Suns CEO Mark Evans said.

“They have made a wonderful contribution over the past 11 years to establish and support the Suns.

“There have been some revisions to the partnership for 2020 but both organisations are committed to continuing to work to grow AFL on the Gold Coast.

“We are in discussions as to how that partnership evolves beyond 2020 but for now things will proceed with them still being our founding patron partner.”

Picture of Dr Alan Mackenzie at Southport Sharks. He has been Sharks president for 45 years. Photo by Richard Gosling

Sharks president Alan Mackenzie, a board member of the Suns, said Southport would use the coming 12 months to decide the future of their partnership with the AFL club.

“The partnership is coming to a conclusion and it’s being re-evaluated at this stage,” Mackenzie said.

“No decision has been made yet and the discussion will be ongoing in the next 12 months.

“We have been really positive about the value the partnership has added for both the Suns, Sharks and AFL on the Gold Coast.”

Southport’s commitment, led by Mackenzie, to enter into a long-term sponsorship agreement of the Suns in 2008 was part of the reason they were able to secure an AFL licence in 2009.

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