How Netball Australia’s $15m Gina Rinehart sponsorship breakdown helped save the sport

While many feared for the future of Australian Netball after Hancock Prospecting pulled out of a $15m sponsorship deal, the frenzied publicity may have actually saved the sport.

The frenzied publicity surrounding the high-profile relationship breakdown between Netball Australia and Hancock Prospecting may ultimately save the sport.

NA boss Kelly Ryan says while difficult, the events of the past week have only underlined netball’s place on the sporting landscape, with potential partners coming knocking almost immediately after the breakdown of the proposed deal with Gina Rinehart’s company just over a week ago.

The Victorian State Government, through its tourism and events arm Visit Victoria, was in talks with the national body only 24 hours after Hancock officials stunned NA by releasing a statement terminating their proposed deal.

In announcing his Government’s $15 million four-and-a-half year deal on Monday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said Visit Victoria had not wasted any time in putting forward a bid after the breakdown of the Hancock deal.

Just over a week after a sponsorship deal between Netball Australia and Hancock Prospecting fell through, they have landed another new sponsor. Picture: Getty Images.

“Obviously, there was a sponsor, that sponsor was no more, so there was a gap and then Visit Victoria raced to fill it,” Mr Andrews said.

“We didn’t waste any time.

“We have worked very, very hard to secure the sponsorship.”

For our elite sportswomen.

For the next generation of champions.

And for the clubs and communities that support them. pic.twitter.com/OQxm0muN4b

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 31, 2022

NA was blindsided by the Hancock move, receiving only 10 minutes’ notice the company was about to release a statement on its decision to end the deal.

But despite the pain of the last fortnight - during which time the Diamonds’ playing group’s issues with the proposed deal with aired among claim and counterclaim from NA and the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) over a lack of communication - Ryan refused to label the Hancock deal as the wrong partnership for the sport.

“I believe that Mrs Rinehart has proven herself as a huge supporter of sport for the last 30 years, so I think her partnership was going to bring a completely different aspect to the sport,” Ryan said.

“That said, it’s not to be and we move forward really quickly, which was always our intent.

“And here we are today with a partnership with Visit Victoria.

“So either way, the sport’s in an incredibly strong position right now.”

Premier @DanielAndrewsMP announcing a $15M partnership with Netball Australia with Victoria branding on their team kit and the 2023 grand final in Victoria. It happens to be the exact same amount Gina Rhinehart controversially withdrew in sponsorship .. @abcmelbourne#springstpic.twitter.com/h9QkH7GXsg

— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) October 31, 2022

The messy Hancock breakdown exposed a testy relationship between head office and ANPA that was referenced by the mining giant as part of its reason for not moving forward with the deal.

And while Ryan reportedly spoke directly to the Diamonds in camp last week, advising them a new deal could be on the table, it’s understood there was again no consultation, with the players not advised of the backer’s identity.

Netball Australia were blindsided by the messy breakdown with Gina Rinehart, being told just 10 minutes before a statement was released. Picture: Getty Images.

Work clearly remains to be done between NA and ANPA, although Ryan does not believe recent events have soured head office’s relationship with the players.

“If anything, I think it’s brought us closer together,” Ryan said.

“The amount of conversations that we’ve had over the last couple of weeks, in person, working through (things), everybody’s been working closely to have the conversations that we’ve needed to have to try and find solutions

“We’ve worked incredibly closely together … and I know that they’ll be incredibly supportive and excited by what this partnership will do for the sport.”

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan says the sponsorship saga has brought stakeholders closer together.

NA’s deal with Visit Victoria includes at least one Diamonds Test per year being held in the state over the next five years, the hosting of the Super Netball grand final in 2023, as well as other national-level events that traditionally draw large numbers of participants and supporters.

Ryan said the deal underlined the popularity and standing of the sport on the national landscape.

“Finally, netball is getting the value that it so rightly deserves from a content point of view,” Ryan said.

“For too long it’s been completely undervalued and the Victorian Government have realised that and stepped up really quickly to place that value on the sport the way that we place that value on the sport.”

TAXPAYERS TO PLUG NETBALL AUSTRALIA’S $15M HOLE

—Emma Greenwood & Emily Benammar

A week after being dumped by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, Netball Australia has secured a new $15 million lifeline with the Victorian Government.

The deal was announced on Monday morning by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan.

“Victoria is a proud sporting state and we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Visit Victoria,” Ryan said.

“The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next five years.

“This investment will benefit all levels of netball – from our pathway system to the Suncorp Super Netball League and the Origin Australian Diamonds.”

The $15 million partnership will run over four and a half years.

The Diamonds will wear Victorian branding on their kit for home and away fixtures and all staff will take part in tourism campaigns for the state.

It was also confirmed that the 2023 Grand Final will be played in Victoria as part of the agreement.

“We are really thrilled today to be able to announce a four and a half year sponsorship deal where Visit Victoria will become a significant sponsor for the Australian Diamonds netball team,” Andrews said.

“This is a coup for our state. This is all about supporting netball.”

Mr Andrews said other states and private companies were competing for the deal, with Victoria putting forward a “very competitive” bid.

The Premier stood by the $15m deal, despite Victoria’s mid-financial-year update revealing the state is on course to record a $9.7b deficit in 2022-23.

“Netball boasts the highest level of participation among young women (of) any sport in Australia – and as one of the nation’s most popular national teams, the Diamonds are an inspiration for women and girls across all levels of sport.

The Diamonds have secured a financial lifeline

“We’ve already supported netball very, very strongly. We know how important that is. And to be able to have the world’s very best netball team wearing our logo projecting all that we offer to the world and to the rest of our country is absolutely fantastic.

“From a grassroots level all the way through to attracting more and more visitors to our state tourism is such an important part of the Victorian economy.

“(It is) great for jobs, great for investment, and obviously fantastic for netball and female participation.

“It is unique, it’s absolutely fantastic and a really big win for Victorian jobs and our tourism sector.”

The news comes just over a week after a player revolt forced Rinehart to revoke her sponsorship of the team.

It is understood that players were uncomfortable with the company’s links to the abhorrent, racist views expressed by Rinehart’s father and Hancock Prospecting’s founder Lang Hancock.

Members of the Australian side refused to wear the new sponsor’s logo on their uniforms in the series against England.

BREAKING: Netball Australia is pleased to announce a new five-year partnership with Visit Victoria, commencing in 2023.

Read more 👉 https://t.co/1TCNDJQtn7pic.twitter.com/MUx60jj3g6

— Netball Australia (@NetballAust) October 31, 2022

Players stood in support of Indigenous player Donnell Wallam.

“Reports of a protest on the part of the players, on environmental grounds and a split within the playing group are incorrect,” the players’ statement read. “The singular issue of concern to the players was one of support for our only Indigenous team member.”

The Victorian lifeline will be welcome relief to Netball Australia after Ryan last week alluded to financial issues soaring if Hancock’s decision prompted others to walk away.

“Financially it puts the sport in a really compromised position again,” Ryan said. “We have done a power of work to get us into a more stable position. This money (from Hancock Prospecting) was going to help us accelerate our sport ­not only correct what has been out of balance.

“(It) was going to help us get ahead and now we’re back, literally looking through the budget as we speak.”