Inspiring Growth in Australian Sports Tourism

May 2018

Sports tourists are spending big dollars in regional centres, according to the latest Tourism Research Australia data. The new research indicates the top three expenditure categories for overnight domestic tourists and those visitors specifically travelling to spectate or participate in sport, are:

1. Accommodation $718,852,000
2. Takeaways and restaurant meals $415,301,000
2. Domestic airfares $274,465,000

Accommodation and meals for sports tourists are up 10% and 12% respectively, while domestic airfare expenditure is down 4% on the previous 12 months. SMA works with both Councils and sporting organisations to leverage the opportunities for competitors and local businesses when events are conducted within partnering areas. For more information on the latest trends and analysis on sports tourism, Contact Us

New Councils Join Events Placement Program

May 2018

Recently joining Sports Marketing Australia, through our Events Placement Program, are Cobram Barooga Business and Tourism Inc in partnership with Berrigan and Moira Shire Councils. The Councils have united to increase the number of events coming to this great river region and to boost sports and events tourism.

The Councils are working to break down the barriers of being either side of the New South Wales and Victorian border. They are pooling their events infrastructure, tourism assets and regional branding profile for SMA to take to the market as a whole region. A Capacity and Capability Assessment Report will be delivered soon by SMA.

The region, set on either side of the Murray River, plays host to a wide range of high profile events throughout the year with music, food and wine festivals, numerous sporting events and art exhibitions.

Golf Tourism Generates $477 million Per Year

May 2018

The Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) recently launched The Community Impact of Golf in Australia Report 2017 revealing that in total, golf in Australia contributes $3.614 billion annually to the community.

The figure comprises almost $3.483 billion in economic contribution and $132 million in physical and mental health contributions. The report showed that Golf tourism generates $477 million per year through day and overnight visitation, food and beverage spending, accommodation, travel and shopping.

The Murray Bridge PGA Classic was recently a feature event on the South Australian swing of the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series. Sports Marketing Australia was integral in establishing this prestigious event in Murray Bridge while also working with many of our other 53 contracted Councils around Australia to establish new golf events.

SMA works with Golf Australia and PGA as well as a number of their state offices to place events nationally. If you are a Council and you’re interested in hosting a state, national or international golf event, please Contact Us

Next Level for Epicentre.tv Live Streaming

May 2018

We know people who love sport are always on the lookout for the next big thing and Sports Marketing Australia is now working with Epicentre.tv to provide the platform to share that sporting passion!

Epicentre.tv provides an end-to-end solution for sporting associations, specialising in broadcast production, national and international licensing and multi-platform distribution.

SMA’s National Events Manager, Jason Sleeman, said event owners and Councils would love the exposure which this new live streaming service generates. “This is an amazing opportunity for our partnering Councils and event owners,” he said.

“This is all about wider audience and stakeholder engagement, growth and development of the sport as well as access to new revenue streams. SMA understands how to best maximise the appeal of content to viewers and the opportunities that exist to target a wider demographic of sports fans." Epicentre.tv has previously live streamed events for BMX Australia, Tennis Australia, Hockey Australia, Darts Australia, PGA, Golf NSW, Rowing Australia, Cricket NSW, Australian Baseball League, to name just a few.

Contact Us to find out how you can escalate exposure for your sport and events.

Events Placement Program Broadens Scope of Target Events

May 2018

Sports Marketing Australia is now working with 53 contracted Councils and Governments around the country. Feedback in early 2017 was that Councils would like to see an increase in non-sporting event opportunities, so the team at SMA has worked hard over the past 12 months to broaden our relationship base.

SMA placed 483 events in the 2017 calendar year through our Events Placement Program, with everything from Nitro Circus Live shows to Health and Wellbeing/Yoga Festivals, Music Festivals featuring international acts, Food Programs with global TV broadcast, Film Festivals and Pop Up Cinemas.

Director, Rick Sleeman, said the growing relationship base included 497 event owners. "The increase in variety means the team at SMA can better tailor the event offerings to fit the objectives of contracted Councils," he said. "We have everything from Food Truck Carnivals, business events and conferences, as well as traditional state and national sporting championships and elite sporting events on offer."

Contact Us to find out more about the oppurtunites available through SMA's Events Placement Program.

Ultimate Frisbee Championships in Wollongong and Gold Coast

May 2018

Two of Sports Marketing Australia’s partnering Councils hosted national Australian Ultimate Championship events in April 2018 to cap off a huge month for this exciting and growing sport. Wollongong hosted the 2018 Australian Ultimate Championships Division 2 from the 13th – 15th April and Gold Coast the 2018 Australian Ultimate Championships from the 26th – 29th April.

These events had a combined economic impact of $2,697,240 direct spend (Tourism Research Australia – December 2017) and attracted competitors and their accompanying partners from across Australia.

Ultimate is a non-contact team sport played with a flying disc (Frisbee). It combines elements of netball, touch football, and gridiron into a fast-paced sporting experience. Ultimate is played in over 30 countries worldwide, it is a sport at the World Games and has a strong presence in universities and high schools.

If you are a Council and you're interested in hosting state, national and international events get in contact with SMA now.

A Message From Our Director

May 2018

Sports Marketing Australia has evolved significantly since early 2000 and we are growing and enhancing the business across multiple, dynamic, technology platforms.

SMA's Omni Sports Management provides sporting organisations with a state of the art, sports administration and database management system. This customised software increases functionality and the ability to reach current members and attract new ones in a secure environment.

In our next newsletter, we will be announcing two major additions across our innovative technology platforms - developments which deliver significant new benefits across the industry. Stay tuned for more information!

Sports Tourism Injects $2.6 Billion Into Australia's Economy

April 2018

The latest figures on Sports Tourism from Tourism Research Australia revealed there were over 2.3 million domestic, overnight sports tourists in 2017. These sports tourists travelled to compete in, or spectate at, a sporting event. The result is a combined impact of $2.6 billion to the economy!

Please contact the SMA team if you would like more information or if you want to calculate the economic benefit of one of your events.

NT Joins Events Placement Program

1 March 2018

The Northern Territory Government has joined forces with Sports Marketing Australia as part of our far reaching Events Placement Program. SMA is currently contracted by 53 LGAs and tourism associations with links to more than 270 sporting organisations as well as global promoters. SMA is now looking at national and international events which can be hosted in the Northern Territory to stimulate the economy.

A Capacity and Capability Assessment will begin soon and this report will be finalised in June highlighting the many new possibilities for the Top End.

Test Driving GC2018

April 2018

Sports Marketing Australia has played an important role in the build up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games by placing pre-Games camps for a number of sports across Australia as well as a number of lead-in events for Gold Coast City Council. The events previewed facilities, transport links, tourism and infrastructure.

More than 6,600 athletes and officials from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories will take part in 11 days of competition from the 4th to 15th of April, 2018. This is the largest sporting event to be staged in Australia this decade, comprising 18 sports and seven para-sports.

GC2018 will leave a long lasting legacy for the communities of the Gold Coast. SMA is proud to be part of the program to test drive these new venues.

GC2018 Countdown

April 2018

Bendigo enjoyed a big session of National and International Rugby over recent months. First up was the Australian and New Zealand Women’s Rugby 7’s with teams starting their preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games by playing a number of Gold Medal Rematches in Bendigo. This was followed by the 2017 Australian Rugby Union National Rugby 7’s Championships being hosted in Bendigo with teams travelling from across Australia to compete in the prestigious event. Both events were conducted at the pristine Epsom Huntley Reserve in Bendigo.

Mackay is another regional partner sharing the spirit of the GC2018 by hosting the Opals for a three day camp before they head off to Townsville to compete. All events were placed by Sports Marketing Australia and all were highly successful.

City of Greater Dandenong on Board

April 2018

Another exciting new partner joining Sports Marketing Australia is Greater Dandenong Council. After years of requests from NSOs to join forces with a fringe Melbourne partnering Council, SMA and Dandenong reached agreement recently.

The infrastructure and proximity to the Melbourne Airport will add another dimension to the type of events which can be delivered through SMA. Just 30km from Melbourne’s CBD, Greater Dandenong will spoil you with experiences, cuisine and culture. The area is home to people of more than 150 different nationalities making it Victoria's most culturally diverse community and showcasing the best that multicultural Melbourne has to offer.

Celebrating Australia’s Love of the Water

April 2018

Swimming Australia recently completed a massive 9 days of events in January for the inaugural year of Australia Swims. The new initiative was designed to get more Australians out, off the couch and swimming. Swimming Australia set the challenge to collectively swim a whole lap of Australia and thanks to the efforts of the Australian people, we did it! Australians swam a grand total of 39,113.08 KM, passing the lap target of 35,877KM. Sports Marketing Australia placed 11 marquee swimming events across the country, doing our bit for a healthier Australia.

2019 Oceania Masters Athletics Championships in Mackay

April 2018

A brand new, multi-million dollar athletics stadium will open in Mackay in 2019. Sports Marketing Australia has secured the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships as the first international event for this amazing new venue.

The Championships will be held at the sports precinct, which is under construction at the CQUniversity Mackay campus, from August 31 to September 7 next year. More than 500 athletes and technical officials will take part, with teams from as far away as Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, Norfolk Island and Papua New Guinea competing.

The $24 million dollar sporting complex will provide the local community and the region with specialised sport and recreational facilities. The athletics facility will include a synthetic surface running track and field event facilities. The aquatic centre will boast a 50m outdoor pool, 25m pool and 15m program pool plus reception and amenities buildings.

Land Locked Council Builds Beach

April 2018

Clever Event Owners are thinking outside the event hosting box placing two high profile beach events in the one land locked LGA. Greater Shepparton Council is in the middle of Victoria with no beaches, but it is enjoying success after building a unique man made beach adjacent to Victoria Park Lake.

The Council has hosted a number of exciting events including the 2017 and 2018 Beach Volleyball World Tour Event in February which was internationally broadcast with teams from across the globe. The USA won the Men’s and Women’s final beating Australia in the Men’s. Included in this event was a foodie festival from Melbourne – the delicious Food Truck Carnival Co. This fun packed festival attracted 25,000 people to Victoria Park Lake across three days.

Greater Shepparton was also successful in securing a Round of the Netball Victoria Beach Netball Series to coincide with the Beach Volleyball World Tour.

Ocean6 Series on Fox Sports

April 2018

Round 3 of the Ocean6 Series (formally Summer of Surf) rolled into Wollongong in December including the flagship Nutri-Grain Iron Man and Iron Women professional competition which was broadcast on Fox Sports via a 2hr highlights package. This gruelling event was placed in Wollongong through Sports Marketing Australia’s dynamic Events Placement Program highlighting the success that can be achieved for regional centres.

A Message From Our Director

April 2018

SMA is 100% committed to creating tools and solutions that improve the way you do business. We want to hear from you. Let us know what you think about our products and services. Your feedback makes us better.

For more news articles and to keep up to date, visit our website at www.sportsmarketing.com.au

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