World Footy News

In the following press release from the Melbourne Football Club, and released jointly by the AFLNT, the strengthening of the ties between the two in 2014 are detailed. Combined with the matches in Cairns and Townsville, northern and central Australia are playing a greater part in hosting and showcasing the AFL and the game of Australian Rules football.

The Melbourne Football Club is pleased to announce that it has extended its partnership with ‘Tourism NT’.

As part of the agreement, Melbourne will play three games in the Northern Territory next season and will have the ‘Tourism NT’ branding appear on the Club’s playing shorts.

Melbourne’s three games in the Northern Territory will see the Club play the first AFL match for premiership points in Alice Springs, the now traditional game in Darwin for the fifth consecutive year, as well as a NAB Cup game in Alice Springs in February.

‘Tourism NT’ is the promotional and development agency of the Northern Territory Government. The Club has had an ongoing relationship with the Top End dating back to 2010, when the Club first played a home game in Darwin. Melbourne’s partnership with ‘Tourism NT’ was elevated at the start of 2013 when it became a commercial partner of the Club, and this agreement will see it remain at Melbourne until at least the end of 2014.

Past player Russell Robertson will act as an Ambassador for the ‘Tourism NT’ partnership.

Northern Territory Minister for Tourism Matt Conlan said the agreement was a win/win for both parties.

“After years of declining tourism numbers in the NT, we are finally starting to improve our position and extending this agreement will help us kick even more goals,’’ Mr Conlan said.

“The previous sponsorship agreement was crucial in Melbourne securing three games in the NT in 2014, including two games for premiership points.

“That will lead to leveraging tourism and business event opportunities from telecasts in Darwin and Alice Springs.

“It's also important to have an affinity with one of Australia's much loved sports and even more so where it aligns with our target markets in Melbourne and Sydney.

“Hundreds of thousands of footy fans are being exposed to the Do the NT message every week – this is invaluable promotion and exposure that will translate into more people visiting the Territory for business and pleasure.

“This agreement will help achieve our target of growing the visitor economy in the Northern Territory to $2.2 billion by 2020, which will return tourism to being the economic powerhouse it once was.”

Melbourne Football Club CEO Peter Jackson thanked Minister Conlan, the Northern Territory Government and ‘Tourism NT’ for their ongoing support. “The Club is excited to be continuing our partnership with ‘Tourism NT’ and I would like to thank Minister Conlan for his ongoing support of our activities in the Territory,” he said.

“The Club is confident it can be a strong platform to promote the many benefits of the Northern Territory as a tourism and travel destination, and we will be encouraging our members and partners to consider the NT for their next holiday or business conference.”