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Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has denied reports that the sport is on the verge of financial collapse but says he needs to look for “commercial opportunities outside of sport” which could include gambling sponsorships as he works to repay its debts and stabilize the organization.
Table of Contents
Core items:
- Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan says the pandemic is primarily responsible for $7.2 million in losses over the past two years
- The sport has $4 million in debt to be paid by the end of 2023, according to a News Corp report
- Ryan says decisions like selling the SN Grand Final to Perth and potentially taking money from gambling sponsors will be made with this financial picture in mind
Speaking at the ABC News Breakfast on Friday, Ryan, who became CEO last year, said it was not “out of the realm of possibility” to accept money from gaming companies as the organization reportedly raked in $7.2 from its treasury Millions were hit in the last two years, leaving the organization $4 million in debt.
“The reality is that gambling sponsorship in sports is very important and very lucrative,” Ryan said.
“Netball needs to move out of their comfort zone a little bit more in terms of what they look at and take into account.
“We need to understand the commercial viability of [Super Netball] league, the composition of wealth and how it flows between teams and the league, and more importantly, we need to foster consumer connection with sport: the grassroots participation base, which is incredibly strong across the country, into devoted fans from Super Netball and also the Diamonds.
“That will help advance the commercial model of the sport, so that’s what we’re focusing on now.”
Ryan’s comments come on the day after a News Corp investigation claimed years of poor financial management since the SN series began, along with an over-reliance on special government handouts, meant the sport could be foreclosed on within 12 months, and the debt was not settled.
The report suggested that NA did not have a “commercially viable plan” after it bid farewell to the Trans-Tasman Series to launch the current competition in 2016, as consecutive years of lost revenue resulted in about $4 million in debt US dollars to be paid by NA by the end of 2023.
Ryan wasn’t part of NA when that decision was made but said moving from the Trans-Tasman Series to SN was in the sport’s best interest at the time.
“It’s definitely not a mistake,” she told ABC Local Radio on Friday.
“I think the league is phenomenal. It’s an absolutely top-notch league with top-notch athletes, so definitely not a mistake.
“What we need to do from a sporting point of view is make sure it achieves its full potential from a commercial [perspective]. Unfortunately, women’s sport doesn’t attract the value in sponsorship money that some of our male opponents do, so we really need to question that and change that because it’s totally worth the investment in every way.
“The sport offers a lot and gives a lot in return, so we just have to focus on the fact that it’s a commercial asset, that netball is a commercial business and we have to start thinking with that mindset so that we can change the way and can change the way it has been persecution.”
Another strategic decision that caused outrage from fans and players alike was the sale of the 2022 SN Grand Final to Perth – a decision Ryan said was aligned with netball’s overall growth strategy.
“The decision to move the Grand Finals this year was absolutely a decision we made a few weeks ago. We thought it was in the best interest of the sport,” she said.
“So it was a big step and it was a bold step and I know it’s challenging when you make big changes, but that’s the position we’re in.
“We don’t want to limp out of the situation we’re in; we want to come out of it really fast and really strong, and that’s why we have to make some of these really tough commercial decisions, but we’re doing it because we know the sport is going to be better for it.”
According to the report, other issues that have impacted Netball’s financial position include the previous broadcast deal, increased player payments (which consume 92.85 percent of new broadcast funds) and bank loans for assets.