July 9, 2018
The Australian Turf Club has signed a major partnership with the Australian Football League and its two Sydney-based teams to benefit racing participants, provide new facilities for the local community, and enhance Club Memberships for both sports.
Under the commercial deal, ATC and the AFL are investigating the feasibility of building a training oval inside the Royal Randwick racecourse to be used outside of racing and training requirements.
The oval would provide new spaces and facilities for the local AFL Sydney community, and would be used as pre-season training venue for the Sydney Swans senior side, by the Sydney Swans NEAFL side and the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, along with fan and junior participation days.
Fan and family days at Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens, aligned with the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney teams, will be held across racing and football seasons.
This will include special raceday functions, reciprocal entry for selected racing and AFL events, and incentives for all customers to become Members of ATC and AFL Clubs.
Social Memberships will offer visits on two occasions to ATC and AFL Club events to encourage the growth of full memberships.
Australian Turf Club Vice Chair Trish Egan said ATC and AFL shared common values and strategies and the partnership was a successful commercial outcome for racing.
“ATC is very pleased to join with one of Australian sport’s most successful organisations which can only benefit racing participants and our Members,’’ Ms Egan said.
“At both organisations, we value our most loyal fans in our Members and recognise the need to grow by encouraging new customers to our sports.
“Two of ATC’s biggest venues in Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens are geographically aligned with the Swans and GWS home bases.
“ATC continues to look for new opportunities with our sporting and business partners for the future growth of our sport.”
AFL NSW/ACT CEO Sam Graham said that the partnership between the ATC and AFL represents a key opportunity for growth for both organisations.
“This new commercial partnership with the ATC represents an exciting new chapter for the AFL, the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants, and we are looking forward to working together to grow our collective sports.”
We are passionate about exploring new and innovative facilities opportunities for our great game, to accommodate the growth in particular in Eastern Sydney. Royal Randwick would represent an iconic location for AFL to thrive into the future.”
ATC MEDIA CONTACT: Brett de Vine 0419 613 455 bdevine@australianturfclub.com.au
AFL MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Drennan 0437 596 047 jonathan.drennan@afl.com.au