Athletes buying burritos
Not yet a subscriber? Discover specialised sports marketing insights, tailored for sports industry professionals within Australia and across the globe. If you work in sports for an agency, brand or rights-holder then this is for you.
Grill’d was announced as the Healthy Restaurant Partner of Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge and are donating towards initiatives to help those experiencing homelessness via their Local Matters program
Penrith Panthers and Lion extended their partnership for a further 7 years, which will see Tooheys remain the lead brand for the Panthers until 2031
Mary Fowler, Tom Boyd, Rebel Sport and Adidas joined forces for Mental Health Awareness month to help raise funds for Lifeline Australia
It was announced that the 2025 Super Netball Grand Final will be played in Melbourne as part of Visit Victoria’s partnership with Netball Australia
Dylan Buckley’s “Clubby Sports” and Dan Gorringe’s “Dan Does Footy” both hosted successful AFL Grand Final Breakfast event’s
The NRL launched its Fan Fest Grand Final event, a 3-day festival of fun and entertainment in Sydney’s Circular Quay
The NRL will also host “Bondi Beach Footy Fest” this Saturday, where fans can take part or watch competitive games of beach touch footy and play with famous faces from NRL and NRLW
Hard Yakka extended their partnership with the Sydney Kings marking the third consecutive season as the club’s exclusive workwear partner.
Car hire company Budget upgraded its partnership with the Central Coast Mariners from the sleeve to front of jersey
Melbourne City announced a new Premier Partnership with lawn & garden care experts Scotts
Brydens Lawyers were announced as front of jersey partner for the Newcastle Jets - the deal follows them ending their decade-long partnership with the Wests Tigers
Ferraro Dairy Foods became a Premier Partner of Melbourne Victory as part of a 2-year deal and will feature on the back of shorts
For a 3rd consecutive year, AAMI came to the rescue on Grand Final Day after the match ball went missing - The Inspired Unemployed, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, Lee Lin Chin and hero Paralympian Alexa Leary featured in the blended live and pre-recorded content that aired across broadcast and the MCG’s big screen
KOJO inked a new 3-year partnership with the Brisbane Bullets as the exclusive Sports Presentation partner at their new home at Brisbane Entertainment Centre
On announced the launch of a new run club - runners will gather at their store located at the Melbourne Emporium every Thursday at 6pm for a 4-6km community run
Cricket Australia launched “Project Inspire”, aimed at empowering women in leadership
Seven Network’s coverage of the 2024 AFL Grand Final became the most-watched program of 2024, reaching 6.09 million Australians (100,000+ fans attended the MCG)
The $53.5m upgrade of South Australia’s Coopers Stadium were completed ahead of the 2024/2025 A-Leagues season kick-off
NBA star Jaylen Brown launched a new performance brand called 741
Some of Australia’s top athletes are invested in Guzman y Gomez and are helping to fuel its rapid growth
Guzman y Gomez (GYG) is one of Australia’s fastest growing Quick Service Restaurant businesses offering clean, fresh, Mexican-inspired food.
Since founded in 2006, it has grown quickly to have 200+ stores located across Australia, US, Japan and Singapore.
It has optimistic plans to continue its rapid growth trajectory, with the backing of some of Australia’s highest profile sports stars.
How has Australia’s athlete community become connected to GYG?
Athletic Ventures is a venture fund founded by ex-GWS Giants player Matt de Boer which connects athletes with high-growth start-ups, pairing them with businesses that they feel alignment to, and can add value to in a unique way (ways that other investors can’t).
In return for a share in the future financial upside, athlete's can bring value to start-ups such as GYG in multiple ways.
1. Networking & access to capital
Athlete’s often have capital to invest and Athletic Ventures’ 400+ athlete community serves as a practical platform to secure new investment at-scale (as part of a mutually beneficial exchange).
The GYG business opportunity appears to be a popular one among the athlete community – It’s been reported that 40+ elite athletes across AFL, NRL, netball, rugby, cricket, tennis, swimming and surfing have become GYG shareholders (e.g. Michael Hooper, Matt Dellavedova, Maddy Proud) and since then, there’s a likelihood there could be many more.
2. Fast food that athlete’s say YES to!
GYG are on a mission to promote their unique point of difference of being “fast" food that’s “fresh" and "healthy” and they’re doing this with the support of their athlete investors.
Recently, Toby Greene, Tayla Harris, Helen Housby, Stefan Mauk and Joel Parkinson have featured on GYG’s Instagram promoting:
the health benefits of GYG
their positions as investors
The deep commitment from Australia’s fittest & healthiest athletes as “investors” is a powerful public endorsement and effective way to reinforce GYG's brand positioning as a healthy option.
This is also helped-along with the support of a punchy “fast food that athletes say YES to” tagline.
3. Expanding reach via social media and PR to fuel future growth
GYG has aggressive expansion plans to eventually open 1000+ stores in Australia. Although ambitious, its arsenal of high-profile athlete investors can help drive brand reach and awareness to support their plans.
So far, the GYG investment appears to have been a major success
In particularly for those who invested prior to the brand's recent IPO that took place in June.
On its first day of trade, the stock price surged 36% to $30 and to a valuation of $3 billion (up from $2.2 billion).
Since then, the stock has encountered steady growth and is currently sitting at around $40 with a valuation of $4 billion.
AFL - Social Producer
AusCycling - Digital Marketing Coordinator
Australian Turf Club - Business Development Manager
Australian Sports Commission - Social Media Coordinator
Allianz Australia - Senior Specialist Brand and Sponsorships - 12 month
Basketball NSW - Content Creator & Communications Coordinator
Bastion - Senior Broadcast Producer
Big W - Category & Partnerships Manager (Sporting & Outdoor)
Canberra Raiders - Game Day and Events Officer
Collingwood FC - Head of Digital and Content
Cricket Australia - Women & Girls Growth Lead
Football Australia - General Manager - Marketing - AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 LOC Office
Football Australia - General Manager - Ticketing, AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 LOC Office
Football Australia - Social Media Producer - Men's Football & Competitions
Foot Locker - Digital Insights Analyst
Foot Locker - Digital Marketing Manager
Foot Locker - Director, Digital Marketing
Foxtel Group - Engagement Campaign Specialist – Kayo Sports BINGE
Gold Coast Titans - Marketing Manager
Hawthorn FC - Partnerships Executive
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment - PR & Communications Lead
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles - Head of Partnerships and Sales
Melbourne FC - Digital Platforms Coordinator
Melbourne & Olympic Parks - Customer Experience Insights Lead
Melbourne & Olympic Parks - Operations Manager - Australian Open
Melbourne Victory FC - Digital Content Editor
National Basketball League - Partnerships Coordinator
Netball Australia - Head of Participation
News Corp Australia - Client Commercial Manager, Sport
News Corp Australia - Head of Commercial Sport
North Melbourne FC - Events Executive
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys - Video Content Manager
Port Adelaide FC - Marketing Coordinator
PickStar - Talent Agency Sales Manager
Richmond FC - Events & Customer Experience Executive
SEDA - Marketing Coordinator
Southern Cross Austereo - Social Engagement Manager - Sport
Sport Integrity Australia - Chief Executive Officer
Sportsbet - Communications and Engagement Lead – Customer Operations
Sportsbet - Commercial Insights Analyst
Sportsbet - Head of Strategy Projects
Sportsbet - Senior Manager - Strategic Planning
Sports Entertainment Network - Consumer Business Manager
Sports Entertainment Network - Senior Commercial Manager
Tasmania JackJumpers - Community Service Coordinator
Tennis Australia - Tennis World - Customer Experience Lead
TGI Sport - Account Executive
Total Sport + Entertainment - Social Media Manager - Sport
URBNSURF - National Sales Manager
Venues NSW - Event Acquisitions & Partnerships - Business Development Coordinator
Not yet a subscriber? Discover specialised sports marketing insights, tailored for sports industry professionals within Australia and across the globe. If you work in sports for an agency, brand or rights-holder then this is for you.
Not a single Rugby Australia job opening 😞