The organisation enjoyed a record-breaking 2024 season for Suncorp Super Netball and also saw strong support for the national team, the Origin Australian Diamonds.
This allowed Netball Australia to cut its long-term debt by $1.2 million, reducing it to $3 million.
The milestone to become debt-free keeps the organisation on track to clear its remaining debts in the next two years.
The latest annual reports noted a 25% increase in live match attendance as well as expanded broadcast reach.
This has contributed to the financial turnaround seen in the past few years.
More than 366,000 fans attended games in 2024, and record viewership numbers were reported for Kayo and Foxtel.
This confirms that netball remains one of Australia’s favourite women’s team sports.
The growing interest in netball has also been reflected in sports betting markets.
Netball betting has seen growth across in-play platforms in Australia, where gamblers are wagering during live games.
This reflects how the sport is expanding its commercial influence and attracting new fans who want to engage with netball on a deeper level.
The CEO of Netball Australia, Stacey West, praised the efforts of all involved in the sport’s growth.
“It demonstrates that netball is consumed, is popular, is played; that we are gathering the building blocks necessary for the sport to take its next step in terms of decision-making, growth, and investment.”
2024 marked the third consecutive year the sport enjoyed a financial surplus, generating a profit exceeding $650,000.
This more than doubled the previous year’s profit figure.
“We are committed to continuing to expand the game’s reach, engaging new audiences, and showcasing the incredible talent within the sport,” West said.
Preparations are already underway for the 2027 Netball World Cup, which will be hosted in Sydney—the same year that Netball Australia plans to be debt-free.
This event is expected to bring massive financial gains to support the organisation’s long-term goals.
The international tournament presents the perfect opportunity to boost participation and further establish netball as a global sport.
Netball Australia is also continuing its advocacy to have the sport included in the 2032 Olympics, which will be hosted in Brisbane.
According to West, Netball Australia is committed to developing the next generation of players through community engagement and programs like Woolworths’ NetSetGo.
Corporate partnerships are also being formed with notable brands like Origin Energy and Suncorp to bring more commercial confidence to the sport.
Momentum appears to be building both on and off the netball court, and with ongoing sponsorships and increasing attendance numbers, it seems that Netball Australia will achieve its 2027 goal of financial freedom.
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