The last time Sydney netball fans had the chance to support a home team in a league grand final was 18 years ago in the former ANZ Championship.
The Super Netball league was nearly a decade away from foundation when a six-year-old Amy Sligar, who now plays for the Sydney Sirens, watched the NSW Swifts defeat the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 65-56 in July 2008.
“I would have watched that game with stars in my eyes and probably my heroes were playing in that game,” she said.
Though the Swifts would appear in two more grand finals of the ANZ Championship and go on to play in three of the Super Netball grand finals since the league began in 2017 none were in Sydney. Neither were the two other grand finals a Sydney team featured in.
But Sligar, now 24, has the chance to play a final at home in 2027.
On Sunday, Netball Australia and the NSW government will announce that the 2027 grand final will be held on July 31 at Afterpay Arena at Sydney Olympic Park, the same venue will then host the Netball World Cup a month later.
“Netball is one of the biggest participation sports in NSW, with thousands of kids and adults taking to the court every week, and it deserves the same attention and support we give our other major sport,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said on Sunday.
“For too long, we haven’t invested enough in netball and we’re working to change that – from grassroots facilities and participation right through to bringing the biggest events in the sport to NSW.”
The state government expects the grand final will bring 8000 spectators to Sydney to watch at the 18,000-capacity arena, adding what they estimate to be more than $4 million to the economy.
The World Cup in August will see a target of 200,000 attendees to watch Australia’s Diamonds defend their 2023 title.
The state government has also set up a $1.5 million World Cup legacy program for players, coaches and officials. Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said the events would make the city the centre of the netball world next year.
Netball Australia chief executive Mark Falvo said 2027 will be huge for netball fans in Sydney.
Sligar said knowing the grand final will be held at home provides extra motivation for the season ahead, especially over local rivals the Swifts.
“My first reaction is that it makes me want to make the grand final even more to have a home grand final,” she said. “You almost couldn’t write a better script to have a new Sydney team [the Sirens] and then Sydney hosting the grand final, Sydney hosting the World Cup this year.”
“I think for young boys and girls and men and women to be able to come and see the world’s best netball, it just builds excitement on the sport.”
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