La Trobe University will become the home of the Northern Football Netball League under a new long-term partnership between the two organisations.

As part of the agreement, La Trobe University will become the naming rights partner of the NFNL for at least the next 20 years.

The NFNL will relocate its headquarters to operate from the state-of-the-art La Trobe Sport Stadium within the La Trobe Sports Park at the University’s Bundoora campus.

In addition to the dedicated world class office space, the NFNL will have use of boardrooms, meeting rooms and function facilities to support its business operations, as well as shared staff amenities.

The NFNL will also have access to six indoor netball courts in the La Trobe Sports Stadium, which will open in early 2020, and will utilise the Tony Sheehan Oval – which will become a host venue for NFNL football finals and a training facility for representative teams.

NFNL Chief Executive Officer Peter McDougall said the partnership marked an exciting new era between the NFNL and La Trobe University.

“The NFNL is delighted to be aligned to La Trobe University,” Mr McDougall said.

“The relocation of the NFNL headquarters to the newly-developed La Trobe University Sports Park secures the long-term future of the NFNL administration base, as well as securing access to the new football oval and netball stadium.

“La Trobe University will become the home of NFNL football and netball, and to be aligned with such a fantastic partner will assist the NFNL to continue to grow both codes throughout the northern metropolitan region of Melbourne.

“I look forward to working with La Trobe University on many collaborative initiatives which will provide great support and benefits to NFNL clubs and the wider community.”

Dean and Head of La Trobe University’s School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, Professor Russell Hoye, said the University is thrilled to be the new home for the NFNL.

“La Trobe University is thrilled to be the home for the NFNL for the next 20 years and help the league improve its operations and reach with the community in Melbourne’s north,” Professor Hoye said.

“This partnership provides great benefits for La Trobe students to improve their employability skills and gain valuable work experience in the growing sport industry.

“The NFNL is the first tenant to officially join the La Trobe Sports Park and become part of our sporting community that includes our 26 La Trobe University Sport clubs, and our major sport partners Carlton Football Club, Melbourne City FC and the Melbourne Rebels.”

Under the agreement, up to 20 La Trobe University sport management and sport media students will have access to exclusive work integrated learning opportunities across all areas of the league each year.

The NFNL and La Trobe University will collaborate on research projects focused on community sport participation, injury prevention and wellbeing.

La Trobe University and the NFNL will also collaborate on future programs to enhance the experience of participants in football and netball across Melbourne’s north.

The NFNL’s relocation to the La Trobe Sports Park is expected to take place in January 2020. An official date will be confirmed once works on the Sport Stadium have been completed.

Location

La Trobe University, Bundoora