ANZ Championship Draw Released
Tuesday 11 December 2007, 12:20PM
By Netball New Zealand
4797 views
The ANZ Championship today announced the draw for its first season, with games commencing in April 2008.
ANZ Championship General Manager Tony Holding says that fans will have the opportunity to see some exciting match ups right from the start of the competition.
“We’ve taken into account everything from venue availability to scheduling times, and we believe that we’ve got a balanced draw that will enable fans to follow their teams closely,” he said.
“With all teams having a minimum of six home games, including at least two against Australian teams, teams will be able to have a stronger presence in their communities than ever.”
In New Zealand, all 69 games over 17 weeks will be broadcast on Sky Sport.
SKY’s Executive Producer of Netball, Tui McKendrick says that SKY Sport is delighted to present the ANZ Championship in New Zealand and we will ensure the sport gets the coverage it deserves as this country’s most popular women’s sport, with all games screening LIVE.”
“Not only will fans get up close and personal with the teams, individual players and coaches, but our experienced Netball Commentary team will provide a fresh look at the game, with interesting background items and behind-the scenes preparations throughout the 17 weeks of the championship, she said.
“With their wealth of personal experience, will be ensuring that our coverage will be as interesting and exciting to newcomers as well as steadfast fans,” said Ms McKendrick.
About the ANZ Championship
COMPETITION NAME: ANZ Championship
SEASON: April – July 2008
NUMBER OF GAMES: 69 matches over 17 weeks
MATCH DAYS: Saturday afternoons, Sunday afternoons, Monday nights
FINALS SERIES: Three weeks - Two semi-finals, Preliminary final and Grand Final
WEBSITE: www.anz-championship.com
TEAMS: 5 from Australia, 5 from New Zealand
DRAW:
· 69 matches over 17 weeks from April to July 2008
· Each team hosts 6 or 7 home games
· Each team gets one bye weekend
· Australian teams play each other twice and New Zealand teams once
· New Zealand teams play each other twice and Australian teams once
· There will be 2-3 NZ team home games per round, with one every Monday
· New Zealand teams will feature in a game every Saturday afternoon and Monday evening
MATCH TIMES:
· 4 or 5 matches per week across Australia and New Zealand
· Saturday afternoons, Sunday afternoons and Monday nights
Coverage of all matches on FOX Sports in Australia and SKY Sport in New Zealand
SPONSORSHIP:
ANZ has signed on as the Naming Rights Sponsorship in what is believed to be the largest sponsorship of women’s sport in Australasia.
HISTORY:
Prior to the introduction of the ANZ Championship there were two domestic National Leagues in each of Australia and New Zealand:
· The National Bank Cup – New Zealand
· Commonwealth Bank Trophy – Australia
ROUND DATE TIME HOME AWAY LOCATION
1
Saturday 5-Apr 1430 Pulse Vixens TSB Bank Arena Wellington
Sunday 6-Apr 1300 Firebirds Fever Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Sunday 6-Apr 1730 Mystics Flames The Trusts Stadium Auckland
Monday 7-Apr 1900 Swifts Steel Acer Arena Sydney
Monday 7-Apr 1900 Magic Thunderbirds Energy Events Centre Rotorua
2
Saturday 12-Apr 1430 Flames Swifts Westpac Centre Christchurch
Sunday 13-Apr 1330 Vixens Firebirds State Netball Hockey Centre Melbourne
Sunday 13-Apr 1730 Magic Mystics Energy Events Centre Rotorua
Monday 14-Apr 1800 Fever Thunderbirds Challenge Stadium Perth
Monday 14-Apr 1900 Pulse Steel TSB Bank Arena Wellington
3
Saturday 19-Apr 1430 Swifts Magic Newcastle Entertainment Centre Sydney
Saturday 19-Apr 1430 Mystics Fever The Trusts Stadium Auckland
Sunday 20-Apr 1330 Vixens Thunderbirds Vodafone Arena Melbourne
Monday 21-Apr 1900 Firebirds Pulse Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Monday 21-Apr 1900 Flames Steel Westpac Centre Christchurch
4
Saturday 26-Apr 1430 Firebirds Mystics Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Saturday 26-Apr 1430 Magic Fever Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
Sunday 27-Apr 1300 Thunderbirds Steel ETSA Park Adelaide
Monday 28-Apr 1900 Flames Vixens Westpac Centre Christchurch
Monday 28-Apr 1900 Swifts Pulse Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Sydney
5
Saturday 3-May 1230 Fever Firebirds Challenge Stadium Perth
Saturday 3-May 1430 Magic Pulse Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
Monday 5-May 1900 Swifts Vixens Newcastle Entertainment Centre Newcastle
Monday 5-May 1900 Steel Mystics Stadium Southland Invercargill
Thunderbirds BYE
Flames BYE
6
Saturday 10-May 1430 Firebirds Swifts Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Saturday 10-May 1430 Steel Flames Stadium Southland Invercargill
Monday 12-May 1830 Thunderbirds Fever ETSA Park Adelaide
Monday 12-May 1900 Mystics Magic The Trusts Stadium Auckland
Vixens BYE
Pulse BYE
7
Saturday 17-May 1430 Pulse Flames Arena Manawatu Palmerston North
Sunday 18-May 1300 Thunderbirds Vixens ETSA Park Adelaide
Monday 19-May 1900 Swifts Fever Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Sydney
Monday 19-May 1900 Magic Steel Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
Firebirds BYE
Mystics BYE
8
Saturday 24-May 1430 Flames Magic Westpac Centre Christchurch
Sunday 25-May 1330 Firebirds Vixens Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Monday 26-May 1830 Thunderbirds Swifts ETSA Park Adelaide
Monday 26-May 1900 Pulse Mystics TSB Bank Arena Wellington
Fever BYE
Steel BYE
9
Saturday 31-May 1430 Steel Pulse Stadium Southland Invercargill
Sunday 1-Jun 1330 Vixens Fever State Netball Hockey Centre Melbourne
Monday 2-Jun 1900 Firebirds Thunderbirds Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Monday 2-Jun 1900 Flames Mystics Venue TBC Christchurch
2-Jun Swifts BYE
2-Jun Magic BYE
10
Saturday 7-Jun 1430 Steel Vixens Stadium Southland Invercargill
Sunday 8-Jun 1300 Thunderbirds Flames ETSA Park Adelaide
Sunday 8-Jun 1730 Magic Firebirds Energy Events Centre Rotorua
Monday 9-Jun 1800 Fever Pulse Challenge Stadium Perth
Monday 9-Jun 1900 Mystics Swifts The Trusts Stadium Auckland
11
Saturday 14-Jun 1430 Mystics Thunderbirds The Trusts Stadium Auckland
Sunday 15-Jun 1330 Swifts Firebirds Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Sydney
Sunday 15-Jun 1730 Flames Pulse Westpac Centre Christchurch
Monday 16-Jun 1900 Vixens Magic State Netball Hockey Centre Melbourne
Monday 16-Jun 1900 Steel Fever Edgar Centre Dunedin
12
Saturday 21-Jun 1230 Fever Vixens Challenge Stadium Perth
Saturday 21-Jun 1430 Pulse Magic TSB Bank Arena Wellington
Sunday 22-Jun 1330 Firebirds Flames Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Monday 23-Jun 1900 Swifts Thunderbirds Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Sydney
Monday 23-Jun 1900 Mystics Steel Vector Arena Auckland
13
Saturday 28-Jun 1400 Thunderbirds Firebirds ETSA Park Adelaide
Saturday 28-Jun 1430 Mystics Pulse North Shore Events Centre Auckland
Sunday 29-Jun 1130 Fever Flames Challenge Stadium Perth
Monday 30-Jun 1900 Vixens Swifts Vodafone Arena Melbourne
Monday 30-Jun 1900 Steel Magic Stadium Southland Invercargill
14
Saturday 5-Jul 1430 Magic Flames Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
Sunday 6-Jul 1330 Vixens Mystics Vodafone Arena Melbourne
Sunday 6-Jul 1730 Steel Firebirds Edgar Centre Dunedin
Monday 7-Jul 1800 Fever Swifts Challenge Stadium Perth
Monday 7-Jul 1900 Pulse Thunderbirds Pettigrew Green Arena Napier
Final Series:
Game B Saturday 12-Jul or Sunday 13-Jul
Game A Monday 14-Jul
Game C Monday 21-Jul
Final Monday 28-Jul
*note can invert Game A/B letters dependant on venue availability.
Format:
Semi-finals:
• 1 v 2 - minor premiers host major semi-final (subject to venue availability)
• 3 v 4 - team finishing third host minor semi-final (subject to venue availability)
• Winner 1 v 2 directly into Grand Final. Loser hosts preliminary final (subject to venue availability)
• Winner 3 v 4 contests preliminary final against loser of major semi-final (subject to venue availability)
Preliminary final:
• Loser of major semi-final hosts preliminary final against winner of minor semi-final
Grand Final:
• Hosted by winner of major semi-final against winner of preliminary final
Mystics
1 Sunday 6-Apr 1730 Mystics Flames The Trusts Stadium Auckland
2 Sunday 13-Apr 1730 Magic Mystics Energy Events Centre Rotorua
3 Saturday 19-Apr 1430 Mystics Fever The Trusts Stadium Auckland
4 Saturday 26-Apr 1430 Firebirds Mystics Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
5 Monday 5-May 1900 Steel Mystics Stadium Southland Invercargill
6 Monday 12-May 1900 Mystics Magic The Trusts Stadium Auckland
7 Mystics BYE
8 Monday 26-May 1900 Pulse Mystics TSB Bank Arena Wellington
9 Monday 2-Jun 1900 Flames Mystics Venue TBC Christchurch
10 Monday 9-Jun 1900 Mystics Swifts The Trusts Stadium Auckland
11 Saturday 14-Jun 1430 Mystics Thunderbirds The Trusts Stadium Auckland
12 Monday 23-Jun 1900 Mystics Steel Vector Arena Auckland
13 Saturday 28-Jun 1430 Mystics Pulse North Shore Events Centre Auckland
14 Sunday 6-Jul 1330 Vixens Mystics Vodafone Arena Melbourne
Magic
1 Monday 7-Apr 1900 Magic Thunderbirds Energy Events Centre Rotorua
2 Sunday 13-Apr 1730 Magic Mystics Energy Events Centre Rotorua
3 Saturday 19-Apr 1430 Swifts Magic Newcastle Entertainment Centre Sydney
4 Saturday 26-Apr 1430 Magic Fever Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
5 Saturday 3-May 1430 Magic Pulse Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
6 Monday 12-May 1900 Mystics Magic The Trusts Stadium Auckland
7 Monday 19-May 1900 Magic Steel Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
8 Saturday 24-May 1430 Flames Magic Westpac Centre Christchurch
9 Magic BYE
10 Sunday 8-Jun 1730 Magic Firebirds Energy Events Centre Rotorua
11 Monday 16-Jun 1900 Vixens Magic State Netball Hockey Centre Melbourne
12 Saturday 21-Jun 1430 Pulse Magic TSB Bank Arena Wellington
13 Monday 30-Jun 1900 Steel Magic Stadium Southland Invercargill
14 Saturday 5-Jul 1430 Magic Flames Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
Pulse
1 Saturday 5-Apr 1430 Pulse Vixens TSB Bank Arena Wellington
2 Monday 14-Apr 1900 Pulse Steel TSB Bank Arena Wellington
3 Monday 21-Apr 1900 Firebirds Pulse Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
4 Monday 28-Apr 1900 Swifts Pulse Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Sydney
5 Saturday 3-May 1430 Magic Pulse Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
6 Pulse BYE
7 Saturday 17-May 1430 Pulse Flames Arena Manawatu Palmerston North
8 Monday 26-May 1900 Pulse Mystics TSB Bank Arena Wellington
9 Saturday 31-May 1430 Steel Pulse Stadium Southland Invercargill
10 Monday 9-Jun 1800 Fever Pulse Challenge Stadium Perth
11 Sunday 15-Jun 1730 Flames Pulse Westpac Centre Christchurch
12 Saturday 21-Jun 1430 Pulse Magic TSB Bank Arena Wellington
13 Saturday 28-Jun 1430 Mystics Pulse North Shore Events Centre Auckland
14 Monday 7-Jul 1900 Pulse Thunderbirds Pettigrew Green Arena Napier
Flames
1 Sunday 6-Apr 1730 Mystics Flames The Trusts Stadium Auckland
2 Saturday 12-Apr 1430 Flames Swifts Westpac Centre Christchurch
3 Monday 21-Apr 1900 Flames Steel Westpac Centre Christchurch
4 Monday 28-Apr 1900 Flames Vixens Westpac Centre Christchurch
5 Flames BYE
6 Saturday 10-May 1430 Steel Flames Stadium Southland Invercargill
7 Saturday 17-May 1430 Pulse Flames Arena Manawatu Palmerston North
8 Saturday 24-May 1430 Flames Magic Westpac Centre Christchurch
9 Monday 2-Jun 1900 Flames Mystics Venue TBC Christchurch
10 Sunday 8-Jun 1300 Thunderbirds Flames ETSA Park Adelaide
11 Sunday 15-Jun 1730 Flames Pulse Westpac Centre Christchurch
12 Sunday 22-Jun 1330 Firebirds Flames Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre Brisbane
13 Sunday 29-Jun 1130 Fever Flames Challenge Stadium Perth
14 Saturday 5-Jul 1430 Magic Flames Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamiton
Steel
1 Monday 7-Apr 1900 Swifts Steel Acer Arena Sydney
2 Monday 14-Apr 1900 Pulse Steel TSB Bank Arena Wellington
3 Monday 21-Apr 1900 Flames Steel Westpac Centre Christchurch
4 Sunday 27-Apr 1300 Thunderbirds Steel ETSA Park Adelaide
5 Monday 5-May 1900 Steel Mystics Stadium Southland Invercargill
6 Saturday 10-May 1430 Steel Flames Stadium Southland Invercargill
7 Monday 19-May 1900 Magic Steel Mystery Creek Events Centre Hamilton
8 Steel BYE
9 Saturday 31-May 1430 Steel Pulse Stadium Southland Invercargill
10 Saturday 7-Jun 1430 Steel Vixens Stadium Southland Invercargill
11 Monday 16-Jun 1900 Steel Fever Edgar Centre Dunedin
12 Monday 23-Jun 1900 Mystics Steel Vector Arena Auckland
13 Monday 30-Jun 1900 Steel Magic Stadium Southland Invercargill
14 Sunday 6-Jul 1730 Steel Firebirds Edgar Centre Dunedin