McDonald’s extends successful WAFL partnership

McDonald’s will continue its partnership with the West Australian Football League (WAFL) for the 2016 season following a successful start to the inaugural year of the partnership in 2015.

McDonald’s became the major broadcast and naming rights partner for the 2015 McDonald’s WAFL Premiership Season, helping to pave the way for games to be televised in the Perth metropolitan area and regional Western Australia on the 7 Network.

WAFC General Manager Pathways and Competitions Steve Hargrave said ratings on the 7 Network had been a great success so far with average audience numbers doubling from 2014, while attendance at games had also remained solid.

“We have been extremely happy with the partnership to date and the important role McDonald’s has played in helping to promote our game to the West Australian community. I think we have seen West Australians fall in love with the WAFL again in 2015, which is a fantastic outcome for the competition,” he said.

McDonald’s Mandurah and Greenfields licensee Tim Parker, said that continuing the partnership was a great opportunity for McDonald’s and its WA owner operators to show their ongoing support for home-grown football.

“Not only will our investment allow WAFL games to continue to be broadcast on free to air TV throughout the state, it also becomes a platform to expand our iconic game and encourage fans, families and young people to become even more involved in the sport,” he said.

“Both McDonald’s and the WAFL see footy as a sport to be embraced by the whole family, from one generation to the next. We are all very passionate about supporting grassroots sports in the community, including the aspirations of so many junior footballers to one day play in the WAFL competition.”

Last year, football provided physical activity for more than 178,000 West Australian participants of all ages, male and female, from Auskick to Masters. It acted as an ideal vehicle for encouraging healthy lifestyles, especially with the support of televised games.