Hawthorn Football Club will assist the rise of the NBL’s newest franchise, the South East Melbourne Phoenix, having signed a management services agreement with the club.
Through the partnership the Hawks will assist in the establishment and the on-going management of the new franchise.
Hawthorn will provide Phoenix a shared service model for all financial, Human Resource and Information Technology management, along with support in delivering their strategic plan.
The Phoenix, which recently unveiled its name and colours, is owned by entrepreneur and co-owner of EFL Championship Club Swansea City, Romie Chaudhari.
Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves said the agreement is an exciting venture for the club that highlightsits reputation as leaders in the sports industry.
“This agreement with South East Melbourne Phoenix is a fantastic opportunity for our club to leverage the wealth of expertise that we hold in the field of sports governance.
“The NBL is experiencing fantastic growth at the moment, and we are thrilled to have aligned ourselves with an organisation like South East Melbourne.
“Being the league’s newest franchise, situated in the largest basketball participation area in Australia, Phoenix have a real opportunity to establish themselves as leaders in the NBL both on and off the court.
“This agreement will see Hawthorn provide Phoenix with the expertise, learnings and infrastructure to ensure they establish the foundations required to achieve sustained success in the NBL competition.
“Being a start-up club, there are some amazing opportunities for South East Melbourne to tap into the Hawks expertise and knowledge, particularly in the consumer and commercial areas, to ensure Phoenix hit the ground running when they enter the competition next year.
“A key strategic priority in our 2050 Vision is to diversify revenue streams for the club, and this is a way that Hawthorn is seeking to innovate in this area.
“The partnership opens the door for Hawthorn to move into the realm of sports management and governance and we are really excited about the opportunities ahead.”
Owner of Phoenix, Romie Chaudhari said the club was excited by the new partnership with Hawthorn and the opportunities it provides.
"We are very pleased to have forged a partnership with Hawthorn and its members. They're a model sports club, they have a proven track record, both on and off the field, and they have set a standard we look to build into our fabric here with the Phoenix family,” Chaudhari said.
“We are thrilled at what the future holds for us and what can be accomplished together. We look forward to working closely with them leading up to the start of next season and beyond."
South East Melbourne Phoenix will enter the NBL for the 2019/20 season and will be led by Head Coach Simon Mitchell, who was announced as the club’s inaugural coach in October.
