Each year the world’s best from the UK sport industry gather under one roof to celebrate the Sport Industry Awards. However, this year due to the pandemic the prestigious awards were hosted digitally, with a range of famous faces from the sporting world announcing the winners via video.
Despite not being able to be there in person, we were delighted to hear that the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup, held in Liverpool, claimed multiple awards this year!
The unforgettable tournament landed the Event of the Year Award, plus we were thrilled to see our long term partner, Vitality, claim the Event or Competition Sponsorship Award for their headline partnership of the World Cup.
Looking back on the event, it’s clear to see it made a huge impact; from 12-21 July 2019 around 112,196 tickets were purchased for the tournament, it had the best known Net Promoter Score (customer service experience) recorded to date of any major sporting event in the UK, a whopping 6.07 million people attended, watched and/ or followed it, plus 160,000 women were inspired by it to play netball or more netball.
Thousands of fans gathered in the fan park at Liverpool ONE to watch the games live, partners hosted a range of fun activations for passers-by to take part in and the Vitality Roses, who took home bronze, enjoyed being welcomed onto court for each game by a sea of fans.
Nicky Dunn OBE Chair of the Vitality Netball World Cup 2019, said: “We are absolutely delighted that The Vitality Netball World Cup has been recognised with this award, particularly given such stellar competition, it shows just how far netball has come as a sport that it is able to put on a high profile event that can compete and win in this category. I would like to thank our superb Event Director Lindsay Impett and her team, my fellow board members, England Netball, The International Netball Federation, UK Sport, The City of Liverpool, ACC Liverpool, Vitality, Sport England and our other sponsors for their tremendous support.”
Fran Connolly, CEO of England Netball, added: “We are thrilled to see the Vitality Netball World Cup receive the Event of the Year Award as well as Vitality be recognised for their sponsorship of the event. It was an unforgettable experience and hosting a tournament of this scale on home soil is a sporting highlight that not many get to enjoy in their careers.
“The event wouldn’t have been the success it was without the dedication of the World Cup delivery team, plus all the England Netball staff, volunteers, players, members, fans, and of course our partners like Vitality. So much time, effort and passion went into this event and I couldn’t be more proud of the outcome.
“Since the monumental occasion our sport has been on an incredible journey, enjoying record participation numbers, viewing figures at international and Vitality Netball Superleague events and enjoying more media attention than ever before. Despite the difficult times we are currently facing and the pandemic putting a halt on our journey, this award is a reminder of the progress the sport has made. We will do all we can to ensure that the momentum from this phenomenal event is not lost.
“Thank you to everyone for their continued support and to the Sport Industry Group for this award, and massive congratulations to Vitality on their award also.”
To help ensure that netball comes back stronger and gets back on the journey it was enjoying prior to lockdown, please don’t forget to support our #RiseAgain campaign on social media and by becoming a member for the 2020/21 season. You can find out more about this exciting initiative here.
Also, to see our full Vitality Netball World Cup Legacy Report completed earlier this year, please click here.
