AFL renews Virgin partnership ahead of Grand Final

The Australian Football League has extended its partnership with airline Virgin Australia for a further five years.

Virgin Australia has served as the Australian rules league’s official airline since January 2011 and now becomes the naming rights partner for its “Grand Final Half-Time Show”, the post-match “Premiership Party” and the “Grand Final Week Party” this weekend. Its association with the AFL will now run until 2018.

Hawthorn and Freemantle clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this Saturday in AFL football’s showpiece event, for which Virgin Australia is providing extra flights to cater for fans.

The airline has played a lead role in the “Any Game Anywhere” initiative – the AFL’s travel service which enables fans to tailor travel packages, tickets and accommodation.

Virgin Australia has an established presence in Australian sport and in June it agreed a deal with Basketball Australia to become the official airline for the Women’s National Basketball League through the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.