Mastercard named official payment partner of the Australian Open
Mastercard has been named as the official payment partner for the Australian Open.
The announcement:
Thursday 13 October 2016
Australian Open in priceless partnership with Mastercard
Mastercard has been named as the official payment partner for the Australian Open.
The deal is the first of its kind for Tennis Australia and Mastercard’s second major sponsorship of a Grand Slam tournament.
As part of the new agreement, Mastercard will become the naming rights partner of the Hopman Cup and an official partner of the Emirates Australian Open Series tournaments in Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide.
Mastercard will be involved in a variety of Australian Open lead-up events, including launch activities in Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore.
Tennis Australia Commercial Director Richard Heaselgrave is pleased to welcome Mastercard to the Australian Open partner family.
“We are delighted to join forces with Mastercard and welcome them to our partner family, as the official payment partner for the Australian Open and some of our AO Series tournaments, as well as the naming rights partner for the Mastercard Hopman Cup,” Heaselgrave said.
“As a prestigious international brand with a focus on innovation, Mastercard aligns perfectly with our values and particularly our efforts in global promotion and tourism.
“Establishing close relationships with some of the world’s best brands, such as Mastercard, is a vital part of our growth strategy, and one that will benefit all our fans, both in Australia and around the world.”
Mastercard Senior Vice President Marketing Asia Pacific Sam Ahmed said, “We know that impactful partnerships, like ours with Tennis Australia, drive transactions by emphasising to millions of fans worldwide the benefits of being a Mastercard cardholder.”
“This new partnership provides Mastercard with another key platform to connect and engage deeply with cardholders, particularly the growing audience of fans coming into Melbourne from across Asia, to showcase to consumers why being a Mastercard cardholder is Priceless.”
“From purchasing tickets online and booking travel, to paying for your transport to the tennis and purchasing food, drinks and merchandise, this platform will allow us to demonstrate to cardholders how fast, easy and safe it is to rely on your Mastercard to make it all happen for you.”
“The team at Tennis Australia are renowned for building the Australian Open into a global event that stretches far beyond the bounds of Melbourne Park, and we are excited to work with them to see what new Priceless moments we can create and celebrate together.”
Australian Open 2016 attracted a record crowd of 720,363 people. With 13 percent of attendees visiting from overseas, the tournament is a significant tourism driver for Australia.
“Cardholders can now look forward to an exciting array of experiences featuring their favourite tennis stars as a key part of a Priceless Melbourne experience, creating unforgettable memories with Mastercard,” Ahmed said.
