Netball Super League | Five things we loved at the Netball Super League Season Opener 2024

The Netball Super League (NSL) Season Opener delivered entertainment and drama in abundance on the court, but beyond the on-court action there was plenty more for fans to enjoy.

Read on for a roundup of everything that was on offer for fans visiting the Motorpoint Arena on Saturday.

Learning from the British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) were out and about on the concourse spreading an important message about the stark inequalities faced by women when it comes to heart, stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Volunteers from the BHF used their presence at the Season Opener to raise awareness about the different symptoms of women suffering from heart attacks and to raise money to fund their crucial work towards bridging this inequality for women and girls.

According to research by the BHF a woman is 50% more likely to receive the wrong initial diagnosis of a heart attack than a man, and women are 34% less likely to receive timely treatment than men. This research shows that two more women a day could have survived a heart attack if they received the same standard of care as men. This health inequality is a key focus of the BHF’s work as they are looking to end the perception that heart disease is a male-focused issue and the Netball Super League was proud to amplify their voice on these issues affecting women and girls at the Season Opener.

You can find out more about the BHF’s current campaign Go Red for Heart Month here.

A test of competitive spirit with the British Army

The British Army brought out the competitive side of fans, reigniting some of the club rivalries we watched on the NSL court with their reactions game. Using a special piece of equipment, fans were challenged to test their reaction times by hitting different targets as soon as they lit up, and it’s no surprise that there were some impressive high scores achieved!

Giveaways galore!

Collection Cosmetics came to join in the fun and brought with them thousands of make-up products, from blusher and bronzer to orange flavoured lip oils, for fans to take home for free! Extra products were also up for grabs to be won by fans getting involved with the ‘Dance Cam’ roaming around the arena in between watching their favourite NSL clubs battle it out on court. More dance-offs were also on the menu at half time, when club mascots challenged young fans to a dance battle, giving fans the chance to win tickets to one of their team’s home matches this season. Finally, there were more giveaways on offer from Gilbert, who used their Gilbert Cannon to fire out goodies including hats, socks and tops to fans around the arena.

Plenty of photo opportunities

The interactive screens out on the concourse were a huge hit, with fans eager to take photos posing with their favourite NSL stars behind them. The screens allowed fans to pick their favourite NSL player from their club to pose and celebrate with, creating fun videos and photos to take home at the end of the day. Later in the day, these screens became the backdrop to some exciting player meet-and-greets, where hundreds of fans gathered to take selfies and collect autographs from their favourite NSL players.

The chance to show your club colours

Finally, throughout the day, the Motorpoint Arena concourse was full of merchandise stands offering fans of every NSL club the chance to stock up on their latest must-have items. From bucket hats to replica training tops, there really was something for everyone. There was even the chance for fans to purchase their very own new Netball Super League Ball for 2024, created by official ball supplier to the NSL, Gilbert.

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Photo credit: Flynn Duggan