The Australian Professional Leagues have announced its first-ever pride celebration to promote diversity and inclusion. The event will be held across Australia over the weekend of February 24th to 26th and in New Zealand on March 4th. The round will be player-driven and participants will have the option to opt-in.
This move comes after the second Pride Cup was confirmed for February 26th, where Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory will meet at AAMI Park in a game aimed at changing the sport. The celebration is focused on education, training, and long-term impact. The round is being referred to as a “pride celebration” rather than a “pride round” to acknowledge the behind-the-scenes work that has already been done.
Efforts to promote diversity and inclusion include education programs for club executives, staff, and players, a trial of a new stadium safety and inclusion program with the Melbourne Olympic Parks Trust, and the introduction of GoBubble technology to silence online hate. The event will also have a strong community element, with $1 from every ticket sold being donated to the Pride Cup’s community fund to support local clubs and their own pride events.