The Gold Coast SUNS five-year partnership extension with Virgin Australia is set to provide the Gold Coast economy with a significant boost.

A foundation partner, Virgin Australia were officially announced as the Official Airline of the Gold Coast SUNS with club Chairman John Witheriff said Virgin Australia’s continued partnership with the GC SUNS was a great show of faith by the Corporate Airline, and would give the Club great stability moving forward.

“For such an outstanding organisation, like Virgin, to re-commit to the SUNS is an enormous show of support, not just for the SUNS but for the Gold Coast as a whole,” Witheriff said.

“Our tourism industry has been challenged in recent times, and for an organisation to say we fundamentally believe in the Gold Coast, and one of its institutions in the GC SUNS, means a lot more than words and actions.”

In just three seasons the Gold Coast SUNS have contributed in excess of $100 million to the local economy. It’s estimated 444 employment opportunities and $34 million per annum are generate as a result of the GC SUNS with a large percentage of that revenue flowing on to non-AFL businesses across the City including restaurants, cafes, theme parks and public transport.

 Virgin Australia Chief Customer Officer Mark Hassell welcomed the continued five-year partnership with the Gold Coast based AFL team. 

“It is a pleasure to be here today to announce a new five-year partnership with the GC SUNS,” he said.

“This comes hot on the heels of our AFL announcement last week, where we also launched a new five-year partnership with the AFL.”

“For us, we have been with the GC SUNS from Day one and it has been superb to have partnered with a brand that has grown and develop from launch so quickly into maturity.” 

As a foundation partner of the GC SUNS, Virgin Australia have played a crucial role in enticing interstate travellers to visit the Gold Coast to see the SUNS in action, but also to make the most of their time on the Gold Coast by encouraging travellers to extend their time on the ground. 

The new agreement between Virgin Australia and the Gold Coast SUNS is planned to include signage, game day hospitality along with a number of innovative new approaches to engaging fans and customers.