Softball: Sport looks to cash in on Black Sox success

A year-long study into the commercial position of New Zealand Softball (NZS) could spell change for the organisation.

The study, undertaken by Max Group Australasia and supported by Sparc, the Government's sport funding agency, looked to identify and unlock future commercial and sponsorship possibilities for the sport.

SNZ chief executive Dale Eagar said today a number of recommendations had been made which would be presented to the NZS board for further investigation to see how they fit in with the sport's strategic plan.

He said it was important for softball to have an outside group study the business side of the organisation to look for future opportunities.

"It is all about taking the next step forward in the professional era of sport," Eagar said.

"We wanted to ensure a couple of things, with the first being the future of the sport.

"Important for this is that if we are going to market ourselves we need to be sure of what it is we are marketing and the commercial realities around it.

"Secondly, we wanted to make sure that we are able to diversify our income streams so we are not so dependent on gaming machine and agency funding."

With the Black Sox having won three successive world championship titles and the White Sox ranked in the top six in the world, SNZ is looking to take their success and turn it into a commercial benefit for the sport as a whole.

- NZPA