What The Sporting Globe does

The Sporting Globe is an Australian hospitality and sports entertainment franchise group founded in 2009 and headquartered in South Melbourne, operating 25+ venues across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia with active franchise expansion into Tasmania and South Australia. The company runs a hybrid company-owned and franchised venue model targeting sports fans, social diners, function bookers, and group entertainment seekers, with the franchisor providing centralized site selection, leasing, liquor licensing, venue design, training, operations support, marketing, and finance services to franchise partners.

The core product set spans dine-in food and beverage (modern Australian and pub classics, craft beer), sports broadcasting across AFL, NRL, NBL, AFLW, international soccer, rugby, and UFC, and a proprietary Game On Darts augmented reality darts experience with auto-scoring boards and nine game variations currently deployed at five venues. Supporting technology includes a native iOS/Android mobile app for dine-in and takeaway ordering, loyalty point tracking, tipping competitions, member-exclusive pricing, and birthday voucher registration, plus UberEats integration for third-party delivery. Function and event hosting is a dedicated vertical with venue-specific minimum spends of A$1,000-A$3,000 and room hire from A$250.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: food and beverage sales across company-owned and franchise venues, recurring franchise royalties and fees, function and event hire revenue, and the members loyalty program. The company employs 501-1,000 staff, sponsors over 280 amateur sporting clubs with A$500,000+ in annual community donations, and maintains official partnerships with Collingwood FC, Melbourne United, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Titans. It has been twice voted Best Sporting Entertainment Venue by both the Victorian Australian Hotels Association and Fox Sports.

Name

The Sporting Globe

Legal name

The Sporting Globe

Website

https://sportingglobe.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Sporting Globe is an Australian franchise sports bar and grill chain operating 25+ venues across NSW, QLD, VIC, and WA. It serves sports fans and social diners with food, beverages, multi-sport broadcasting, augmented reality darts, loyalty programs, and private function hosting under a hybrid owned-and-franchised model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Bar & Grill Hospitality

NAICS

Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Bars (CRANACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Electronic Table Games (ETGs) & Stadium Gaming (MPAEAJAC)

Keywords

• Sports bar hospitality
• Food and beverage service
• Franchise restaurants
• Live sports entertainment
• Augmented reality darts

Headquarters

HQ city

South Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Food & Beverage Sales: Core revenue from food and beverage sales across all company-owned and franchise venues. Venues offer modern Australian and pub classics, craft beers, and sports viewing. Operating 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.
2. Franchise Royalties & Fees: Franchise partners pay royalties and fees to the franchisor. The franchisor provides site selection, development, training, operations support, marketing, and finance services in exchange for franchise income. Room hire fees ($250) and minimum spends also generate revenue for franchisees.
3. Functions & Events: Revenue from hosting private functions including birthdays, corporate events, club presentations, and receptions. Function spaces include Beer Garden, Bar Area, Alfresco, and TAB Area with minimum spends ranging from $1,000-$3,000 depending on day and venue.
4. Loyalty & Membership Program: Members earn points via app scanning or ordering, redeem on favourite items, receive exclusive pricing year-round, get member-only offers, and receive a $25 birthday voucher. The loyalty program drives repeat visits and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Sporting Globe is an Australian sports bar and grill chain that operates 25+ venues across NSW, QLD, VIC, and WA through a franchise and company-owned model. The brand offers modern Australian and pub classic menus, craft beverages, comprehensive live sports coverage (AFL, NRL, AFLW, NBL, international soccer, rugby, UFC), a proprietary augmented reality darts experience (Game On Darts), function/event hosting, and a mobile app-supported loyalty program.

Product overview

The Sporting Globe is a sports bar and grill chain offering a portfolio of food, beverage, and entertainment products. The core offerings include the Game On Darts augmented reality darts experience, a mobile app for ordering and loyalty, delivery services via UberEats, a members loyalty program, and functions/events venue hire. The venues also broadcast sports across AFL, NRL, and international sporting events, and sponsor amateur sporting clubs and professional teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Game On Darts: Augmented reality darts experience with auto-scoring dart boards and multiple game variations

Products and services

• Game On Darts Interactive augmented reality darts entertainment with auto-scoring boards, suitable for groups, birthday parties, and corporate team building.
• The Sporting Globe Mobile App Mobile app for ordering food and drinks (dine-in, takeaway, curbside pickup, delivery), tracking loyalty points, accessing member-only pricing, and participating in tipping competitions.
• Members Loyalty Program Loyalty membership delivering $25 birthday vouchers, points-based rewards, exclusive member pricing year-round, and access to tipping competitions and member events.
• Functions & Events Venue Hire Venue hire for private functions including birthdays, corporate events, club presentations, and receptions, offering function spaces for 20-180+ guests with AV equipment.
• Food & Beverage Delivery Food and beverage delivery via the UberEats partner platform, in addition to dine-in, takeaway, and curbside pickup options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 280 amateur sporting clubs sponsored annually with $500k in donations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Collingwood FCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Venue Partner of Collingwood FC. The partnership has been renewed for two more seasons. The Sporting Globe offers exclusive deals for Collingwood fans including the '10 Pints' promotion, great venue locations near stadiums, and the 'Backing the Magpie Army' community initiative. The partnership serves as a key marketing lever to attract AFL fans to venues.
• Melbourne UnitedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProud long-term partner of the Melbourne United Basketball Club. The Sporting Globe has been part of both of Melbourne United's Championship Titles in 2018 and 2021, positioning the brand alongside NBL success and creating a foundation for basketball fan engagement.
• Perth WildcatscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Perth Wildcats basketball organisation. Currently in its second season as a partner. The Perth Wildcats are the NBL's most winning club with 10 Championship Titles. The partnership connects The Sporting Globe with Western Australia's premier basketball team and its fanbase.
• Gold Coast TitanscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProud partner of the Gold Coast Titans NRL club. The Sporting Globe's Robina venue is located just 12 minutes from the Titans' stadium, making it an ideal venue for pre and post game celebrations. The proximity creates a natural partnership for Rugby League fans in the Gold Coast region.
• 280+ Amateur Sporting ClubscoreOthersThe Sporting Globe sponsors over 280 amateur local sporting clubs across Australia with strong engagement in the local community. Over $500,000 is donated annually back to these community sports clubs. This grassroots sponsorship program is central to the brand's community differentiation strategy and local engagement at each franchise venue.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hooters: Iconic sports bar and casual dining chain offering televised sports, full bar service, and themed hospitality at scale — directly comparable venue economics and customer proposition to The Sporting Globe.
• Yard House: US upscale sports bar chain under Darden with 100+ taps, large-format venues, and broadcast-sports-led positioning — comparable multi-venue sports entertainment operating model.
• Pavilion: Australian hospitality operator running a portfolio of sports-oriented pubs and entertainment venues — directly comparable sports-pub operating model in the same Australian market.
• ALH Group: Australia's largest pub and hotel operator running 340+ venues across multiple states — directly comparable Australian multi-venue hospitality operator with overlapping sports bar portfolio.
• Buffalo Wild Wings: Global sports-bar chain centred on wing-and-beer sports viewing with extensive screen coverage, loyalty programmes, and franchise expansion — the closest international comp to The Sporting Globe's positioning as a multi-venue sports entertainment operator.
• Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux: US sports bar and casual dining chain combining Louisiana-inspired menus with extensive sports viewing, multi-unit franchise rollout, and community-rooted marketing — comparable sports-themed hospitality format.

Broad incumbents

• Grill'd: Leading Australian casual dining chain with 150+ venues — comparable domestic multi-venue casual dining footprint and brand-led consumer marketing.
• Merivale: Major Australian hospitality group operating a diversified portfolio of pubs, bars, and event venues — comparable operator scale and franchise-style venue management in the same Australian market.
• Hog's Breath Cafe: Established Australian casual dining chain with full bar service and national footprint — comparable venue economics, casual dining positioning, and Australian consumer brand.
• TGI Fridays: Global casual dining chain with full-bar programmes and sports-adjacent positioning — comparable venue format and family-friendly bar-and-grill customer overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SportingGlobeBallarat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-sporting-globe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sporting Globe