Cricket NSW have today announced a new partnership with McDonald’s, who will become the Major Community Partner of Cricket NSW for the 2014/15 season.

The partnership will see McDonalds become involved with Cricket NSW on a number of levels including major sponsorship of the Sydney Cricket Association and Country Cricket NSW.

In addition, McDonald’s will be supporting the recently launched Cricket NSW Community Grants program which is expected to deliver over $1 million in facility upgrades,  offering local cricket clubs assistance in improving practice and playing facilities to help make cricket more accessible across NSW.

Local McDonald’s restaurants will also engage with their respective local cricket clubs to host sign-up days and encourage active participation in the sport. They will also recognise a McDonald’s junior cricketer of the week from both metropolitan and regional NSW throughout the cricket season.

Cricket NSW General Manager of Commercial Operations and Communications, Brett Richardson, sees the partnership as a great fit between the organisations.

“We are delighted to be able to join forces with McDonald’s in what we hope will be a long mutually beneficial partnership.  Both Cricket NSW and McDonald’s are passionate about getting kids active, and we will be using the significant reach that McDonald’s has both in-store and through social media to promote our recruitment messages and get kids playing cricket this Summer.”

The partnership reinforces the commitment from McDonalds to encourage junior development in local sporting and community groups.

“McDonald’s values the development of important life skills such as teamwork and sportsmanship.  Through our sponsorship of Cricket NSW, we hope to increase participation in one of the great Australian sports both in metropolitan and regional communities by engaging with players as well as funding equipment and facilities,” concluded Jeremy Nance, McDonald’s NSW Marketing Manager.