Startup offers sports fans unique experiences

A new company offers sports fans the chance to have unique experiences with sports teams and personalities.

An increasing number of businesses are focusing on providing unique customer experiences. Examples of innovations include an at-home pop-up shop and an outdoor store fitted with its own cold room. A Sydney-based startup is now aiming to provide unique experiences for sports fans, while supporting charities at the same time. FAN+ offers experiences such as playing golf and eating lunch with former Manly Sea Eagles captain Steve Menzies, and traveling to a game with the Central Coast Mariners.

FAN+ acts as a centralised marketplace to connect fans with sporting clubs, athletes and sports personalities. The company was co-founded by Rod Harys, former boss of the National Basketball League’s Sydney Kings. Harys came up with the idea while seeing how desperate fans were to connect with their favourite athletes.

FAN+ works with charities and community organisations in Australia and New Zealand to raise funds through the purchase of experiences. Any supplier to FAN+ can also donate a percentage of the sale back to their nominated charity or foundation. Experiences vary widely in price, with some experiences as low as 250 AUD. The startup takes a 30 percent cut of all sales, and most experiences are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. The company recently took part in the Qantas AVRO accelerator.