Gravity Media, a world leading global provider of complex live creative production and media services, today outlined its swift delivery of connectivity solutions to enable the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the second of two Soccer Ashes fixtures on September 9, contested at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
This 103-year old event sees both the Australian and New Zealander sides competing to secure a wooden casket containing the cigar ashes of the 1923 team captains, with this year’s Soccer Ashes seeing both countries each hosting a home game for the first time in the series’ history.
A key element of Gravity Media’s partnership with Football Australia for the Auckland clash was to provide connectivity between New Zealand and Australia, within a tight timeline, delivered through Gravity Media’s wide-reaching capabilities within the state-of-the-art Production Centre Sydney to enable the VAR services.
The technology solution allowed Football Australia to operate remotely from Gravity Media’s Sydney Production Centre with access to multiple camera angles, slow motion replays, and constant communication with on-field referees.
The undertaking for the second clash in the 2025 Soccer Ashes in Auckland adds further depth to Gravity Media’s long-term partnership with Football Australia in providing technical and connectivity services for VAR.
Lewis Watterson, VAR Project Manager at Football Australia commented:
“Working to a tight timeline, Gravity Media provided the critical connectivity services for the New Zealand v Australia match from Auckland. Ensuring that both the Hawk-Eye and Football Australia facilities were fully operational to enable VAR. Their support was essential in making the system run seamlessly on matchday.”
