Champion Data is a sports data and analytics company based in Melbourne, Australia. It has been the official statistical data provider to the Australian Football League (AFL) since 1999.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports technology and data |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Ted Hopkins |
| Headquarters | Southbank, , |
Key people | Chris Hume (Director) Aaron Cross (CEO) |
| Website | championdata |
History
editPrincipally rooted in Australian rules football, the company was created by former Carlton footballer Ted Hopkins and his wife Angelika Oehme in 1995.[1][2] Hopkins' vision was to tabulate statistical data from the Australian Football League (AFL) and provide a "comprehensive and qualitative dimension" with "underlying analysis and commentaries".[3]
Through Champion Data, Hopkins launched the Rev Rankings in the Herald Sun in 1996, an early precursor of AFL Fantasy player ratings.[3] By 1998, Champion Data's statistics were a feature of discussion on The Footy Show. The company then entered in a partnership with the AFL for 1999 and beyond to provide the league with statistical data, an agreement which continues to this day.[4][5]
Ownership
editHopkins and Oehme sold the business to private ownership in 2007, with the former continuing to work under contract at the company for a number of years following the sale.[3] The current majority owner of the company is Champion Data's director, Chris Hume.[6] The AFL holds the remaining 49-percent shareholder stake.[7]
Other sports
editAs well as providing statistical analysis for the AFL Women's, the Talent League and various football state leagues, Champion Data also captures data for Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand's elite competitions.[5] The company has also inked contracts with the National Rugby League, Premier Lacrosse League, and XFL.[8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ "Carlton premiership legend Ted Hopkins dies aged 74". ABC News. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ De Bolfo, Tony (2023-11-21). "Carlton's 1970 premiership cult hero Ted Hopkins passes away". Carlton Football Club. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ a b c Hopkins, Ted (2013-03-22). "A brief & personal view of the evolution of Australian Football statistics". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ Browne, Ashley (1998-05-24). "Computer games". The Age. p. 14 (sport).
- ^ a b "Sport – Champion Data". Champion Data. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ Bednall, Jai (2014-03-15). "Crunching the numbers". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. p. 103.
- ^ Morris, Tom (2023-05-15). "Standoff between the AFL and Champion Data holding up how clubs name teams". SEN. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ Bleby, Michael (2018-11-04). "AFL numbers man Chris Hume becomes Gillon McLachlan's neighbour with $6.6m buy". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ "Champion Data named the Official Stats Provider of the Premier Lacrosse League". Premier Lacrosse League. 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ "XFL Keeps Score with Champion Data". UFLBoard.com. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2024-04-22.