Eight small businesses will benefit from invaluable exposure during round nine of the NRL Telstra Premiership thanks to Telstra's Name in Lights campaign.
The businesses will each occupy premium advertising space - including promotion on the big screen and signage at stadiums, in-game content and mentions on broadcasts - at next week's matches.
Among the winners are a barbershop, an electrical company, a writing workshop service and a bakery.
Dragons centre Zac Lomax and Rabbitohs winger Josh Mansour personally called the winners to deliver the good news and there was an overwhelming sense of excitement.
"Small to medium businesses are the engine room of our economy and we want them to keep kicking goals," Telstra consumer and small business group executive Michael Ackland said.
"We're thrilled to be able to give these 17 small businesses the opportunity to have their name up in the lights.
"These small businesses will be able to reach millions of game attendees and living rooms across the country, something only big businesses with big budgets can normally afford.
"For many, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we hope it's a great way to put the spotlight on some of the businesses that kept our economy going over the past 12 months."
Another 50 businesses will be promoted on Telstra-owned assets such as retail stores and Telstra.com.
The winners had to register for the new Telstra Business Go Digital Consult service and say why their business should be plugged.
"I've just rung to say you've won Telstra's big plug for small business," Lomax told one winner.
"Your brand name's going to be all over the stadium - everyone's going to be able to see it."
Telstra is also providing Business Go Digital Consults to all small businesses for free in 2021– amounting to a value of about $7.5 million.
And nine businesses will receive premium advertising space throughout next round's AFL matches as well.
Winning small businesses - NRL
- Ace of Blade Barber Shop (Wynnum, QLD) - Rabbitohs v. Storm
- Brite Spark Electrical Services (Ashfield, NSW) – Eels v. Roosters
- West Words (Parramatta, NSW) - Panthers v. Sharks
- Holbrook Bakery (Holbrook, NSW) - Raiders v. Knights
- Unico Kitchens (Ingleburn, NSW) - Tigers v. Titans
- Muscle Mat (Brisbane, QLD) - Cowboys v. Broncos
- EME Roofing (Lidcombe, NSW) - Dragons v. Bulldogs
- Vegepod (Sydney, NSW) - Sea Eagles v. Warriors