Sydney Pink Test 2027: Tap Donations, Stalls and WiFi for Pink Fundraisers

When is the 2027 Sydney Pink Test?

The 2026–27 Australian summer schedule, published by cricket.com.au in March 2026, lists the fourth Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground from Monday 4 to Friday 8 January 2027, with play starting at 10:30am AEDT. Cricket NSW describes it as the Pink Test and the final match of the Trans-Tasman Trophy series. The SCG event listing shows general gates opening at 9am.

According to cricket.com.au, the Pink Test has been run with its official cancer nursing charity partner since 2009. At the January 2026 match, day three was the day fans were asked to turn the ground pink. The official pages had not confirmed the 2027 day-by-day program at the time of writing, so check them before planning around a specific day. In 2027, day three would fall on Wednesday 6 January.

Many groups run their own fundraisers in the same week: cricket clubs holding pink games, offices hosting a pink morning tea with the match on screen, and cafes or venues running donation drives. EventWiFi is not affiliated with the Test, the ground, the governing bodies or the charity. This article is general planning information for community and workplace organisers.

Why do pink fundraisers need more than a phone hotspot?

• Every donation needs a connection. Tap donation points and pop-up stalls contact the payment network each time someone pays. A phone hotspot that drops when its owner walks away or takes a call stops donations.
• One link, two very different jobs. Showing the match on a screen while taking payments shares a single connection between a heavy video stream and small but critical transactions.
• Weak spots at outdoor grounds. Local cricket grounds and parks often have patchy mobile coverage near the boundary, and the clubhouse may have no fixed internet at all.
• QR code giving. Guests who scan a code to donate need working mobile data or guest WiFi at the moment they decide to give.

A small, planned network avoids most of these problems and takes far less effort on the day than troubleshooting a failed terminal in front of a queue.

How should tap donations and stall payments be set up?

1. Use terminals or tap-to-pay phones from a recognised payment provider, set up under the fundraising organisation's account and tested well before the day.
2. Put terminals on a separate, encrypted staff network, never on the guest WiFi.
3. Give the payments network a backup path, such as a 4G/5G router on a different mobile network from the main connection, with automatic failover.
4. Place donation points where the signal has been tested, not only where the table looks good.
5. Run a test transaction on each device on the morning of the event.
6. Keep a digital record of each collection so totals can be reconciled with the benefiting charity.

business.gov.au suggests weighing fees, security and how customers prefer to pay when choosing payment methods. For larger fundraisers, our EFTPOS and payment networks service keeps terminals on their own network with backup internet, and the charity and fundraising event WiFi page covers the wider setup.

What rules apply to raffles and charity collections in NSW?

Fundraising for a charity in NSW is regulated, so check the rules before advertising a collection or raffle. This is general information, not legal advice.

• Fundraising appeals: the ACNC explains that under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 (NSW), asking for money for a charitable purpose is a fundraising appeal. An organisation can hold its own authority or make an arrangement with an existing authority holder, and individuals need approval from a licence holder to fundraise on its behalf.
• Raffles: NSW Government guidance on community lotteries says draw lotteries can only be run to raise funds for, or on behalf of, a charity or non-profit organisation, and written authorisation from the benefiting organisation is required.
• Proceeds: the same guidance requires at least 40 per cent of gross proceeds to go to the benefiting organisation, and proceeds to be banked no later than 2 business days after they are received.
• Advertising: the rules of the lottery must be clearly advertised, and advertising must not show children taking part.

From a network point of view, this is another reason to keep terminals online and transactions in one place. Digital donations and ticket sales leave a clear record when they are not split across several personal phones.

How much WiFi does a club or office watch day need?

Use the same planning figures as other community events: about 1 device per guest at a public event, 1.5 to 2 devices per volunteer or staff member, and about 50 devices per access point. In open outdoor areas, allow roughly one access point per 900 m².

If the match is shown on a screen, connect the screen by cable or give it a dedicated connection so the broadcast does not compete with donations. If you plan to stream part of your own event, such as a presentation or auction, allow 10 to 20 Mbps of stable upload per stream with 1.5 to 2 times headroom. Our event network planner turns these numbers into a layout.

What should organisers check before 4 January?

1. Confirm the official 2027 program on the Cricket Australia and SCG pages, including which day is the pink day.
2. Confirm the fundraising arrangement with the benefiting charity and, for any raffle, the written authorisation.
3. Check what internet the venue or clubhouse has and where it reaches. Walk the site with a phone to find weak spots.
4. Decide where screens, donation tables and stalls will go, then plan access points and cable runs around them.
5. Set up separate guest and payments networks. The Australian Cyber Security Centre recommends changing default router passwords, using WPA2 or WPA3 encryption and keeping firmware up to date.
6. January heat affects equipment as well as people. Keep routers and terminals shaded and ventilated.
7. Test every terminal and the backup link on the day, before the first guests arrive.

If you are running a pink fundraiser at a club, office or venue, send the site plan and expected numbers through our contact page and we can suggest a network and payment layout.

Sources

1. cricket.com.au: Australian cricket schedule 2026-27 (22 March 2026)
2. Cricket NSW: Sydney fixtures locked in for 2026-27 international summer (23 March 2026)
3. Sydney Cricket Ground: 2027 New Year's Test, Australia v New Zealand
4. cricket.com.au: Pink Test experience page
5. ACNC: Fundraising in New South Wales
6. NSW Government: Community lotteries
7. business.gov.au: Choose payment methods
8. Australian Cyber Security Centre: Secure your Wi-Fi and router

Event dates, prices and product details can change. Check the organiser or manufacturer before you plan around them. Planning figures are starting points; every network is confirmed against the actual site.