The league would do a better job of consolidating its Australian reach (and NZ) than Vegas - especially given it hasn’t captured any local interest seemingly of note. 45k is fine - but is it worth the ‘hassle’ and cost of Vegas? I’m not sure…
For context, the NZ v Ireland rugby union match in Chicago in November has already sold 50k. (Different event, sure).
I’ve got heaps of mates who have gone this weekend and loved it, which is great but it feels like the ‘fun’ is the priority and not the NRL.
A London kick-off would require, at the latest, a Sunday morning 7:40am (AEDST) kick-off (it’ll be Saturday night 8:40pm in London). This means Nine would either have to forgo Weekend Today for that morning, or put the league on 9Gem.
Wembley Stadium would be an ideal venue.
As for next year’s Las Vegas event, I’m hearing that the Bulldogs and Dragons are pushing to face each other, whether it’d be the season opener or the Channel Nine match (the second match of the NRL double header).
FWIW, their clash at Kogarah Oval next Saturday night will be the first time the teams have faced each other in round one since 2005.
I think they need to launch the season at home, continuing taking it overseas will just open the door for the AFL to dominate in Sydney and Brisbane for the weekend (they should have done that this year and started this weekend with their stupid R0 concept)
If you don’t do it at the start of the season, though, it makes it tough to fit it in elsewhere during the season - maybe re-jigging the Origin period may allow it (but risks not having some players available)
I’m not convinced London will work unless they’re willing to forgo FTA coverage - taking it overseas and wanting to keep it in friendly timeslots for Australia will limit it to the US West Coast and anyone on a similar timezone to us (Japan maybe?)
They’ve also mooted Miami and New York which will also align the second game to the afternoon.
The London game would have time slot issues but they speculated the second game would be played at 10:30pm GMT.
This was all in the SMH today. Obviously speculation and who knows who’ll have the rights in 2029. Let’s hope not fox/DAZN. But V’landys seems to have a hard on for Lachlan Murdoch.
I don’t see what the problem is tbh. The Vagas thing is already making money plus do we really think that just because the game isn’t in Australia Brisbane & Sydney people are not watching? Of course they are. Theres know way this hurts the Sydney and Brisbane Audience.
Knowing what may happen with the Cyclone possibly hitting Brisbane on Thursday, I wonder how it would impact the Dolphins-Rabbitohs game on Friday Night at Suncorp? Could the NRL postpone the game, cancel it and declare it a draw or move it to another venue?
Opening Round is a silly concept as it is, but particularly if two of the matches had to be played in Melbourne. Mind you, I’m not sure postponing (while ultimately the right call for safety) and leaving the round with just two games is any less silly.
The NRL will not receive a single dollar of taxpayers’ money, Roger Cook has vowed, buckling to pressure over negotiations in a last-minute campaign revelation. Speaking at The West Australian’s Leadership Matters breakfast on Tuesday, the Premier ruled out any money being paid… pic.twitter.com/S4Gca9j1MR
