NRL State of Origin will bring joy for Adelaide fans and businesses alike
SA’s hoteliers are pinning their hopes on tonight’s State of Origin game at Adelaide Oval bringing in plenty of interstate tourism dollars. SEE WHERE YOU CAN WATCH IT
SA News
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Fans are not the only ones getting excited about the NSW vs Queensland rugby league State of Origin game at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night.
Hoteliers are optimistic the event will bring the most interstate tourism dollars to SA since COVID-19 restrictions began, even with crowd numbers capped at half capacity – 27,750.
Queensland fan and NRL SA manager Kelly Rourke will take her son Jakob, 10, and his friend Jordan, 6, to the historic first Adelaide Oval origin game.
Ms Rourke said the event was a high-point for the history of the sport in South Australia and league fans were eagerly anticipating the 7.40pm kick off.
“Footy obviously to almost everyone in this state is AFL, but everyone knows origin … and the uptake has been huge, despite COVID-19,” Ms Rourke said.
“It is origin. It is better than any World Cup game or international game. It is the pinnacle.”
Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive officer Ian Horne agreed the event would be a high point for Adelaide’s CBD economy because of the number of interstate visitors.
“Many will come from interstate, and with eight hotels out of action at the moment, because they are hosting COVID-19 lockdown people, those remaining will do well,” Mr Horne said.
Adelaide Oval Hotel general manager Bodelle Francis said up to three quarters of guests booked in for tomorrow night were from interstate, with most coming from New South Wales.
