Sydney NRL fans urged to invade Brisbane for Magic Round

SYDNEY rugby league fans should come to watch their team at Brisbane’s Magic Round next year rather than complain about there being no NRL games in their city that weekend.

The NRL's Magic Round will be massive.

SYDNEY rugby league fans should come to watch their team at Brisbane’s Magic Round next year rather than complain about there being no NRL games in their city that weekend, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg says.

Suncorp Stadium will stage eight matches over three days from May 10-12 in round 9.

Greenberg and State Minister for Tourism Kate Jones said the contract for the Magic Round was a multi-year deal and they wanted the event to be at Suncorp Stadium for many years.

Greenberg said the aim is to deliver three sellouts of 52,000-seat Suncorp Stadium — for two games on the Friday night, three on the Saturday and three on the Sunday.

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The NRL’s Magic Round will be massive with all eight games of the round to be played at Suncorp Stadium.

“All of the 16 clubs have seen the vision we have portrayed and they have bought in,’’ Greenberg said.

“It will be spectacular and a fantastic opportunity for our sport. We’ve found the best location to kick it off — we will be in Brisbane for a fair period of time the commitment we’ve made.

“They (Sydney league fans) do get a chance to see rugby league — come to Brisbane for the weekend and support your team and stay for the weekend. Our goal is to sell it out three times.”

Couriermail.com.au reported on November 29 that the NRL and the Queensland Government were planning for as many as eight games in the one weekend at Suncorp Stadium in 2019 to supersede its successful annual programs of double-headers.

Australian rugby league is looking to duplicate the successful “Magic’’ weekend that the Super League has had in Britain for many years.

Broncos fans won’t have to travel far.

“The ticket pricings will be affordable and the opportunity will be there to sell tickets across all three days, or you can come to one day. We will be targeting at families and very affordable,’’ Greenberg said.

Jones would not say what the extent of the financial support of the State Government for the event would be but said the Magic Round would deliver a projected $60 million to the economy, with 300,000 visitor bed nights.

Asked if NRL clubs giving up home games would be directly compensated, Greenberg said: “There are commercial agreements we’ve had to do for eight clubs to move their home games. Those agreements are now done.

“Clearly it’s a business case we have worked with our partners. We are here for a reason that Queensland fans will, we think, support this event like no other.’’

Greenberg said he was confident there would be a round 1 game played overseas, which is expected to be in California.

“We have made some comments about opening the season in the US. We are working through the logistics but we are confident of making that happen,’’ he said.

“The All Stars concept will be revitalised (in February, 2019).’’

Reports earlier on Sunday identified May 17-19 as the dates for the Magic Round, which would have clashed with a pre-existing May 18 booking for a Reds rugby union game at Suncorp Stadium.

Greenberg said at a morning media conference that the matches would be in round 10.

Rugby Australia’s official website reported earlier on Sunday that the NRL had been “asked a please explain’’ over the May 17-19 claimed for the Magic Round.

“There has been some miscommunication over the availability of dates,’’ an NRL spokesman said.

“The Magic Round will occur in round 9 from May 10-12.’’

The main Friday night game will be between the Broncos and Manly, supported by one earlier game. There will be triple-headers on the Saturday and Sunday.

Originally published as Sydney NRL fans urged to invade Brisbane for Magic Round