State of Origin: Aussies will splurge $1.1bn on supporting NSW, Qld

NSW and Queensland supporters will spend an insane amount of money on supporting their teams in this year’s State of Origin series.

Footy-loving Aussies are tipped to spend $1.1bn to cheer on the Blues and Maroons over the course of this year’s State of Origin series.

ING has crunched the numbers ahead of the second game, showing Queenslanders will spend $30m more this year compared with last year and are now dropping $213m following their favourite rugby league team.

The Blues faithful will spend a massive $446m over the three game series, which is about$15m less than in 2024.

The remaining spending is from those living outside of NSW or Queensland.

Origin fans are tipped to spend $1.1bn, with interstate travel the biggest contributor. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

ING head of consumer and market insights Matthew Bowen said Origin had grown into a cultural phenomenon, with households willing to spend any savings in their budgets on supporting their team.

“It’s a good economic contribution but even more importantly it’s an even bigger cultural contribution for Aussies generally,” he told NewsWire.

“It’s one of those moments in the calendar that everyone looks forward to, so it’s unsurprising that collectively we are willing to put a bit of money behind it and really amplify that experience.”

Mr Bowen said the numbers showed that while sports were technically classified as discretionary spending, fans were willing to dig deep into their wallets to cheer on their side.

“It might be a luxury in life but it’s so valuable to us as a country, so as soon as we get any household budget, it is going straight into celebrating what we are passionate about and these numbers show it,” he said.

After a dominant game one, the Blues will be heading to Perth looking to close out the series, while the Maroons will look to keep the series alive before heading to Sydney for what they hope will be a decider.

NSW wins game one of the Origin series. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

According to ING, the majority of costs associated with this year’s State of Origin series will be fans willing to fly interstate to cheer on their team.

Origin tickets, hospitality, accommodation, transportation and merchandise bought at the game is tipped to cost the average footy fan $408.

According to Ticketek, the cheapest tickets available for game two are $139, while a premium ticket will set sports fans back $399.

Origin is also tipped to be a nice injection into local pubs and clubs across the two states.

“If you want to get out and about at the pub, sports fans are tipped to spend just under 100 bucks,” Mr Bowen said.

“Interestingly, Queenslanders are spending a bit less around $80, so about 20 per cent less than the national average, despite the fact we looked at alcohol and meal prices and they are around the same.”

Footy fans are also tipped to “chuck a sickie” if their side wins, with 6 per cent of NSW fans tipped to call the boss should they win on Wednesday night.

If Queensland wins the next two, 14 per cent of their fans are tipped to call their boss to say they need to take the day off.

Fans travelling is one of the biggest cost when it comes to State of Origin. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

ING tips to cheer on your team on a budget:

1. Buy in bulk ahead of time. If you’re planning to host friends and family to mark the occasion, stock up on drinks, snacks and BBQ essentials during supermarket specials or catalogue sales in the weeks leading up to the game.

2. Buy tickets early (or last minute). Early-bird tickets often come with discounts. Alternatively, check resale platforms closer to game day – prices can drop if sellers are trying to offload extras – but if you’re going down this route, make sure you’re keeping an eye out for scalpers, fake tickets and scammers.

3. Pack your own snacks. Instead of buying an expensive meat pie and beer at the stadium, pack your own snacks and beverages. Some venues allow you to bring in food, but make sure to check the rules on the venue’s website beforehand.

4. Skip the merch stand. Official merch is often marked up at venues. If you’re in need of new gear and you simply cannot repurpose what you’ve already got, have a look online beforehand – plus you might be able to buy, swap and sell merch via social media community groups.

5. Check for member perks. If you’re a member of a club or loyalty program, you might get discounts on tickets, food or merch.

Originally published as State of Origin: Aussies will splurge $1.1bn on supporting NSW, Qld