NRL explore casino links, exclusive Las Vegas base to sellout 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium

The NRL, along with Super League clubs and the Jillaroos and Lionesses, are planning an exclusive Las Vegas takeover in a bid to sell out Allegiant Stadium in 2025.

A Las Vegas-bound NRL club chief executive has boldly predicted next year’s US extravaganza will be a 65,000 sellout at Allegiant Stadium.

It comes as NRL and UK Super League clubs plan to abandon pre-game training camps in Los Angeles and San Diego to base themselves solely in Nevada. It’s now likely all eight teams will spend the entire 10 days in Sin City.

This masthead can reveal the NRL has opened talks with several major Las Vegas casinos about linking with rugby league in 2025.

A crowd of 40,746 attended this year’s double-header with Warriors CEO Cameron George daring to tip an increased, sold out event next season.

Next year’s Vegas event will encompass teams from three countries – Australia, New Zealand and England.

“With all clubs chipping in, the NRL will sell it out. Why not? Let’s get to Las Vegas and sell it out. I will stand on every street corner in New Zealand trying to help sell it out,” George said.

Warriors CEO Cameron George says everyone involved must have the same ambitious goal. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“I’d be disappointed if it wasn’t sold out. We should be ambitious and sell it out. Now we have the Super League teams involved, that should draw a different audience.

“We will do everything in our power to help sell it out, let’s promote the hell out of it. That should be everyone’s goal. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The Sydney Roosters and Brisbane prepared for this year’s game in LA, with Souths spending time in San Diego, but all eight clubs competing in America next season have indicated a desire to remain in Las Vegas from start to finish.

It is understood high-performance teams are against flying teams from Sydney to LA or San Diego and then on to Vegas inside 10 days. Next year’s Vegas teams have spoken to this season’s clubs to secure insights about the rigours of travelling to America.

The eight teams competing in Vegas next season – Canberra, Cronulla, Penrith, Warriors, Wigan, Warrington, Australia’s Jillaroos and England’s Lionesses – were announced as the participating sides on Tuesday.

“Our high-performance staff have a preference – and that of Ricky (Stuart) – to stay in Vegas for the whole time rather than have to move after three or four days,” Raiders CEO Don Furner said.

George added: “We had two non-negotiables – staying in Vegas the whole time and being the away team.”

Rugby league’s four teams stayed at Resorts World on Las Vegas Boulevard this year and could return to the same accommodation again in 2025.

The NRL has also opened dialogue with several major rival casinos – ­including MGM Grand and The Palms Resort – to determine whether they could be used for accommodation, corporate lunches or functions.

NRL prepares to take over Las Vegas in 2025. Picture: NRL Imagery

Apart from logistically assisting Australian teams, NRL management is also helping Wigan, Warrington and the England’s women’s side.

Canberra has already reached out to the Las Vegas Raiders in a bid to potentially use the NFL franchises’ training facilities. The Raiders took their moniker from the NFL team when Las Vegas was previously known as the Oakland Raiders.

Manly was the only team this year based in Vegas for their entire trip.

The NRL has established strong links with professional and private sporting organisations around Las Vegas, allowing clubs easy access to training fields and facilities.

Some clubs may seek to form strategic partnerships with US sporting franchises.

JILLAROOS’ STRICT VEGAS REQUIREMENTS

- Pamela Whaley

Fairweather NRLW players need not apply.

Jillaroos coach Brad Donald says players who have helped build women’s rugby league will land a ticket to Las Vegas and an Australia jersey in next year’s historic Test in Sin City.

Following Tuesday’s announcement of a one-off match against England at ­Allegiant Stadium on March 1, Donald said he was only interested in rewarding players who had committed to growing the game long term.

“There won’t be anyone coming out of the woodwork for a one-off game in Vegas,” he said.

“It’ll be the fruits of the ­labour of the playing group that has got the game to a point where we are playing in Las Vegas. We are playing between a Super League match and an NRL match, it’s crazy.

“It defies any thought from five or six years ago. We walked out of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and we didn’t have an NRLW.

“The players who have all dreamt big and pushed the boundaries and worked really hard to change the way they look, they play, they prepare, are the ones who have led it in so many more ways than the on-field product.”

Isabelle Kelly the Jillaroos will be on the plane. Picture: NRL Photos

It rules out new rugby sevens converts, but not change in the Australian side.

Veteran Jillaroos stars Ali Brigginshaw, Kezie Apps and Isabelle Kelly are expected to be among those picked to promote the women’s game in the US but the door is open for rising stars to push their case this year.

The NRLW season starts in a fortnight but the end-of-season Pacific Championships will be the main selection trial for the Vegas squad.

“While we’re committed to the four-week window at the end of the year, the playing group wanted more visibility for the team, they want people to know who the Jillaroos are and utilise that brand to help grow the game,” Donald said.

“Young girls will watch and aspire to be a part of that team, and this just gives the team much more presence across that period of time as well as padding out the calendar with Test matches, Origin and NRLW.”

Jillaroos players have pushed to be included in the rugby league extravaganza in Vegas next year, which includes two NRL games and a Super League match as a four-game offering to US audiences.

The opportunity to take the game to a massive international audience and boost the Jillaroos brand means a lot to Donald and the players.

They’ve been meeting every Sunday night for the past few weeks to work on the brand and set standards for the future, which they pass on to emerging players at their NRLW clubs.

It’s that sense of ownership for the success of the Jillaroos that Donald wants to reward.

“The fact this opportunity was player-driven, the girls are invested in not just the match but growing the game,” he said

Originally published as NRL explore casino links, exclusive Las Vegas base to sellout 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium