Sydney to Sin City direct: Yes, Qantas could make it a thing

Las Vegas tourism bosses have revealed negotiations with Qantas are poised to deliver the first direct flights between Sydney and the world’s premier sports and entertainment capital.

Las Vegas tourism bosses have revealed negotiations with Qantas are poised to deliver the first direct flights between Sydney and the world’s premier sports and entertainment capital.

A 10-week trial is poised to commence early next year, with the NRL’s agreement to play opening round matches in Vegas until 2028 providing a stimulus for the deal.

Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told The Daily Telegraph talks with the airline are advanced, in a move that would carve at least four hours from a trip currently requiring a stop in Los Angeles.

“Australia is our No. 2 overseas market behind the UK,” he said.

“We are working with Qantas on direct flights, and them having reasons to know that people will travel here is key.

Las Vegas tourism bosses have revealed negotiations with Qantas are poised to deliver the first direct flights between Sydney and the world’s premier sports and entertainment capital. Pictures: Supplied

“This time of year we are right in the middle of convention season, and they are truly global events bringing people from around the world.

“Add to that the rugby league and all the visitors they bring for a week, and suddenly you start to build a series of events that are enough to fill planes regularly.

“We do have a 10 week trial run with Qantas that is going to happen next year, and we’ll see how that works. But we’ve talked about Sydney being a target. That is one of our goals.”

The NRL’s Vegas extravaganza is also providing the city with valuable media coverage across Australia which Hill hopes will parlay into increased business and leisure visitation, further reason to run direct flights.

“Those eyeballs in Australia on Las Vegas,” he said. “It is advertising we could not afford to buy.”

Hill is also keen to see the annual rugby league weekend become a permanent fixture on the Vegas events calendar. It is a far cry from the reservations he held last year before the experiment kicked off.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Steve Hill. Picture: Getty Images

“I wasn’t necessarily sceptical but I wasn’t sure it would work,” he said. “Allegiant Stadium is a big place to fill and when you don’t, it feels pretty cavernous. But there was like 40,000 in the stands and we’ll have more this year.

“The energy in the stadium was great and the international visitors it brings, that’s really important to us. They spend about 1.6 times the dollars a domestic visitor will spend. So yeah, we’re thrilled.”

Hill said the first NRL weekend produced $77 million in economic impact for Vegas. He expects that number to increase substantially this year and to continue rising over the three remaining years of the NRL agreement.

Hill has been hailed a tourism guru in the US, credited with a key role in delivering the Raiders NFL franchise to Vegas and creating the funding model for their home ground – the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium – where rugby league will take centre stage this weekend.

He was also instrumental in bringing the Golden Knights National Hockey League franchise to Vegas with the Oakland A’s Major-league Baseball team to follow in 2028 and potentially a new NBA side in 2029.

Basketball greats LeBron James and Magic Johnson, and Golden Knights’ billionaire owner Bill Foley have all expressed interest in bringing an NBA expansion team to the city.

Once known only for gambling, Vegas has undergone a significant transformation. The Nevada State’s GDP is around $200 billion and $50bn of that is generated by Vegas – with 60 per cent ($30bn) from non-gaming revenue streams and 40 per cent ($20bn) from gaming.

“We weren’t going to be able to grow by trying to just drive more gaming,” said Hill. “This city is always looking for attractions and options for our guests.

“We need new things. People come a few times and say ‘what’s next’. So sports are a really easy match. Almost always you find sports fans are Vegas fans, so it was a kind of natural fit.”