Monday Buzz: NRL seeks $500 million deal for grand final hosting rights

Australia’s top powerbrokers are locked in a $500 million battle over one of rugby league’s greatest assets, and there’s an interesting player in the middle of the stoush writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

The NRL grand final is a showpiece event, potentially worth $500 million. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The NRL is sitting on a potential $500 million pot of gold for the sale of its grand final for the next 25 years.

If Destinations NSW is prepared to pay the A-League $15 million to secure three soccer grand finals, it leaves the NRL in a powerful bargaining position after the March state election.

Outside of the dwindling numbers of A-League fans, there is little or no interest in the soccer grand finals.

At the same time an NRL grand final over the October long weekend attracts tens of thousands of interstate and bush footy fans, filling hotel rooms, restaurants, bars and taxis.

Independent commission chairman Peter V’landys says: “Looking at what they’ve (government) paid for much inferior events they are going to have to get the chequebook out.

“We’re in a good position. We could sell the grand final interstate tomorrow. There is enormous interest. Every state in Australia would love to have it.

“It’s a major, major event. Outside of the AFL grand final, the Melbourne Cup, State of Origin and The Everest what else is there for national events. It is going to bring far more to Sydney’s economy than A-League grand finals.”

The NRL grand final is a showpiece event, potentially worth $500 million. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The NSW government paid $8 million to keep the NRL grand final in Sydney last year in a deal done at the last moment.

It previously had a 25-year agreement to keep the decider in Sydney but the deal became null and void when the government reneged on plans to rebuild Accor Stadium.

V’landys will not back down on his threat to take the game elsewhere if the money is not there in either cash or as a guarantee to spend money on suburban grounds in Sydney.

“Our job is to maximise revenue,” he said. “We have to future proof the game with strong investments.

“Personally I want the game to stay in Sydney but you’ve got to do what’s best for the game.”

Peter V'Landys is playing hard ball with the NSW government. Picture: Richard Dobson

The interesting player in the grand final debate is state opposition leader Chris Minns.

The bookies rate him a raging hot $1.18 favourite to be Premier in seven weeks.

Minns loves his rugby league and his Canterbury Bulldogs.

“We’ve got to keep the grand final in Sydney,” Minns said. “We’re committed to that. It’s the centrepiece event on the NSW sporting calendar.

“Melbourne has the Australian Open, the Grand Prix, the AFL grand final, the Melbourne Cup and the Boxing Day Test.

“They have all this activity locked in and know how many tourists are going to come in every 12 months.

“Sydney gets complacent because we’ve got the harbour, the Opera House, the bridge and think it’s all going to come naturally.”

The Labor party has already announced plans to bring three UFC fights and other global events to Sydney should they be elected in March.

No side of government is prepared to commit funds to suburban grounds or a roof over Accor Stadium in the lead-up to the election.

Not while the hospitals, teachers and flood victims need so much funding. V’landys is prepared to wait until after the election … but not for much longer. There is talk he will even consider a Super Bowl-type concept in which the game is shopped around to different cities each year.