Over 40,000 interstate visitors expected for 2017 NRL grand final

SYDNEY is set to be swamped by Victorians and Queenslanders with 40,000 interstate visitors expected for Sunday’s grand final.

THE interstate invasion is coming.

Sydney is poised to be overtaken by 40,000 rugby league-mad visitors from Victoria, Queensland and overseas for Sunday’s NRL grand final between Melbourne and North Queensland.

And The Daily Telegraph can reveal the grand final tourists will pump about $40 million into the NSW economy during their visit.

It is anticipated that up to a quarter of the crowd at ANZ Stadium will have travelled from interstate or overseas.

About 14,000 tickets were released to Storm and Cowboys members yesterday with those unsold available to the general public this morning.

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As of three weeks ago, around 30 per cent of all tickets sold to the grand final had been purchased by fans from Melbourne, Brisbane and North Queensland.

“There is no better dollar spent by a Southerner or a Cane Toad than a dollar spent in NSW,” said NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres.

“The Broncos versus Cowboys grand final two years ago was a boom for New South Wales.

“If you want to sell a drink or two you’d better change your taps to XXXX. The invasion is coming.

“Watching Victorians and Queenslanders run into each other for 80 minutes sounds like great entertainment for New South Welshmen.”

Ten planes of Cowboys fans are expected to hit Sydney.

About ten planes full of Cowboys fans will fly into Sydney later this week.

“The NRL grand final attracts visitors from around Australia and the world to Sydney,” said Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall.

“Last year’s grand final final between the Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm attracted more than 32,000 domestic and international visitors, injecting almost $25 million into the local visitor economy.

“With two interstate teams in this year’s NRL grand final, we’re expecting a massive boost to the local economy when our neighbouring footy fans travel to the major events capital to take part in the action.”

The NRL is working hard to fill ANZ Stadium amid some fears fans who bought tickets from eliminated Sydney clubs may not attend.

There may be some sort of buyback website set up later in the week.

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“We are expecting a significant number of fans to travel from Melbourne and North Queensland for what will be a spectacular event. We’ve been given another incredible grand final match-up,” said NRL chief commercial officer, Andrew Abdo.

“North Queensland Cowboys are on the verge of doing something no team has ever done before — winning the premiership from eighth place.

“It is incredible to think that on the final Sunday of the regular season, they needed results to go their way just to make the finals.

“Their form ever since, as with the story of their whole season, has been inspiring. With Cooper Cronk playing his final game for Melbourne Storm, either way this will be a special match.”

Cowboys coach Paul Green is hoping a massive North Queensland contingent travels to Sydney.

“Last time (the 2015 grand final) we had eight or nine planes fly down,” said Green.