‘We’re going to put everything into making it happen’: NRL goes all in on Las Vegas with decision to be made within weeks

NRL fans have been promised games in America before, but momentum is gathering for those dreams to become reality in 2024.

Andrew Abdo has told fans they’ll know in the coming weeks whether or not the 2024 season will open in Las Vegas. Picture: Hannah Peters / Getty Images

Footy fans will find out in the “next couple of weeks” whether or not the 2024 season will kick-off in Las Vegas, with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confident the game has learnt from previous experiences, when potential games in America have fallen through.

Abdo returned a few days ago from a trip to the States, where he toured stadium facilities and met with key stakeholders, while Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys also spent time there recently.

Andrew Abdo says a decision on Las Vegas will be made in the next few weeks. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

The plan is to start the 2024 season with a double-header in Las Vegas in what would be one of the biggest events the NRL has ever produced, but there are plenty of things to tick off before the extravaganza is locked in.

Clubs are reportedly keen to take part even if it means having to fly there and back, although they could be protected with a bye the following week to allow them to recover.

There’s also the issue of choosing a venue which would suit the possible crowd, with the stunning Allegiant Stadium only viable if at least 40,000 spectators showed up, something which could be helped with a UFC card there on the same weekend.

The dimensions of the ground would also be an issue, with tiny in-goals increasing the risk of potential injury if players slid into the concrete while trying to ground the ball.

But the NRL has explored all of these potential hurdles and Abdo is confident a decision will be made soon.

Allegiant Stadium is the preferred option, given its central location, but only if the NRL can guarantee a big enough crowd.

“It’s really positive so far, but there’s a lot of work to do,” he said at the launch of the NRL’s Indigenous Round in La Perouse.

“We’re going to put everything into making it happen; we should know within the next couple of weeks if we can pull it off.

“We’re really excited to showcase what we think is the greatest game on Earth to a big market. There’s a lot of work that has to happen to make that a reality, but that’s what our job is.

“We think that there’s an opportunity for us to win fans in the west coast of America, which would be a huge opportunity for us because we think we have the best athletes, we think we have a great sport, and we want to showcase it to a larger audience.”

This isn’t the first time rugby league fans have been teased about a possible game in America, with Aussie stars like Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe used in the past to try to spruik interest.

Hollywood star Hugh Jackman has been used in the past to promote rugby league in America. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

Those plans didn’t work out, but Abdo says the NRL has learned from those bids and is adamant there’s a bigger appetite now from all parties to make it work.

Taking games to a market like America could lead to greater revenue, with the NRL keen to cash in on new regulations over there which have legalised gambling in most states.

“We’ve obviously been learning as we’ve been going and understanding what it takes to make this happen. The more planning we can do, the more successful it will be,” he said.

“I’m also confident because I think we genuinely have all the stakeholders really excited for the proposition we’ve put forward.

“There’s much excitement happening in America at the moment, and certainly all the talk with our potential partners has been positive.

“Interestingly enough, everyone here is really excited – the players, the clubs and all the stakeholders like broadcast partners.

“I feel like there’s a lot of momentum, but we have to make sure we do it properly. That’s what we’re going to work through over the coming weeks.”

Originally published as ‘We’re going to put everything into making it happen’: NRL goes all in on Las Vegas with decision to be made within weeks