By Adrian Proszenko and Billie Eder
The NRL is considering a bold proposal to broadcast the grand final at the $3.6 billion Las Vegas Sphere.
A piece of advice frequently received by rugby league officials is that if you truly want to crack the American market, you need to have a continual presence. The NRL is currently in year two of a five-year commitment to play matches in Las Vegas, but at this stage there is only one game day per year at Allegiant Stadium.
One way to provide more content in Vegas is to show a telecast of the grand final inside the Sphere, the most expensive entertainment venue in town. The idea is the brainchild of Warriors chief executive Cameron George and has piqued the interest of head office.
“It’s just an idea that I think would be awesome,” George said. “Over here, we’ve got to be consistently biting at the heels of America in trying to break through.
“There’s an opportunity to have an office and presence here to continually work on the ground corporately, commercially, building a fan base and promoting the game.
“I don’t know what the cost would be, but something like showing our grand final live into the sphere could be an amazing experience for the game.
The NRL could take over the Las Vegas Sphere.Credit: iStock
“It would build our fan base over here and they could enjoy it as a wonderful introduction to some of the biggest games on the calendar.”
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the concept had merit.
“It sounds interesting,” Abdo said. “Any way in which we can promote the game in the US into new markets will be looked at. “That sounds interesting and we will have a look at that, for sure.”
The Sphere seats 17,600 people and provides an immersive experience via a 16k resolution wraparound interior screen. The Eagles played a concert at the venue just as most NRL teams were landing in Vegas.
“I don’t know what the cost would be, but when you’re in Vegas, you start thinking crazy things,” George said. “I just feel it could be something to explore as an option to grow our presence here through the year.”
Key men lap up atmosphere at fan day
Abdo and ARLC chair Peter V’landys were given the keys to the city at a fan event at Resorts World.
About 500 travelling supporters produced a raucous atmosphere as the team captains were paraded at RedTail bar, which has been transformed into a footy fan destination ahead of the game.
Clark County, Nevada commissioner chairman Tick Segerblom presents Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys with the keys to Las Vegas.Credit: Getty Images
The travelling English fans have added a new element this year, creating a carnival atmosphere in the precinct. Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo was booed when he took to the stage, as was Warrington counterpart George Williams. The biggest cheer came for Wigan’s Liam Farrell, whose appearance prompted the team’s supporters to burst into song.
NRL hopefuls embrace ‘awesome opportunity’
News that the winners of the NRL Combine will be getting a two-year contract in Australia has been warmly received by the candidates.
“Honestly, that would be unreal,” said Marcus D’Acre, who has been training with the Sharks as part of his preparation for the tryouts. “To be able to do that in the biggest sport in Australia would be an awesome opportunity.”
D’Acre has a rugby background, an Australian passport and the desire to make a historic cross-code switch.
Captains of the teams competing in Las Vegas are presented to attendees at a fan day at Resorts World on Wednesday.Credit: Getty Images
“Yesterday was the first day I’ve touched a rugby league ball in my life,” said D’Acre, who currently resides in Toronto. “It was awesome, it takes up a lot more cardio than I thought, but I learnt a lot.”
Ticket sales near 50k mark
The NRL is still hopeful that ticket sales will break through the magical 50,000 mark. At the time of writing, about 45,000 tickets had been sold, many of them taken up by fans travelling from New Zealand and England. If organisers can shift another 5000 or so, the NRL will go very close to breaking even for Vegas 2.0.
Better late than never for Big Sam
Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess has landed in Las Vegas, after finally getting his visa approved to travel to the US.
Burgess was left behind when the team travelled to Vegas on Sunday after failing to get his visa in time for the team’s flight, but later received the green light to head to the States and arrived in time to link up with the team for their next training session on Thursday, local time.
Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess.Credit: Getty Images
Earlier, assistant coach Martin Gleeson said they had been quietly confident Burgess would be at Allegiant Stadium for his team’s clash with the Wigan Warriors.
“It’s obviously a huge bonus. Bit of uncertainty earlier in the week, but, he’s on his way now, he’ll get here late this evening,” Gleeson said on Wednesday.
“We’ve got no training day today, so he’ll be back for tomorrow’s session. We’ll link up with Penrith, yeah the rest of the week just goes as normal. So, great news. Great news for Sam, the club, and the event.”
Gleeson and the team had been prepared to charge on with the Las Vegas match without Burgess if needed.
“[The team] Just took it in their stride. Obviously, it’s out of our control what’s happened, but the lads just got on with the job, and, is what it is, and had that kind of mentality,” Gleeson said.
“Obviously, I’m not sure the lads were fully aware that he’d get her tonight yet, but we knew there was a high probability of getting him over sort of mid-week, so everything has gone according to plan. The lads will be pumped.”
Warrington prop and former Australian representative Paul Vaughan backed Burgess to be in Vegas, following the team’s first session on Tuesday.
“They boys are across everything. We’ve got a great coaching staff here, and the boys are well-prepared,” Vaughan said.
The Herald’s travel expenses to Las Vegas have been partly funded by the NRL.
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