NRL in USA: Peter V’landys to attend White House dinner as guest of Anthony Albanese
ARLC chair Peter V’landys is on the verge of completing a remarkable trifecta after receiving special approval from US President Joe Biden to attend the White House.
To use parlance from his other love of horse racing, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys is on the verge of completing a remarkable trifecta.
V’landys, having already spent time with the late Queen Elizabeth and her successor King Charles III, has received special approval from United States President Joe Biden to attend a state dinner at the White House in honour of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The function has been organised by President Biden’s office specifically for Albanese, who flew to the US on Sunday evening for an official visit.
It is understood representatives of Albanese - a South Sydney fan - put V’landys’ name on a guest list that required direct approval from the highest office in the land.
The function will take place on the lawns of the White House, giving V’landys the rare opportunity to take rugby league directly to some of the heaviest hitters in US politics and business as he steps up plans to open next season with a double header in Las Vegas.
President Joe Biden is expected to attend despite earlier speculation he may be forced to miss the function due to the escalating crisis in Gaza.
V’landys was accompanied by NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo for the trip to America, the pair touching down in the US on Tuesday morning as they begin a series of meetings designed to put rugby league on the map in the states.
The duo will fly to Washington where V’landys will attend the dinner with President Biden before heading straight to Las Vegas, where it’s understood they’ll hold a series of meetings with broadcasters and other stakeholders in the lead-up to an official launch next month of the 2024 NRL season kick-off double header in Las Vegas.
V’landys is no stranger to encounters with powerful figures. In 2022, the Racing NSW chairman dined with the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle while he was in the United Kingdom to attend the races at Royal Ascot.
Last year, he spoke to King Charles about attending the race named in his honour - the $5 million King Charles III Stakes which was run on Everest day.
The visit to the White House comes as the Abdo and V’landys begin a whirlwind few days in America ahead of a more formal visit next month.
The pair have been the driving forces behind plans to play in Vegas, their hope that the sport can finally capture the imagination of the American public and a slice of the country’s gambling market, which would open up rivers of fresh revenue for the code.
The pair will use the trip to investigate potential sites for the official launch of the double header, which is expected to be attended by some of the biggest names in the game.
The NRL has requested one player from each of the competing clubs - Manly, South Sydney, Brisbane and the Sydney Roosters.
As well as the launch, players and officials plan to spend a day in Los Angeles and two days in Las Vegas meeting American media next. month, their hope to garner the support of local sports fans in the lead-up to next year’s historic launch.
Australian country singer Keith Urban will be playing at Planet Hollywood as part of his Las Vegas residency at that time.
Urban has a long-standing relationship with rugby league – he grew up in Queensland, featured at the 2016 grand final and only a few years back played a concert wearing a Maroons jersey that was presented to him by then-coach Kevin Walters.
As a teenager, Urban also penned an ode to the Queensland team. It is unknown whether the NRL plan to sound out Urban about helping them promote their cause next month, but he would certainly add some star power and recognition to the event.
The NRL has already sold in excess of 13,000 tickets for the two games, however, the vast majority of those having been snapped up by Australian fans. The challenge now is to get American sports buffs to buy into their plans, hence their desire to head to America in early-November armed with some of the game’s biggest names.
‘Not a vacation:’ How Manly will deal with Vegas temptations
– Dean Ritchie
Manly chairman Scott Penn will caution Sea Eagles players about the bright lights and temptations of Las Vegas, declaring: “This is a business trip, it’s not a vacation.”
Penn added: “Everything in moderation.”
NRL players from Manly, South Sydney, Sydney Roosters and Brisbane will converge on America early next year amid club reminders of their behavioural responsibilities.
Manly is the only club to spend their entire week in Las Vegas, the remaining three clubs will essentially be based in Los Angeles.
Penn – who splits his time living between Sydney and Brooklyn, New York – isn’t harbouring concerns about player conduct but still wanted to drill home the need for his team to avoid any potential off-field issues.
Las Vegas is universally known as Sin City.
Penn wants his players to enjoy and digest the experience of travelling to such a famous American city but still warns: “The reality is that they are there on business – this is not a vacation
“They are there to play a competition game therefore they need to treat it that way – it’s a business trip, not a pleasure trip.
“The players are all adults and we have really clear standards as a club and everyone knows they are stewards and ambassadors of the club.
“They are role models of the game. We’re not needing to tuck them in at night but they know what is expected of them.
“We want them to enjoy the experience so we’re not saying: ‘Don’t enjoy yourself’. They will be in a place renowned for having a good time and we want the players to enjoy the experience – just not take it too far.
“It’s common sense. We are saying respect your position, respect your role with the club and everything in moderation.
“We constantly talk about the expectations at the club and I’m sure ‘Seibs’ (head coach Anthony Seibold) will be really clear on the standards he is setting as a coach.
“And that includes the fact they are role models in the community and people model their behaviour off their behaviour. They have standards they need to mirror.”
Manly will nut out team-specific activities in Vegas with their head of security, Mick Malligan.
The NRL’s historic US double-header will be played on March 2 next year at Allegiant Stadium with Manly playing Souths and Brisbane confronting the Sydney Roosters.
A Manly contingent, including Seibold and CEO Tony Mestrov, will travel to Las Vegas next month to nail down the team’s training facilities.
“They will come over in a couple of weeks so we will use that as an opportunity to pump it up a bit more,” Penn said.
“The games have the potential to be massive. It will be a real festival of Australia. The important thing is that the teams are playing for points – it’s not just an exhibition game.
“That’s really important so people absolutely know it’s a competition game, not an exhibition match.
“It’s not dissimilar to what the NFL are doing now by sending a fair number of teams to London on a regular basis and that’s a great idea.”
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