2026 Crowd Watch

[Gobsmacked]

So for the 2026 Vegas opener, we're at around 10,000 from the UK according to Hull Daily Mail, and 15,000 from Australia according to SMH.

Comparing to previous years, around 15,000 travelled from Australia to Vegas in 2024 and 20,000 in 2025 according to The Guardian. That 2024 number was validated by the NRL with US sales being around 23,000 and non-AU/UK international sales being around 2,700.

For 2025, SportsCal reported that 10,000 travelled from the UK and 15,000 from the US for the 45,209 crowd.

Now we know each of the teams playing in the Nines gets 25 tickets each and with 42 teams confirmed so far, that's 1,050 tickets. There's also a further 45 teams taking part in the school's gala day, so arguably would be roughly another 1,000 tickets allocated there.

Puts us close to 30,000 excluding any domestic sales in the US.

So, if I'm reading this right, is about 5k up on this time last year?

 

[i0Nic]

Calling the crowd at 38k this year. Hope I’m wrong and it’s higher by selling a greater share to locals.

 

[Perth Red]

Only confirms that we`d be crazy not to include Super League teams in any of these international club game ventures.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see 2 SL games next year to combat the falling neutral attendees.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Wouldn’t be surprised to see 2 SL games next year to combat the falling neutral attendees.

Nah, 4 fixtures was too many and chopped as a result.

 

[yakstorm]

Sales map for All Stars.

Key:
- Black : Single seats or sold out
- Dark Grey : GA area, has had sales, but unknown how many
- Blue : On sale areas
- Light Grey : Not yet on sale

Breakdown of areas at Waikato Stadium - Brian Perry Stand holds 10K, Porter Group holds 9K, Greenzone holds 5K with the goal line stand holding roughly 1.8K.

 

[Valheru]

Roosters have started members redemption for the souths game (round 2). This is the only game along with ANZAC Day when we host where members passes dont scan on the day and tickets need to be redeemed.

 

[Warriors Fever]

Looking to go to the trial at kogorah today with a few friends annnnnnnd of course there is track work.

 

[t-ba]

Looking to go to the trial at kogorah today with a few friends annnnnnnd of course there is track work.

As is tradition.

 

[It's Been Done]

Looking to go to the trial at kogorah today with a few friends annnnnnnd of course there is track work.

Transport NSW are shocking for timing trackworks with matches at venues on the Illawarra line

 

[parrawentyfan]

As someone who only visits Sydney occasionally i estimate around 75% of the games i have attended were impacted by trackwork on the rail lines.

 

[Warriors Fever]

Luckily it was easier to get in and out driving wise but the lack of train probably took a few out

 

[Vee]

Transport NSW are shocking for timing trackworks with matches at venues on the Illawarra line

I wonder if there's room for the NRL to check the track work schedule before allocating venues.

 

[Ozzi_78]

They put on buses.
Has to be weekend, can’t do track work on Mon to Fri

 

[t-ba]

If they had more cash a lot of it could be done overnight like it is in HK but that would require investment in the network. which, lol.

 

[James Rick]

What were the crowds for last night's trial matches?

 

[ouwet]

What were the crowds for last night's trial matches?

Just under 4,000

 

[Gobsmacked]

Why aren't we holding these trials in regional NSW ?
Mudgee, Bathurst, Tamworth?
Such a waste to hold it where people don't even appreciate a full NRL fixture.

 

[Ian Douglas]

Why aren't we holding these trials in regional NSW ?
Mudgee, Bathurst, Tamworth?
Such a waste to hold it where people don't even appreciate a full NRL fixture.

Absolutely.

i know costs play a huge role but the NRL should have really taken a look at staging a few pre-season trial games in New Zealand. You could have say 4 teams encamped in a particular town in New Zealand that are usually starved of live professionals sports action like Tauranga, Palmerston north, Napier and New Plymouth etc.

have the 4 NRL teams stay in the certain town over a 2 week period with each team playing 2 games in a double header format and have all 4 teams engaged in visiting local schools and holding training camps when not playing.

I really think New Zealand is ripe for the NRL’s picking and we should be looking at all avenues to develop the game over in NZ with the warriors, NZ2, NRL trial games, origin games and all stars etc.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Absolutely.

i know costs play a huge role but the NRL should have really taken a look at staging a few pre-season trial games in New Zealand. You could have say 4 teams encamped in a particular town in New Zealand that are usually starved of live professionals sports action like Tauranga, Palmerston north, Napier and New Plymouth etc.

have the 4 NRL teams stay in the certain town over a 2 week period with each team playing 2 games in a double header format and have all 4 teams engaged in visiting local schools and holding training camps when not playing.

I really think New Zealand is ripe for the NRL’s picking and we should be looking at all avenues to develop the game over in NZ with the warriors, NZ2, NRL trial games, origin games and all stars etc.

NZ is a great example but logistics make it a little harder.
More broadly speaking, I think the NRL need to step in and make it mandatory that all trials need to be held in locations not currently hosting an NRL club.
This whole thing just screems laziness.

 

[Ian Douglas]

NZ is a great example but logistics make it a little harder.
More broadly speaking, I think the NRL need to step in and make it mandatory that all trials need to be held in locations not currently hosting an NRL club.
This whole thing just screems laziness.

Other than New Zealand I think the central coast should have been used yesterday.

Sunshine Coast for Queensland teams and possibly Melbourne?