The Las Vegas Thread

[Wb1234]

Re: Global Round

Vegas works well out of Allegiant because we can rely on 20k+ of Aussies/Kiwis/UK heading over. Future international games need to be able to attract a good amount of locals to make it work. Spreading the fans willing to travel overseas for games too thin, may have a negative effect, even on the semi-established Vegas game.

I acutally really like the idea of the UK and France having games. I think you would get a decent roll up of locals and Expats, where you could feasibly get 30k in France & 50k in UK. I think venue choice would be super important here. I've heard suggestions of Wembley, but I feel like this wouldn't work - you'd be risking too many empty seats there.

If it had to be London, I would be looking at something like Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,850), or if outside of London, head back to Hill Dickinson Stadium (52,769). But hey, if Vlandy's is confident of getting 80k+ - Wembley would be great.

For France - If you really wanted to go all out, maybe Parc Des Princes (47,929) in Paris and have Toulouse and Catalans playing in games there too. Otherwise I would be looking at Stadium de Toulouse (33,150).

The other places I've read about like Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo & Abu Dhabi. I think these are ultra risky and I don't really see the play with these. If we go with this, every team would then be playing overseas once every 2 years, which I think would be too much for alot of fans and there would be so many games overseas, that you would see the neutral fans being split between all the venues.

For these non-traditional areas - I could see Vegas dropping to 10k fans heading over and the rest getting 5k heading over. You've then got to rely on locals and expats filling the rest out. So you'd be looking at 10k-15k stadiums in Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and/or Abu Dhabi. At that point, is there really much value to be gained?

I'll hold off on full judgement, until we see some firm details and even moreso wait for the first year of it, if it goes ahead. Hopefully Vlandys is working some magic behind the scenes to get great funding and has plan to be able to get 25k+ to all these locations.

Possble Stadiums for all of the above places:
Dubai - The Sevens Stadium (44,000), Al Maktoum Stadium (12,000) -Really just a choice between these two stadiums.
Abu Dhabi - Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium (36,186), Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium (25,053) - Everything below this capacity likely unable to host due to quality or shape of pitch.
Hong Kong - Kai Tak Stadium (50,000), Hong Kong Stadium (40,000) - Probably literally the only 2 stadiums capable of hosting.
Tokyo - Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (27,188), Ajinomoto Stadium (48,013)

Underlined stadiums denote stadiums already used for the Rugby 7's tournaments (which I imagine would be the more likely stadiums to be used). It's really if we think we can feasibly fill up 75%+ of these grounds. If we only get 10k in a 50k stadium in Hong Kong, for example - I don't see any point to it.

Yeh I’m not a fan of diluting Vegas

France and England would be the best alternatives

 

[Trifili13]

You must have a magic formula where you establish brand recognition without people first being exposed to a brand.

I suspect, on the weekend of Vegas, everyone in Vegas knows what the NRL is, having never attended a match or heard of the sport previously.

Vegas, yes because the NRL is advertising its game there.

But you said "Meanwhile the NRL have free advertising walking around the world."

Locals in most countries around the world wouldn't have a clue that they are rugby league jerseys and the names of most sponsors on them.

 

[Trifili13]

Yeh I’m not a fan of diluting Vegas

France and England would be the best alternatives

Agree, consolidate and help grew where the game already has a presence. These other places mentioned like Middle East and Japan are money making exercises only, and fair enough.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Vegas, yes because the NRL is advertising its game there.

But you said "Meanwhile the NRL have free advertising walking around the world."

Locals in most countries around the world wouldn't have a clue that they are rugby league jerseys and the names of most sponsors on them.

"Locals in most countries around the world wouldn't have a clue that they are rugby league jerseys and the names of most sponsors on them."

Yes.

This is how one comes to know them.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Vegas, yes because the NRL is advertising its game there.

But you said "Meanwhile the NRL have free advertising walking around the world."

Locals in most countries around the world wouldn't have a clue that they are rugby league jerseys and the names of most sponsors on them.

An AI overview to help your understanding, it'll be my final attempt.

"Brand recognition works by building consumer familiarity through consistent, repeated exposure to visual and auditory cues—such as logos, colors, and taglines—allowing them to identify a brand instantly. It operates on both conscious and subconscious levels, transforming, for instance, a simple color (like Tiffany blue) or a sound (a jingle) into a trusted symbol of quality that reduces purchase risk and drives loyalty. "

 

[Trifili13]

"Locals in most countries around the world wouldn't have a clue that they are rugby league jerseys and the names of most sponsors on them."

Yes.

This is how one comes to know them.

Yes, Random Souths Guy walking around the globe is going to get a heap of enquiries who they are.

When you see random Gaelic jerseys in Australia, do you make enquiries who they are and who the sponsor is so you can follow that sport and buy the sponsors product?

 

[i0Nic]

Yes, Random Souths Guy walking around the globe is going to get a heap of enquiries who they are.

When you see random Gaelic jerseys in Australia, do you make enquiries who they are and who the sponsor is so you can follow that sport and buy the sponsors product?

You don't know anything about marketing or brand exposure.

It takes a few exposures of something to build brand awareness. If someone sees an NRL logo on someones shirt on the street, then sees something on social media about it, and then sees a game being advertised in their city, they'll start to recognise it. May even look into it.

Noone's going to be 'won over' by the NRL just by seeing someone wearing a shirt on the street but it's a great piece of brand exposure.

It's why car advertisers bombard you with tv ads, billboards and the natural exposure of seeing the car on the road. When it comes time to buy a new car you might recall their brand messaging.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

I acutally really like the idea of the UK and France having games.

The time-zones just don`t work mate, possibly borderline in France, but beaming back into Oz from England is no good.

So you'd be looking at 10k-15k stadiums in Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and/or Abu Dhabi. At that point, is there really much value to be gained?

Look, the stadium size doesn`t matter, it`s the fact that games are played consecutively in different countries, live crosses between countries, hyping it up, Global round, etc. etc. full 15k stadiums in that case would do the job.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Yes, Random Souths Guy walking around the globe is going to get a heap of enquiries who they are.

When you see random Gaelic jerseys in Australia, do you make enquiries who they are and who the sponsor is so you can follow that sport and buy the sponsors product?

Random Souths guy just looks like Freddy Kruger and people cross the street. That's brand awareness in action. And it turns out that's a wise choice.

 

[Wb1234]

The time-zones just don`t work mate, possibly borderline in France, but beaming back into Oz from England is no good.


Look, the stadium size doesn`t matter, it`s the fact that games are played consecutively in different countries, live crosses between countries, hyping it up, Global round, etc. etc. full 15k stadiums in that case would do the job.

10 am Manchester/11 am London is 9 pm Sydney

Yeh it’s not ideal but maybe with one Aussie game following two super league games

Despite what those miserable poms say on trl I think they could get 50 to 60k

 

[Gobsmacked]

10 am Manchester/11 am London is 9 pm Sydney

Yeh it’s not ideal but maybe with one Aussie game following two super league games

Despite what those miserable poms say on trl I think they could get 50 to 60k

8pm Saturday night will be a 7am Sunday morning game. Probably more likely

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

10 am Manchester/11 am London is 9 pm Sydney

Yeh it’s not ideal but maybe with one Aussie game following two super league games

Despite what those miserable poms say on trl I think they could get 50 to 60k

11am could possibly work but the Aussie game would have to go first beaming into Oz at 9 pm.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

8pm Saturday night will be a 7am Sunday morning game. Probably more likely

Not going to happen mate just too early.

 

[Trifili13]

You don't know anything about marketing or brand exposure.

It takes a few exposures of something to build brand awareness. If someone sees an NRL logo on someones shirt on the street, then sees something on social media about it, and then sees a game being advertised in their city, they'll start to recognise it. May even look into it.

Noone's going to be 'won over' by the NRL just by seeing someone wearing a shirt on the street but it's a great piece of brand exposure.

It's why car advertisers bombard you with tv ads, billboards and the natural exposure of seeing the car on the road. When it comes time to buy a new car you might recall their brand messaging.

I get how marketing and advertising works. Do you think league supporters wearing their teams jerseys and polo tops on their vacation in Europe or any country that has no idea about league is going to peak the locals interest?

The car example you used, they spend millions on advertising. It's not some group of owners of that brand walking around in polo tops and people stopping them to say what brand is that.

People are fanatical about the sport and team they follow, as can be seen from LU posters who despise AFL and union. So much more difficult to change their minds compared to buying a different car brand.

Despite the above, it's great seeing an NRL jersey when overseas, but any benefit to the sport locally is insignificant in the scheme of things.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I get how marketing and advertising works. Do you think league supporters wearing their teams jerseys and polo tops on their vacation in Europe or any country that has no idea about league is going to peak the locals interest?

The car example you used, they spend millions on advertising. It's not some group of owners of that brand walking around in polo tops and people stopping them to say what brand is that.

People are fanatical about the sport and team they follow, as can be seen from LU posters who despise AFL and union. So much more difficult to change their minds compared to buying a different car brand.

Despite the above, it's great seeing an NRL jersey when overseas, but any benefit to the sport locally is insignificant in the scheme of things.

How on earth are you not getting this?
Have you actually read anyones replies?

"I get how marketing and advertising works."
You clearly do not.

 

[Trifili13]

How on earth are you not getting this?
Have you actually read anyones replies?

"I get how marketing and advertising works."
You clearly do not.

I get a random person wearing a league jeresy while on holidays is advertising, but the impact here or that country is insignificant in the scheme of things.

If it were an AFL supporter wearing their jersey and AFL head office crowing about it that they are advertising their sport you would laugh at them.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I get a random person wearing a league jeresy while on holidays is advertising, but the impact here or that country is insignificant in the scheme of things.

If it were an AFL supporter wearing their jersey and AFL head office crowing about it that they are advertising their sport you would laugh at them.

Exposure is exposure, it rarely come in some big quantifiable way. And it's not just about winning over new customers, it's also about maintaining a presence in the subconscious of existing ones.

Yeah random Souths guy, how many comments do you think he got on his jersey?
How many thought, ahh a Souths supporter..

By the way, it's not one !

How would I feel if I heard AFL jerseys can be spotted in all corners of the globe?
I'd be jealous.

 

[i0Nic]

I like the idea of the middle east, hong kong games in addition to US based games because it raises the profile of NRL as a spectacle and event-worthy game. They're in timezones that can work for AU capitalising AU viewers. It would be like Vegas round but on steroids.

Whether it's a global opening round, or split up throughout the year, it's the kind of thing that just draws attention to our game that will unlock so many doors whether its sponsors, media deals, new fans, new participants, gambling revenue, grassroots, whatever.

It would also make fumblers absolutely froth which in and of itself would be super entertaining to see.

It needs to be marketed as an event in those local markets and drive at least 15k local supporters, 5-10k expats living there, plus 10k travellers each venue totalling 35k attendees per game. The stadiums should be around 40-50k in size.

Make some of them at the larger venues double headers with UK super league to drive attendance further.

Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong
Singapore
London
Toulouse
Las Vegas
Auckland
Perth

 

[Gobsmacked]

I like the idea of the middle east, hong kong games in addition to US based games because it raises the profile of NRL as a spectacle and event-worthy game. They're in timezones that can work for AU capitalising AU viewers. It would be like Vegas round but on steroids.

Whether it's a global opening round, or split up throughout the year, it's the kind of thing that just draws attention to our game that will unlock so many doors whether its sponsors, media deals, new fans, new participants, gambling revenue, grassroots, whatever.

It would also make fumblers absolutely froth which in and of itself would be super entertaining to see.

It needs to be marketed as an event in those local markets and drive at least 15k local supporters, 5-10k expats living there, plus 10k travellers each venue totalling 35k attendees per game. The stadiums should be around 40-50k in size.

Make some of them at the larger venues double headers with UK super league to drive attendance further.

Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong
Singapore
London
Toulouse
Las Vegas
Auckland
Perth

V'Landys is indicating strongly towards Japan. I get a feeling that the next extension of this will be favoured on it's bottom line/ what local authorities want to pay to stage the event.
Australians are pretty high on the list for Japans tourism industry, so they might be willing to sweeten the deal. Along with an affordable commute for Aussie and a genuine " Rugby" presence.
Personally I'll be happy with wherever they choose, just glad we're in such a good position to be taking the game to more global stages.

 

[i0Nic]

V'Landys is indicating strongly towards Japan. I get a feeling that the next extension of this will be favoured on it's bottom line/ what local authorities want to pay to stage the event.
Australians are pretty high on the list for Japans tourism industry, so they might be willing to sweeten the deal. Along with an affordable commute for Aussie and a genuine " Rugby" presence.
Personally I'll be happy with wherever they choose, just glad we're in such a good position to be taking the game to more global stages.

Yeah for sure can definitely add Tokyo to this list or maybe swap out Singapore or Hong Kong.