Sydney to host 2024 NRL grand final after securing rights in $10 million deal
Sydney has struck a blow to its rivals by keeping the NRL grand final in the Harbour City for this season. But its long-term future remains very much up in the air.
Sydney has secured the hosting rights for the NRL grand final for another year in a $10 million deal struck with the NSW Government.
NSW sports minister Steve Kamper announced the decision to a meeting of the NRL chairmen in Las Vegas on Friday morning.
Coming just two days out from the NRL’s historic season-opening US double header, the announcement knocks down bids from the Queensland and Victorian governments to steal the rugby league’s showpiece event from NSW.
It means the decider will once again be held at the 83,500-seat capacity Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys will now go into talks with NSW Premier Chris Minns and Kamper for a longer-term deal which would not only require a government cash outlay, but funding for suburban grounds in Sydney.
The NRL released its 2024 season schedule three-and-a-half months ago without a mention of the stadium, or even the city, for rugby league’s October 6 decider.
The NRL agreed to a one-year deal with the NSW Government for last year’s grand final thriller between Penrith and Brisbane, to allow Minns time to settle into his new role as premier.
Only once has the NRL grand final been played outside of Sydney, and that was in 2021 when Covid forced the entire competition to relocate to Brisbane, with the decider taking place at Suncorp Stadium.
The NRL had been locked in talks to lock in the grand final in Sydney for 25 years when the NSW Government offered to rebuild and upgrade stadiums in the Harbour City. However, the funding package from the government fell short of expectations and has left the long-term future of the grand final in limbo.
