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The Las Vegas Thread

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taste2taste

Juniors
Messages
2,495
Chief_Chujo said:
I don't know why people are hung up on this. Especially when you have a huge celebrity promoting one of our clubs. Its a market that doesn't know anything about the history of the games. If you start ranting about league/union they'll just give you a funny look and walk away. Hook them in and they can figure it out from there.

There's no reason why 'Rugby' can't mean Rugby League in the US market anyway. People are talking like Union has some huge mindshare over there.
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Imo it's more important to sell the NRL brand ... they can call it whatever they want just so long as they are watching it lol
 
SpaceMonkey

SpaceMonkey

Immortal
Messages
40,493
taste2taste said:
Imo it's more important to sell the NRL brand ... they can call it whatever they want just so long as they are watching it lol
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Yep that’s how US sport largely works. People follow NFL, NBA, UFC and WWE moreso than football, basketball, mma or wrestling.
 
yakstorm

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
6,071
Canard said:
Anyone got access to the Tele article headlined Rudd's Blow to the NRL in Vegas Visa Drama?
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It's a pretty nothing article.

Kevin Rudd has dodged the NRL’s SOS call to help star players under a visa cloud ahead of the Las Vegas extravaganza, saying “that’s just life” if they are not allowed into the US.

Rugby league bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo last week assured concerned club chiefs that they would call on Australia’s ambassador to the US to smooth the path for any players whose involvement in police matters could cause issues obtaining visas.

Reece Walsh, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton are among those who have previously fallen foul of the law, sparking concerns over whether they would be approved to enter the US in time for the season-opening double-header on March 2.

But the former prime minister sidestepped responsibility for the issue, saying it was being handled by Australia’s Consul-General in Los Angeles, Tanya Bennett, who started in the post a month ago.

“Our consulate-general in Los Angeles is called a consulate-general because they deal with consular matters. They’re all over this stuff. On the detail of it, I’ve left it to the colleagues to handle,” Dr Rudd said.

“We comply with the laws of the United States like everyone else does, so we’ll work through the processes. If there are problems, we’ll seek to address them. If problems are unaddressable – well, that’s just life. But we’ve got a very competent consul-general in LA who’s got her hands all over this.”

South Sydney Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly said last week that the competing clubs had been told most players would enter the US through the ESTA visa waiver program, while anyone with an issue would apply for a visitor visa that would be “expedited as quickly as can be”.

Broncos fullback Walsh pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine in 2021 but escaped conviction, while Rabbitohs teammates Mitchell and Wighton were arrested and charged last year with fighting in Canberra.

The charges were later dropped.
Mr V’landys has been on a charm offensive to pull off the historic Las Vegas expedition, even attending the White House state dinner held in honour of Anthony Albanese last year as a guest of the Prime Minister.
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,869
abc said:
It’s certainly a possibility to change mindshare through growth and some switching to League from Union of “Rugby” in US. However important to remember that it is not starting from equal footing but a bit behind.

From the Matt Damon South African World Cup / Mandela movie, women’s rugby being somewhat pervasive and played at US college level, when rugby is mentioned in US pop culture like Friends episode where Ross plays with fiancé Emily’s friends, etc. it is always Union.

So it is not just the viewers seeing this and thus having it back of mind “Rugby equals this”, but also administrator’s decisions whether in Hollywood or Academia are opting for Union when they are inclined to have “rugby” be part of something.

As a longtime marketer based here in US, if I was running this as a campaign, I would find a YOUNG “relevant” well known in US market, Australian and US celebrity, and do a fun ongoing spoof of the two of them teaching each other funny things about the other’s culture. The twist being the Aussie person is teaching relevant things about “League” and the culture around it. Think like Margot Robbie and Michael B Jordan.

It would be hella expensive but you could actually capture attention and open/change minds of the group that matters in long term. Bc of tourism benefit, you could get maybe Australia Tourism, Qantas, etc. to play a part too with upfront costs.

In absence of something like this, in noisy and attention deficit US market, at best it will be super niche, and worse just another juncket for aussies and expats.
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I dont think it actually matters, Id be selling the game as "NRL". Thats how the top leagues are sold in the States. Doesnt matter if people say rugby as long as they are thinking NRL. USARL needs to change its brand to NRL America or similar.
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,869
Jamberoo said:
$15m to $25m from Aussie living in the US? So, all 150,000 who prefer RL (to AFL) are going to get the app? Wouldn’t those people already have the app if they live in USA, love NRL and it is the only way to watch?

Surely next to no extra subscriptions are going to come from Aussies living in US.

There is some good positive stuff from PVL in that article - mixed in with utter rubbish like this.
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lol thats what I thought. Its not like the NRL app hasnt been available in USA for a number of years. Is a double header really going to convince 150k ex pats to suddenly remember NRL exists and buy the app? Hmmm.
 
bad boy bubby

bad boy bubby

Coach
Messages
15,224
Perth Red said:
I dont think it actually matters, Id be selling the game as "NRL". Thats how the top leagues are sold in the States. Doesnt matter if people say rugby as long as they are thinking NRL. USARL needs to change its brand to NRL America or similar.
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Similar to the sport "hockey"
In Australia, and many other countries, if you say "hockey" you are referring to what North Americans, and others, call "field hockey "
In North America if they say "hockey" they are talking of what we refer to as "Ice Hockey".
Both sports based on the same principals but different.
If someone says "NHL" you know exactly what sport they are talking of.
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,869
bad boy bubby said:
Similar to the sport "hockey"
In Australia, and many other countries, if you say "hockey" you are referring to what North Americans, and others, call "field hockey "
In North America if they say "hockey" they are talking of what we refer to as "Ice Hockey".
Both sports based on the same principals but different.
If someone says "NHL" you know exactly what sport they are talking of.
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yeh good example. We've lost the war on the "rugby" brand. In places like USA where its fresh fields better we try and sell NRL.
 
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W

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
34,349
Harry O said:
All the boys miss it
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Vegas is the standout

going to be massive

people won’t realise till they switch on their tv snd see rugby league from allegiant stadium

this is one of the best expansion moves in decades.‘ it’s good having a leader who isn’t afraid to have a crack

wonder if turbo gets back his old form manly
Are way under the radar
 
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