NRL explore casino links, exclusive Las Vegas base to sellout 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium
The NRL, along with Super League clubs and the Jillaroos and Lionesses, are planning an exclusive Las Vegas takeover in a bid to sell out Allegiant Stadium in 2025.
Dean Ritchie
July 11, 2024 - 5:00AM
A Las Vegas-bound NRL club chief executive has boldly predicted next year’s US extravaganza will be a 65,000 sellout at Allegiant Stadium. It comes as NRL and UK Super League clubs plan to abandon pre-game training camps in Los Angeles and San Diego to base themselves solely in Nevada. It’s now likely all eight teams will spend the entire 10 days in Sin City.
This masthead can reveal the NRL has opened talks with several major Las Vegas casinos about linking with rugby league in 2025.
A crowd of 40,746 attended this year’s double-header with Warriors CEO Cameron George daring to tip an increased, sold out event next season.
Next year’s Vegas event will encompass teams from three countries – Australia, New Zealand and England.
“With all clubs chipping in, the NRL will sell it out. Why not? Let’s get to Las Vegas and sell it out. I will stand on every street corner in New Zealand trying to help sell it out,” George said. “I’d be disappointed if it wasn’t sold out. We should be ambitious and sell it out. Now we have the Super League teams involved, that should draw a different audience."
“We will do everything in our power to help sell it out, let’s promote the hell out of it. That should be everyone’s goal. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The Sydney Roosters and Brisbane prepared for this year’s game in LA, with Souths spending time in San Diego, but all eight clubs competing in America next season have indicated a desire to remain in Las Vegas from start to finish.
It is understood high-performance teams are against flying teams from Sydney to LA or San Diego and then on to Vegas inside 10 days. Next year’s Vegas teams have spoken to this season’s clubs to secure insights about the rigours of travelling to America.
Rugby League Las Vegas Festival 2025
The eight teams competing in Vegas next season – Canberra, Cronulla, Penrith, Warriors, Wigan, Warrington, Australia’s Jillaroos and England’s Lionesses – were announced as the participating sides on Tuesday.
“Our high-performance staff have a preference – and that of Ricky (Stuart) – to stay in Vegas for the whole time rather than have to move after three or four days,” Raiders CEO Don Furner said.
George added: “We had two non-negotiables – staying in Vegas the whole time and being the away team.”
Rugby league’s four teams stayed at Resorts World on Las Vegas Boulevard this year and could return to the same accommodation again in 2025.
The NRL has also opened dialogue with several major rival casinos – including MGM Grand and The Palms Resort – to determine whether they could be used for accommodation, corporate lunches or functions.
Apart from logistically assisting Australian teams, NRL management is also helping Wigan, Warrington and the England’s women’s side.
Canberra has already reached out to the Las Vegas Raiders in a bid to potentially use the NFL franchises’ training facilities. The Raiders took their moniker from the NFL team when Las Vegas was previously known as the Oakland Raiders.
Manly was the only team this year based in Vegas for their entire trip.
The NRL has established strong links with professional and private sporting organisations around Las Vegas, allowing clubs easy access to training fields and facilities.
Some clubs may seek to form strategic partnerships with US sporting franchises.
