The Las Vegas Thread

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Yes that’s right.

The NRL will be using this as a springboard for generating new business ventures with US based companies, sports etc. There is cross promotion opportunities as well, for example the NFL are also wanting to grow exposure in AU.

It could kickstart a US based professional competition.

Taking even 1% of US sports betting market would be huge for the NRL.

There’s so many opportunities for the NRL from this if they can capitalise on even a third of this it will be a major success.

I still think the NRL need to have a serious look at a Hawaii based team for expansion #20!

- A wealthy local population
- no local competition re pro teams (particularly at that time of year)
- probably get US and State government support for the team
- start developing/grabbing US players to start building their national team (seriously, imagine an even semi-competitive USA vs Australia or USA vs England series)

 

[yakstorm]

I still think the NRL need to have a serious look at a Hawaii based team for expansion #20!

- A wealthy local population
- no local competition re pro teams (particularly at that time of year)
- probably get US and State government support for the team
- start developing/grabbing US players to start building their national team (seriously, imagine an even semi-competitive USA vs Australia or USA vs England series)

Hawaiian politician Richard Fale has shown interest in trying to do something like this both in the NRL and Super Rugby in the past. He failed in his bid to buy the Warriors in 2018, with Autex & Carlaw Heritage Trust/Auckland Rugby League securing the rights at the time, whilst Super Rugby was going through a contraction (going from 18 - 15 teams).

Wouldn't be the worse idea to at least investigate it as a future opportunity. My preference is to look at Perth & South Island NZ first for NRL franchises, but the game honestly should be looking abroad and constantly evaluating surrounding markets if there is potential to have teams or hold events, etc.

 

[i0Nic]

A Hawaiian NRL team is not a bad idea but I think a ways off. Let’s not spread too thin. Focus expansion on the pacific including NZ first.

 

[Hey you guys]

Should also consider NRL double headers, Origin game, Magic round, and Tonga v Samoa etc.

for Hawaii.

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

There is cross promotion opportunities as well, for example the NFL are also wanting to grow exposure in AU

The NRL would REALLY benefit if it can start to build an association with the NFL. (Like different formed of the same root game)

- In the US, youd pitch it as a good off-season game to stay fit + develop general skills
- In Australia, youd push it as a status thing for the casual fans
(And international it would obviously help)

for them, it would be a good foothold with Rugby fans which are their best bet for followers in our off-season

if they can engage 50% of NRL fans and we can engage 0.5% of theres, it would be a fair trade

 

[Perth Red]

Would be a ballsy move for nrl to start up and fund a hawaii team. Would be amazing opportunity and they could also support an american comp to act as a pathway feeder for the club. Maybe if nrl ever gets to $1.5 billion revenue and grows afl sized balls lol

 

[Perth Red]

The NRL would REALLY benefit if it can start to build an association with the NFL. (Like different formed of the same root game)

- In the US, youd pitch it as a good off-season game to stay fit + develop general skills
- In Australia, youd push it as a status thing for the casual fans
(And international it would obviously help)

for them, it would be a good foothold with Rugby fans which are their best bet for followers in our off-season

if they can engage 50% of NRL fans and we can engage 0.5% of theres, it would be a fair trade

Very few American adults play American football. After college most give it up, it’s not a big amateur sport In US. It would give young adults who played at high school and college but don’t make it in the pros another option to have a go at though, as well as us union players of which there are quite a few.

problem is it would take a lot, and I mean a lot!, of money invested for decades to properly establish a second tier then an nrl club in usa.

 

[Wb1234]

Would be a ballsy move for nrl to start up and fund a hawaii team. Would be amazing opportunity and they could also support an american comp to act as a pathway feeder for the club. Maybe if nrl ever gets to $1.5 billion revenue and grows afl sized balls lol

When png are a success that will facilitate a pacifika team based in Fiji and splitting games with Tonga and Samoa

Then there’s nz3

With Adelaide and south west Brisbane that’s already 24 teams

 

[mozza91]

Would be a ballsy move for nrl to start up and fund a hawaii team. Would be amazing opportunity and they could also support an american comp to act as a pathway feeder for the club. Maybe if nrl ever gets to $1.5 billion revenue and grows afl sized balls lol

You can’t not mention AFL. It’s like a sickness.

 

[Perth Red]

When png are a success that will facilitate a pacifika team based in Fiji and splitting games with Tonga and Samoa

Then there’s nz3

With Adelaide and south west Brisbane that’s already 24 teams

I thought you were all for globalisation? lol

 

[Wb1234]

I thought you were all for globalisation? lol

I am

Just not in hull!

In ten years time Vegas will be huge and nobody will remember the people who said it would be a failure

Might even revive the Toronto Wolfpack too

 

[jim_57]

A few teams toyed with the idea of playing in Hawaii last decade but it never came to be.

From what I can gather the main 50k stadium there is condemned and closed, the football team currently plays at a college stadium that only holds about 16k.

There are plans in motion to build a 25k stadium on the same site by 2028 (Link for those interested). The new stadium will be built able to host AF, soccer & ‘rugby’ so it’d be cool to get an NRL game there when it opens, for a start.

 

[Wb1234]

Sj still promoting league in retirement

 

[Chins get the wins]

Sj still promoting league in retirement

Well he did nothing for the game while playing it

 

[Canard]

What happened to those reports of a multi- million dollar 10 team comp that was going to start up by now?

Karl Stefanovic was involved and it breathlessly talked about how it would rival the NRL.

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Sj still promoting league in retirement

The “Rugby” branding still kills me every time.

NRL go to Vegas and get great attention in the US
“So what can you tell us about Rugby?”



“Thank you”

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Sj still promoting league in retirement

I think the simple explanation (you dont want to get too into the detail)

Id go with “just like American Football, but it is none-stop. We get tackled an we have about a second before the next play”

forget the no pads thing. Focus on the speed of the game

 

[Wb1234]

I think the simple explanation (you dont want to get too into the detail)

Id go with “just like American Football, but it is none-stop. We get tackled an we have about a second before the next play”

forget the no pads thing. Focus on the speed of the game

No pads and helmets is disrespectful to the nfl

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Very few American adults play American football. After college most give it up, it’s not a big amateur sport In US. It would give young adults who played at high school and college but don’t make it in the pros another option to have a go at though, as well as us union players of which there are quite a few.

problem is it would take a lot, and I mean a lot!, of money invested for decades to properly establish a second tier then an nrl club in usa.

Ideally youd focus on younger kids and teens. Pitch it as a safer version (for the worried mums) that develops relevant but different skills for AF.

I reckon they could develop a blended version of RL/AF as a different version (like touch/tag/9)

they rules would probably be similar to 1908 NSWRL/Northern Union (no forward pass, only retreat 3 meters, 4 tackes, fast PTB)

then you would just adjust the points to mimick AF (6p touchdown, 1 point conversion, ect) and discuss whether you offer resets like the 4and10 rule.

 

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

No pads and helmets is disrespectful to the nfl

Hardly…

no one will accuse NFL players of being soft. So the “no pads” thing will make people say “holy crap, imaging doing that WITHOUT protection”

I can see the logic, u think it just appeals to the wrong strength. Forget the toughness (thatll come through anyway) focus on selling the speed of the play.

The only USA major sports that flow are hockey and basketball. A fast-paced, no stoppages game is actually a gap in the market that RL can slip into.