The Las Vegas Thread

[i0Nic]

Massive missed opportunity with the women’s game. Should’ve been a nrlw match up or origin which really would’ve showcased the best of women’s rugby league. That game is not going to get anyone excited about women’s league.

 

[JamesRustle]

Don’t think there’s many hookers in the stadium

Columbia is the place to go

There was at least 8

 

[Jpw25111]

I'm surprised they didn't name 50K. Compared to last year, there were a lot more tickets sold and a lot more bays filled in areas like level 3.

Anyway, whilst it didn't quite hit the heights we all wanted, there were still plenty of positives.

Firstly revenue was a lot higher this year, where the NRL was offloading tickers with 2 for 1, 50% off and even 4 for 1 deals last year, this year the base price moved from $19 to $29, there were no crazy offers and more corporates were sold.

Secondly, the fixtures featured 3 of the weaker drawing teams from the NRL (Canberra, Sharks, Panthers) in a difficult economic period and still drew well.

Thirdly, we didn't go backwards. They say for any annual event years 2 & 3 are the hardest (and usually when things fall apart).

Finally, the sheer fact one game was on Fox and we had more games overall, more people saw RL in the US.

Shame about how uncompetitive the Super League & Raiders v Warriors games were. The Women's Test was a real momentum killer.

Wasn't one game on FOX last year and had under 100k viewers?

 

[Loose Cannon]

Not sure sending their reserve grade hooker will sell tickets.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Massive missed opportunity with the women’s game. Should’ve been a nrlw match up or origin which really would’ve showcased the best of women’s rugby league. That game is not going to get anyone excited about women’s league.

Shouldve been Aus Vs NZL. A lot of those games were quite close and physical.

 

[i0Nic]

Do we have any information about the viewership in the US?

id dare say in Australia it could be lower than last year, with the jillaroos game.

 

[jim_57]

If they keep 4 games they need to have the 2 NRL games back to back bring everything forward 2 hours IMO.

Times: Vegas/Sydney/NZ/England

Hull FC V Hull KR 12pm/7am/9am/8pm
Prime time to England, early afternoon start for those attending.

Australia V NZ Women 2pm/9am/11am/10pm

3 - Bulldogs V Dragons 4:30pm/11:30am/01:30pm/12:30am
Prime time game aimed at US TV slots.

4 - Storm V Cowboys 6:30pm/1:30pm/3:30pm/2:30am

~8:30pm finish is better for those who have travelled for it, 10:30pm local finish this year people would be itching to go enjoy the rest of what the city has to offer by then.

 

[kdalymc]

as I've said a few time before, dumb f**ken move sending a club team called "new zealand" over.
heard multiple reports of yanks in the crowd wanting to see the haka.....

 

[King-Gutho94]

My guess for the next 2 years.

2026
Bulldogs vs Dragons
Storm vs Cowboys

2027
Dolphins vs Titans
Parra vs Tigers

Parra v Cowboys is a better fit for Vegas then Parra v Tigers.

Your wasting a sellout in Sydney with a game like that in Vegas.

 

[Wb1234]

Cut the women’s game it’s just a bad look on a big stage and stick with 3 games.

The super league game will have to be shown at 11 pm local time in England so the tv ratings will be off in England

Then back to back nrl games.

The quality of last years product on the field was significantly diluted by the super league game (thought wahs raiders wasn’t much better) and the women’s test was a dead set punish

The wcc can be played somewhere exotic like the oil states they would pay for it plus 3 days in Dubai is also good for tourism. There’s no point including the wcc it’s an event in its own right that will be diluted playing at Vegas.

Dogs dragons eels tigers will all get large crowds over there and they are yet to come. Cowboys dolphins and storm won’t get bad numbers either.

 

[i0Nic]

The nrl will learn some scheduling lessons this time around and get better for next year. I think overall it has been a success this year across numerous metrics.

I feel like it’s an easy decision for next year..

Game 1 - St helens vs Leeds rhinos
Game 2 - storm vs cowboys
Game 3 - dragons vs bulldogs

4 games is just too much in a day. And I don’t think we’re ready to increase the format to 2 days

 

[i0Nic]

This way we can maximise the Aus tv audience, we can ensure the stadium is full the majority of the day and generate some amazing footage with the dragons / bulldogs armies and rivalry.

We’ll get 30k from Australia alone with that setup and another 10k from England.

 

[i0Nic]

The nrl needs to get more social content creators and podcasters involved.

The nrl ‘ran a competition’ this year to give free tickets to a us based content creator. They need to up their budget here - just pay to bring out a bunch of relevant influencers and content producers and get them involved in the few weeks leading up to the game.

They need to get more creative with package deals for Vegas holiday makers.

They need to get on prime time tv news some how. Not just some local niche radio stations and morning shows.

They need to get more involved with cross promotions with ufc and nfl.

These aren’t easy things to do but needed if they seriously want to crack the us.

 

[Wb1234]

 

[PARRA_FAN]

The nrl will learn some scheduling lessons this time around and get better for next year. I think overall it has been a success this year across numerous metrics.

I feel like it’s an easy decision for next year..

Game 1 - St helens vs Leeds rhinos
Game 2 - storm vs cowboys
Game 3 - dragons vs bulldogs

4 games is just too much in a day. And I don’t think we’re ready to increase the format to 2 days

If that's the ESL game next year, it'll be huge. Not saying today's wasnt as the crowd sounded much louder than the remaining three with the Wigan and Warrington fans, but another massive Super League rival would be great for the Vegas.

As for the two NRL matches, I wouldnt have an issue with those match ups, particularly Dragons and Bulldogs. Storm over there would increase the audience in Victoria.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

as I've said a few time before, dumb f**ken move sending a club team called "new zealand" over.
heard multiple reports of yanks in the crowd wanting to see the haka.....

Of course you did.
I don't believe for a second Americans are as dumb as you.

 

[Danny-Boy]

Parra v Cowboys is a better fit for Vegas then Parra v Tigers.

You’re wasting a sellout in Sydney with a game like that in Vegas.

I don’t see it happening they’re going to want to send Melbourne there next year and a qld team most likely Cowboys. Storm vs Cowboys would be the prime time game.

That leaves two Sydney teams it’ll be between Parramatta/Bulldogs/Dragons. Take your pick but there’s been strong rumours that it’s Bulldogs vs Dragons.

 

[Wb1234]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/its-just-crazy-americans-blown-away-by-nrl-in-las-vegas/news-story/4cca51665f919394707a244f2ae98cf6

15k locals but it’s sloth so who knows really

If pommies was 12k and nz 9k

That leaves 9k from Australia

So somebody is lieing lol

TikTok - Make Your Day

The yanks that did go seemed to enjoy it

 

[blue bags]

American sports fans
Familia with the rugby league Monika's
San Jose Sharks NHL
Carolina Panthers NFL
Golden State Warriors NBA
Las Vegas Raiders NFL
Minnesota Timberwolves NBA
Last year
Denver Broncos NFL
Philadelphia Eagles NFL
But not familiar with the
Rabbits. Or Roosters

 

[Dark Corner]

Maybe said something along the lines of you guys are a disgrace to the warriors brand lol

TBF The Guardian lot do deserve it.