The Las Vegas Thread

[Canard]

,

 

[yakstorm]

I sent the link to a couple of American friends. They were complimentary but say it might take 5 years for any real cut through in NCR. (Not quite sure what that means though)

I feel like that’s a fair timeline for something like this. The majority of these colleges and players have no idea what the NRL & League 9s is, so will adopt a 'wait and see' approach.

For the first couple of years, I wouldn't be surprised if its the smaller colleges that show more interest than the ones who have more established and formalised 'Rugby' programs.

There will also be some players in the NCR system who are in their 2nd & 3rd years of study and won't want to jeopardise their MLR Draft spot, which might see the All Stars teams be predominantly first year students.

Again what is considered successful & 'cut through' will possibly seem very different from both sides. For the NRL/USARL, even getting 4-6 colleges entering teams in year 1 is a huge result.

Ideal scenario is a couple of clubs (NRL or SL) offer contracts to a few of the All Stars players. Considering the state MLR is in, I'd imagine you're an aspiring 'rugby' player from the US, having the opportunity to develop in Australia, NZ or UK would be quite appealing.

 

[RedVee]

I feel like that’s a fair timeline for something like this. The majority of these colleges and players have no idea what the NRL & League 9s is, so will adopt a 'wait and see' approach.

For the first couple of years, I wouldn't be surprised if its the smaller colleges that show more interest than the ones who have more established and formalised 'Rugby' programs.

There will also be some players in the NCR system who are in their 2nd & 3rd years of study and won't want to jeopardise their MLR Draft spot, which might see the All Stars teams be predominantly first year students.

Again what is considered successful & 'cut through' will possibly seem very different from both sides. For the NRL/USARL, even getting 4-6 colleges entering teams in year 1 is a huge result.

Ideal scenario is a couple of clubs (NRL or SL) offer contracts to a few of the All Stars players. Considering the state MLR is in, I'd imagine you're an aspiring 'rugby' player from the US, having the opportunity to develop in Australia, NZ or UK would be quite appealing.

Yeah, I spoke to them about it - that it may take a US player to make a NRL / NRLW squad to make an impact. Even then I doubt the general media would care at all BUT it might get attention from those in the College system and help promote RL as an option there.
Years away I guess. But this is a great step. I hope it builds little step by little step.

 

[Canard]

Have the "partnerships" with UFC, NASCAR etc shown any material return?

 

[Canard]

Yeah, I spoke to them about it - that it may take a US player to make a NRL / NRLW squad to make an impact. Even then I doubt the general media would care at all BUT it might get attention from those in the College system and help promote RL as an option there.
Years away I guess. But this is a great step. I hope it builds little step by little step.

I mean Australians play in the NFL now, but despite the popularity of that sport here (it's quite popular) most couldn't name an Aussie player)

 

[Trifili13]

Has there been any team sport in say the last 50 years that has had any tangible traction in a country where that sport was "foreign" to that country? Apart from say the MLS which has had hundreds of millions, if not billions thrown at it and had some global stars (mostly past their prime) go there as well as the USA making World Cups, I can't think of any.

I am only asking as it shows how hard it is for a sport to break into a country, even if you have a local player make it "big". Australia has had several NFL players and while it might have a following here, the sport is very much at an amateur level locally. The USA obviously has a much larger population than Australia but will the game be able to attract enough money to gain any meaningful foothold there? And what foothold is the NRL after, is it tv money, gambling money or a new player pool (all 3 or a combination) and how much money and how long is the NRL willing to invest to get that foothold?

 

[Gobsmacked]

Has there been any team sport in say the last 50 years that has had any tangible traction in a country where that sport was "foreign" to that country? Apart from say the MLS which has had hundreds of millions, if not billions thrown at it and had some global stars (mostly past their prime) go there as well as the USA making World Cups, I can't think of any.

I am only asking as it shows how hard it is for a sport to break into a country, even if you have a local player make it "big". Australia has had several NFL players and while it might have a following here, the sport is very much at an amateur level locally. The USA obviously has a much larger population than Australia but will the game be able to attract enough money to gain any meaningful foothold there? And what foothold is the NRL after, is it tv money, gambling money or a new player pool (all 3 or a combination) and how much money and how long is the NRL willing to invest to get that foothold?

I guess we'll know more at the conclusion of the 5 years but that fact these initiatives have been increasing since the beginning of the Vegas experiment makes it look like a more long term thing.
Cut through seems a very long way off if ever .
A foothold, yeah, I could see it in certain cities if we focus on those locations, like Vegas.

I think what PVL said from the start makes a lot of sense. We could carve out a niche...330 million people just means it's a big niche.

 

[Canard]

Has there been any team sport in say the last 50 years that has had any tangible traction in a country where that sport was "foreign" to that country? Apart from say the MLS which has had hundreds of millions, if not billions thrown at it and had some global stars (mostly past their prime) go there as well as the USA making World Cups, I can't think of any.

I am only asking as it shows how hard it is for a sport to break into a country, even if you have a local player make it "big". Australia has had several NFL players and while it might have a following here, the sport is very much at an amateur level locally. The USA obviously has a much larger population than Australia but will the game be able to attract enough money to gain any meaningful foothold there? And what foothold is the NRL after, is it tv money, gambling money or a new player pool (all 3 or a combination) and how much money and how long is the NRL willing to invest to get that foothold?

Soccer was always big with the Latino community in the US, and is a world sport with global exposure.

 

[Trifili13]

Soccer was always big with the Latino community in the US, and is a world sport with global exposure.

Agree, but I was more talking about having a meaningful professional comp. They tried it in the 70s with Pele, Beckenbauer, etc but they were basically retired and the comp folded. It has probably taken the USA to be regular World Cup participants and the millions/billions spent for soccer to get any traction now. Does the NRL have the money or patience to do the same?

 

[Dogs Of War]

Agree, but I was more talking about having a meaningful professional comp. They tried it in the 70s with Pele, Beckenbauer, etc but they were basically retired and the comp folded. It has probably taken the USA to be regular World Cup participants and the millions/billions spent for soccer to get any traction now. Does the NRL have the money or patience to do the same?

I think it doesn't help that like Australian soccer, everybody understands it's a second tier comp. While if you could stand up a semi pro or pro Rugby League, it would probably go to being one of the better comps almost instantly (Behind NRL, ESL and France). Getting people to view it though is another thing.

 

[Perth Red]

Has there been any team sport in say the last 50 years that has had any tangible traction in a country where that sport was "foreign" to that country? Apart from say the MLS which has had hundreds of millions, if not billions thrown at it and had some global stars (mostly past their prime) go there as well as the USA making World Cups, I can't think of any.

I am only asking as it shows how hard it is for a sport to break into a country, even if you have a local player make it "big". Australia has had several NFL players and while it might have a following here, the sport is very much at an amateur level locally. The USA obviously has a much larger population than Australia but will the game be able to attract enough money to gain any meaningful foothold there? And what foothold is the NRL after, is it tv money, gambling money or a new player pool (all 3 or a combination) and how much money and how long is the NRL willing to invest to get that foothold?

Hate to say it but probably union is the one that’s done best. Japan, Italy, Argentina etc are hardly traditional union countires yet have managed to build decent footprints and competitive national sides.

Basketball would be the other one.

it’d be interesting to know how union has managed to successfully infiltrate the American college system.

 

[RedVee]

Hate to say it but probably union is the one that’s done best. Japan, Italy, Argentina etc are hardly traditional union countires yet have managed to build decent footprints and competitive national sides.

Basketball would be the other one.

it’d be interesting to know how union has managed to successfully infiltrate the American college system.

Rugby was probably in the Colleges before American Football was invented

 

[Trifili13]

Hate to say it but probably union is the one that’s done best. Japan, Italy, Argentina etc are hardly traditional union countires yet have managed to build decent footprints and competitive national sides.

Basketball would be the other one.

it’d be interesting to know how union has managed to successfully infiltrate the American college system.

And the 3 countries you mentioned are all competitive on the world rugby stage so it would help their local comps. Having huge companies backing Japanese club rugby is obviously very helpful. Everyone loves a winner so if the Americans can get a somewhat competitive national league team like they have in soccer that will help drive the game over there.

In terms of basketball, the NBA being so huge with its global stars would help to drive interest in other countries. League unfortunately doesn't have that.

As Gobsmacked said above, we will have to wait to evaluate after 5 years and whether it's worth pursuing after that.

 

[Wb1234]

Hate to say it but probably union is the one that’s done best. Japan, Italy, Argentina etc are hardly traditional union countires yet have managed to build decent footprints and competitive national sides.

Basketball would be the other one.

it’d be interesting to know how union has managed to successfully infiltrate the American college system.

Japan it’s a corporate plaything

I read a lot of the current Italian Union clubs were once league clubs but were neglected / ignored so went to union

League in France is the best example

In six years it went from nothing to being bigger than Union before you know what happened

And even if you disagree Toronto was another one.

The Wolfpack got real traction before COVID hit

Even soccer is struggling in America the Apple TV deal has been a huge bust with awful ratings and they’ve spent billions

A potential Hawaiian nrl team one day is the best way for league to grow the game in America

Vegas is about season launch, giving the players a trip to enjoy and whatever corporate benefits come

 

[t-ba]

Has there been any team sport in say the last 50 years that has had any tangible traction in a country where that sport was "foreign" to that country? Apart from say the MLS which has had hundreds of millions, if not billions thrown at it and had some global stars (mostly past their prime) go there as well as the USA making World Cups, I can't think of any.

I am only asking as it shows how hard it is for a sport to break into a country, even if you have a local player make it "big". Australia has had several NFL players and while it might have a following here, the sport is very much at an amateur level locally. The USA obviously has a much larger population than Australia but will the game be able to attract enough money to gain any meaningful foothold there? And what foothold is the NRL after, is it tv money, gambling money or a new player pool (all 3 or a combination) and how much money and how long is the NRL willing to invest to get that foothold?

Cricket in Afghanistan and Nepal Bizarrely enough

 

[yakstorm]

I read a lot of the current Italian Union clubs were once league clubs but were neglected / ignored so went to union

The Italian Government refused to recognise the sport, which meant it was unable to get insurance. Throw in the dodgy dealings from Federazione Italiana Rugby (threatening some players with lifetime bans, offering others payments to switch despite being 'amateur', making grounds unavailable), it's a wonder the sport lasted almost 20 years in Italy to be honest.

 

[Wb1234]

The Italian Government refused to recognise the sport, which meant it was unable to get insurance. Throw in the dodgy dealings from Federazione Italiana Rugby (threatening some players with lifetime bans, offering others payments to switch despite being 'amateur', making grounds unavailable), it's a wonder the sport lasted almost 20 years in Italy to be honest.

Standard unionista actions since 1895

Loads of them watch it thought, Twitter was full of commentary posts about what the nrl was doing in Vegas from Union fans around the world

Good way to get more nrl watch subs

 

[Foreign Legion]

Next month the NRL starts up again!!!

 

[Gobsmacked]

Next month the NRL starts up again!!!

 

[Wb1234]

Next month the NRL starts up again!!!

Fox has had some amazing games on lately

Today they’ve been having classic origin games

Joey 2005 what a game

The calibre of players on both sides was crazy

Even the 89 and 91 grand finals were a decent rewatch