Vegas Again/2025 and WCC

[Pigeon Lofter]

What a build-up on Fox League!

[eal]

This Las Vegas gambit is mostly (solely) about gambling money. I doubt even the most ardent Rugby League fan really thinks the game is going to take the USA by storm or even gain a minor foothold. Even in Las Vegas it won't be getting that much attention as the city is a non-stop venue for things from all over the world - for all we know the city will be flooded with people from France next week for an acrobat convention! The sports market here in the USA is completely saturated. Cricket gets a bit of a look in simply because millions of people from the subcontinent live here - I went to a couple of Major League Cricket games in Dallas and I was one of about 30 white faces in a crowd of 12,000.

All this being said, if it brings more money into the game and provides a notable international event on the RL calendar it is a good thing. I do fear what will happen to the World Club Challenge if the NRL champions are also chosen as a Las Vegas representative though.

Edited March 3 by eal

[NRLandSL]

32 minutes ago, Click said:

Watching this on WatchNRL. All this sports betting integrated into the build up is so strange to see ..

Sports Betting is the reason for the reason for this game.

[NRLandSL]

33 minutes ago, Click said:

Watching this on WatchNRL. All this sports betting integrated into the build up is so strange to see ..

 

Edited March 3 by NRLandSL

[NRLandSL]

1 minute ago, eal said:

This Las Vegas gambit is mostly (solely) about gambling money. I doubt even the most ardent Rugby League fan really thinks the game is going to take the USA by storm or even gain a minor foothold. Even in Las Vegas it won't be getting that much attention as the city is a non-stop venue for things from all over the world - for all we know the city will be flooded with people from France next week for an acrobat convention! The sports market here in the USA is completely saturated. Cricket gets a bit of a look in simply because millions of people from the subcontinent live here - I went to a couple of Major League Cricket games in Dallas and I was one of about 30 white faces in a crowd of 12,000.

Exactly , I highly highly doubt this will grow the sport at all in America. Hope I’m wrong though.

[eal]

The beginning of the game (likely the first 10-15 minutes) has been bumped to Fox Sports 2 which has a much smaller reach than Fox Sports 1 due to a College Basketball Game running long. Unfortunate for the NRL.

Edited March 3 by eal

[Click]

13 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

Sports Betting is the reason for the reason for this game.

Yeah, I know that.

[Copa]

The stadium and pitch looks fantastic 

[NRLandSL]

What a try saver by Mitchell. 

[ATLANTISMAN]

I am here its wonderful nearly as good as sex.

In fact BETTER:))))

 

[NRLandSL]

Another remarkable try saver from the Rabbitohs, Cook this time.

[Copa]

Even The Guardian is doing a live feed of the match. That’s extremely unusual for a regular season NRL match.

[Click]

I will say that is quite annoying how often the commentary bring up the smaller pitch like it is a absolutely huge difference, rather than 5m.

"Those tries shouldn't be able to be scored on a pitch like this". They've been blessed with the correct pitch dimensions for too long

[Whippet13]

9 hours ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

You have hit the nail on the head.

One thing i would say though if RL commercial think having a match here would work forget it,the prices for the majority of RL fans are to expensive and our fan base is too narrow.

Flight for us 4 wife and 2 boys 3200

Hotel 3 nights 900 (No food)

Breakfast just now very modest 100

Lunch yesterday no wine just beers 300

Tickets 800 (OK our choice)

Food over 3 days beers etc 1200

Taxis 60

That's just basics before any shopping which is our choice

Total you are looking at around over 6K ridiculous Vegas is as expensive as Norway even more i would say.

On a happier note 3 pairs of Oakleys 50% off:)))))

Rocked up into Vegas today and got a suite for 124 dollars, beers 5 each in the local casino......

[Click]

20 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

I am here its wonderful nearly as good as sex.

In fact BETTER:))))

 

Hope your younger wife doesn't read the forum Paul!

[Jim from Oz]

6 hours ago, frank said:

I remember staying in Circus Circus some years ago and it was all you could eat for twenty dollars. There was also entertainment which was free. Prices may have increased since our stay, but I bet it's still good value.

Circus Circus!! That was it! All you can eat monster buffet for $2.99, if I recall correctly… But it WAS way back in the Jurassic era when I were young backpacking lad

[Copa]

That was an entertaining game 

[Pigeon Lofter]

21 minutes ago, Copa said:

That was an entertaining game 

Yes, it ticked all the boxes.

For sure, the NRL will be more than happy with that.

 

[ATLANTISMAN]

1 hour ago, Click said:

Hope your younger wife doesn't read the forum Paul!

She is sitting next to me

[ATLANTISMAN]

1 hour ago, Whippet13 said:

Rocked up into Vegas today and got a suite for 124 dollars, beers 5 each in the local casino......

Lucky B----------

[Click]

2 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

She is sitting next to me

So she isn't reading then? 

[Click]

Fun games these have been.

I enjoy seeing the Brisbane kits that have an actual collar on them, it is strange to see a player version with a collar nowadays.

I've been on and off twitter and my homepage seems to be full of random people watching the matches and enjoying them. I saw JBL of WWE fame was watching it (although I seem to remember him mentioning RL many years ago, something to do with Crabtree IIRC)

I hope this Vegas adventure has given the NRL what they wanted, as a fan it has delivered watching on TV, and I imagine delivered if you went in person. I was thinking about going this year for it, but I will definitely be considering going to Vegas in 2025 for the next one.

[Copa]

Attendance: 40,746

Apparently the weather was appalling outside in the lead up which may have put off walk ups.

[NRLandSL]

Can’t believe we’re losing Manu to union

[graveyard johnny]

great try from walsh- what a game!