The NRL has announced anyone travelling to the ANZ Stadium for a match in 2014 will have return train tickets provided for them free of charge.
Based in Sydney and with a capacity of over 83,000, the ANZ Stadium is home to both South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs. There will be 27 club games played at the ANZ in 2014, and the tickets are eligible for the entire Sydney Trains network and the NSW TrainLink intercity network.
That means fans from as far away as the Blue Mountains (a three-hour train journey) can get to games free of charge. The NRL hope it will not only encourage more fans to visit games, but also improve traffic congestion.
The venture is a joint one between the NRL, the New South Wales government, and the stadium itself.
“It will apply to all 27 club games being played at ANZ Stadium this season. In other words, when you buy a ticket in advance for any game at ANZ you get the transport thrown in,” said Wales-born NRL chief Dave Smith.
“Not only is it going to save fans money but it is going to reduce traffic congestion around the ground and give fans a much more enjoyable game-day experience.”
NSW Premier (head of government), Mr Barry O’Farrell, said: “There’s nothing like supporting your team at the game and I’m delighted the NSW Government is able to do its bit by providing integrated ticketing deal for all club match games at ANZ Stadium for the first time.
“Our deal with the NRL means supporting your team at ANZ Stadium has never been easier, whether you’re traveling from Redfern or Campbelltown, Cronulla or Penrith, or from Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
“We always want to encourage people to use public transport to travel to major sporting events.
“This move will undoubtedly increase the number of customers using the train to get to ANZ Stadium.”
