After his recent press tour in Las Vegas, Micahe Carayannis runs through all the key details surrounding the Vegas season opener.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis has given the tick of approval to the NRL’s Las Vegas venture and expects rugby league to make significant inroads into America in the future.
The NRL’s 2024 season will kick off with a double header at Allegiant Stadium; home of the Las Vegas Raiders NFL Franchise and Super Bowl LVII. Manly and South Sydney will battle first before the Broncos take on the Roosters.
Carayannis was invited on a press tour courtesy of the NRL and was mightily impressed with the lengths the NRL has gone to ensure the five-year plan is a success.
“The matches will be broadcasted on Fox Sports 1 which is their main channel,” Carayannis explained on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Fox Sports have really bought into it and given it a massive push.
“The NRL have also formed a partnership with Nascar and the UFC which also helps.
“There isn’t a great deal of recognition yet. Forget trying to differentiate between league and union because there is no point. It’s an uphill battle.
"There are huge billboards at Allegiant Stadium that has been played at every Raiders game, outside the Stadium and outside hotels.
“The NRL is really pushing hard in Vegas (and) it’s a five-year plan.
“The first year is all about trying to get eyeballs on it and that will be a success.
“The plan is to form a relationship with the Raiders. The UFC agreement will evolve from cross promotion (and) it will be the most important relationship.
“IN 2025 in the second year, there will be a UFC event on the same weekend as the NRL. They'll sell tickets for both I’m assuming.
“The greatest sell is that the NRL can make 80 minutes seem faster than 60 minutes (in the NFL).
“I have great hopes for it but it’ll be a slow burn.
“20,000 tickets have been sold mainly from Australia. 30,000 is probably par for the crowd and if they can get anymore than that, they would’ve done well.
“The key metric will be how many people in the US pick up an NRL game pass.
“How many people will become subscribers to the NRL after watching Round 1”?