The NRL’s venture into Las Vegas “turned into a television ratings bonanza for Fox League”Getty Images
The National Rugby League has been “urged to capitalise on its highly successful US season opener and introduce an Australian-based expansion team that would play five games a year in Las Vegas,” according to Dean Ritchie of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. The Australian Rugby League Commission is “yet to announce a formal date for expansion with Perth, Papua New Guinea, Brisbane, the Pacific and New Zealand touted as possible locations.” New South Wales Sports Minister Steve Kamper “now wants Las Vegas added to the list.” Kamper: “It would basically be identified as a Vegas team and play four, five times a year here. It would potentially be one of the expansion teams.” He added, “They would have to be based in Australia but branded as a Vegas team. Vegas would own that team so the locals here would see it as their rugby league team and be part of the NRL.” Kamper added if Vegas can “identify with its own team, that’s when you attract all eyes around America saying: ‘This is our team.’” Kamper went to an NHL game and was inspired by the story of the Golden Knights, who were founded in 2017 and have found immediate success (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/4).
NUMBERS REFLECT: In Sydney, Fatima Kdouh noted NRL’s venture into Las Vegas “turned into a television ratings bonanza for Fox League” with the season-opening Sea Eagles-Rabbitohs and Roosters-Broncos matches at Allegiant Stadium the "most-watched games on Fox League to date." Manly’s 36-24 win over South Sydney pulled in 838,000 viewers "on TV screens and on Fox Sports’ streaming service Kayo." Fox League had 786,000 people tune into the Roosters and Broncos clash compared to Channel 9’s 784,000 viewers on Sunday night (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/4).
