The State of Origin series next year is "set to generate record
revenue that will crash through" the A$100M ($86M) barrier for the "very
first time," according to Dean Ritchie of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Three possible sell-outs in "three different states has Origin ready to rake-in cash never seen before." Playing
game two in sports-mad Melbourne will "only add to Origin’s already
staggering coffers." Already 25,000 tickets have been sold for the MCG
game on June 17. It is expected games in Sydney and Brisbane will generate about A$10M each. The "economic impact for the states NSW and Queensland" will be about A$20M. That A$30M figure will be "reached again next season with Melbourne expected to generate even more money." The
final A$100M figure is "mind-blowing." Ticket sales alone will
generate about A$27.5M, and "total sponsorship income reaches" about
A$5.5M each series. New South Wales Rugby League CEO David Trodden said, "State of Origin is the biggest sporting event in Australia. If any event has the capacity to be valued at more than A$100 million then it is State of Origin" (
DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/6).
