The National Rugby League is expected to announce this week that the record-breaking '14 season had a revenue increase of more than A$30M ($23.4M), with the code delivering a net profit of A$50M, according to Stuart Honeysett of THE AUSTRALIAN. NRL CEO Dave Smith has "already presented the results to the clubs and could make them public on Friday -- a day after the release of the league's 2015 advertising campaign." The NRL's revenue reportedly swelled last year to A$345M -- an increase of just more than A$30M from the A$314M figure posted for '13. It "is believed revenue spiked on the back of the very successful State of Origin series, the finals series and grand final plus the inaugural Auckland Nines tournament." The game also benefited from a "record number of club memberships, a rise in ticket prices and increase in crowd figures, and a spike in participation largely fuelled by the decision to merge with touch football." While the Australian Football League is still ahead on revenues, the NRL is reportedly "closing the gap" and heading toward a strong position for the next broadcast rights deal when the current arrangement finishes at the end of '17 (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/24).
