The National Rugby League grand final "will be sold to the highest bidder" as the Queensland and Victorian state governments "make plays at hosting the decider while ANZ Stadium is out of action," according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The NRL has "left the door open to take the grand final on the road after only committing to a 20-year extension" to play the showpiece event in Sydney once renovations of ANZ Stadium are complete in '23. As part of the A$1.6B ($1.2B) investment in Sydney stadiums, the NSW government negotiated a 20-year deal to "play the decider in Sydney, but that will only commence once the refurbishment of ANZ Stadium is finished." With construction to transform the Olympic stadium into a permanent 75,000-seat rectangular venue estimated to begin in '19, the NRL has a four-year window until '22 to "take games interstate or overseas." Victoria "wasted no time in expressing interest in hosting the event" at the MCG, launching a bid on Thursday for the season decider. Victorian Sports Minister John Eren said, "The offer is on the table. If you want a successful event where we will get over 90,000 attending and hopefully break another crowd record, I'd have it right here in Melbourne." The Queensland government "will also hold discussions with the NRL." Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant had "previously indicated his desire to take the grand final to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane," and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg admitted the code did not "want to play its showpiece events at a construction site." While Brisbane is the "logical interstate option, the NRL could also turn back the clock and take grand finals back to Allianz Stadium during the four years of renovations at ANZ Stadium" (SMH, 4/14). In Melbourne, Wilson & Cherny reported Australian Football League CEO Gillon McLachlan, who was flying home from China, "was not available for comment but it is understood the state government had not consulted the AFL before Thursday's announcement." Eren is "expected to hold talks with NRL officials on Friday" (THE AGE, 4/14).
