Menu
Events and Attractions

Scheduling Clash Could Result In NRL, AFL Finals Doubleheader At Allianz Stadium

The National Rugby League "could be forced to stage an historic finals double-header at Allianz Stadium due to a potential scheduling clash" with the Austalian Football League in the first week of the play-offs, according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. If the competition ladder remains as is, the Roosters, South Sydney, Canterbury and Cronulla "will host matches in week one of the NRL finals, which start a week later than the AFL play-offs." The Rabbitohs and Bulldogs "will earn the right to host games at ANZ Stadium," but the Saturday night timeslot "will be off limits." The most likely option left to league officials "is to play the two Saturday finals games back-to-back at Allianz Stadium." While doubleheaders have been played before -- most notably at the opening of ANZ Stadium and also on occasion at Suncorp Stadium -- "it would be a first for finals football." NRL Operations Manager Nathan McGuirk confirmed that "the league was looking at a range of contingency plans based on potential finals clashes." McGuirk said, "We're doing a lot of modeling on different scenarios right now and we're not ruling anything in or out" (SMH, 8/27).

DOUBLE DIP: In Melbourne, Jon Pierik wrote Melbourne Cricket Club CEO Stephen Gough said that the Melbourne Cricket Ground "would be capable" of hosting a doubleheader if the AFL opts to schedule four finals "at the famous venue" on the opening weekend of September. The AFL has asked Gough whether two finals on a Saturday could be scheduled, "with one beginning early afternoon and the second at night." There are likely to be four Victorian-based teams hosting a first final -- Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood and Richmond -- "and each has a large enough supporter base to insist its match be held at the MCG, rather than at the smaller Etihad Stadium." Gough said, "The question was asked: 'If it had to be, could it be done?' Well, subject to a whole lot of things which are very difficult, it's a possibility" (THE AGE, 8/27).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2013/08/27/Events-and-Attractions/NRL-AFL-double-header.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2013/08/27/Events-and-Attractions/NRL-AFL-double-header.aspx

CLOSE