The NRL is reportedly considering taking a premiership game to the United States to kick off the 2023 season, with the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs likely to make the historic fixture.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Manly owner Scott Penn is behind the bid to play a game in Los Angeles after similar plans fell through in 2019.
Long-time Manly fan Hugh Jackman and South Sydney owner Russell Crowe are expected to be part of the NRL’s plan to market the occasions to an American audience.
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But unlike the February Super Bowl that took place at the recently built SoFi Stadium, it’s expected the Banc of California Stadium, a 22-000-seat complex that’s home to MLS team Los Angeles FC, will host the match.
The report also states that the fixture would take place a week before the rest of the competition gets underway for round one.
“We had discussions a few years ago with the NRL about that potential game to open the season in the US,” South Sydney boss Blake Solly told the Herald.
“It didn’t come off then but we’ve always been interested in any opportunity to expand the game in the US provided it’s part of a long-term strategy from the NRL to continue playing in America.
“We also have the links to America with owners Russell Crowe and Mike Cannon-Brookes, who has sporting interests [as a part-owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz] in the US.”
With sports wagering legalised now in most states in the USA, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has already begun looking at how the NRL can gain a revenue boost.
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