Little doubt about it, it’s a rock stable wall of positivity across the NRL and on the bottom in Las Vegas. However there’s nonetheless a spot for essential considering with regards to this enterprise, and SMH columnist Peter FitzSimons utilized a bit in his Saturday morning column.
Las Vegas?
I feel the NRL opening spherical is that this weekend, sure? If solely there had been slightly extra protection!
Look, to say the apparent, the train already appears to be a broad success when it comes to a advertising marketing campaign, and the truth that they’re anticipating over 40,000 folks to show up already reveals it was a worthwhile train. It’s simply the ludicrous hyperbole that goes with it which grates, simply because it did when on the heights of Tremendous League carry-on, John Ribot insisted that the sport might change into well-liked in China.
This week Peter V’landys stated, with a straight face, “If marketed proper, Reece Walsh can change into one of many best-known Australian sportsmen in America. He’s the Justin Bieber of rugby league.” Sure, Peter. With Walsh enjoying fullback for the Broncos, half-a-world away, the eating places of Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive will quickly be stuffed on Monday mornings with folks saying, “Did you see Reece Walsh final night time? Sensational!”
No, however pay attention, they’re enjoying on the “world stage” with a TV viewers of tens thousands and thousands. No, they’re enjoying in Las Vegas, broadcast on Fox Sports activities 1 whose common prime-time viewership is 345,000.
No, however pay attention, the Las Vegas enterprise is so profitable, beginning knowledgeable rugby league competitors within the USA is already on the playing cards, and enterprise folks and TV folks, are already placing cash into it! From a standing begin, you’re going to begin your personal league of rugby league in probably the most aggressive sports activities market on the earth – one with no historical past of the sport past tiny pockets – and get a return on the cash you have got put in. And nongs have already handed over money to take action? Please.
Peter V’landys says Las Vegas might have a brand new “king”: Broncos star Reece WalshCredit score: John Shakespeare
No, however pay attention, we’re in such a shopping for temper, we’d additionally purchase a bit of Tremendous League within the UK. Sure, nice, as a result of these Pommies haven’t any historical past of working profitable aggressive sports activities themselves. We are able to educate them how!
Everyone from Travis Kelce to Patrick Mahomes to Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman might be coming! Truly, no. As revealed by Andrew Webster, they’re not coming in spite of everything, however “In keeping with the NRL, there are fairly just a few celebrities who’ve purchased tickets however have requested for his or her id to be withheld from the general public.”
Loading
Bought it? Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Woman Gaga and Bruce Springsteen are completely happy to return, they simply don’t need anybody to find out about, and the NRL has reluctantly agreed. As a result of celebrities are like that, don’t you recognize, with complete histories of hiding their gentle underneath a bushell like that?
Buddies? It’s all so pointless. The Las Vegas factor appears like it’ll be a profitable dipping of the toe within the American market, however that’s all it’s. Promoting it as if it’s a profitable triple somersault dive into the waters of the Caesar’s Palace fountain as America holds its breath earlier than coming to a standing ovation diminishes what genuinely has been achieved.