Super League in talks over staging regular season games in USA

josie andrews · Post by **josie andrews** » Thu May 16, 2024 7:58 am

Super League could be set to take a number of regular season games to the USA, according to BBC Sport.

It follows on from the NRL who opened up their current season with a double-header in Las Vegas.

The event that saw Manly Sea Eagles face South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters take on Brisbane Broncos attracted a record crowd for a rugby match on American soil of 40,746

Allegiant Stadium, which hosted the games, is expected to be the location for next year’s event with the five-year deal to take the game stateside also seeing the games broadcast on Fox Sports USA.

In 2018, England faced New Zealand in Denver, the first time a game from either code has taken place in Colorado, with a larger than expected crowd of 19,320 seeing England secure an impressive 36-18 win over the Kiwis.

Despite the success of that event, rugby league has not returned there since, but that could now be about to change, with the venue that staged that event, Mile High Stadium, surely under consideration alongside stadiums in Vegas and New York.

World Club Challenge headed for USA?
The report in the BBC also suggests that taking the World Club Challenge to the USA is also part of the talks.

Super League has won the last two stagings of the event, with St Helens and Wigan Warriors both beating the Penrith Panthers in back-to-back game, the former saw Saints claim a stunning victory in the Panthers back yard.

That has ignited more interest in the event from the NRL who are also keen to take more games to the USA additional to what they have already agreed, with the World Club Challenge an option.

The BBC’s report reads: “The National Rugby League (NRL) season kicked off in the US for the first time in March, with a Premiership double-header staged at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as part of a multi-year deal designed to grow the sport in the US.

“So could Super League clubs follow suit? Talks have taken place over the World Club Challenge being staged in the US, and some Super League bosses are keen on regular season matches being part of the tie-up too.

“Wigan and Warrington played each other in Milwaukee 35 years ago, albeit as an exhibition match. And with rugby league currently ‘re-imagining’ itself as part of a 12-year deal with agency IMG intended to boost its appeal, anything seems possible.”

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/super-le ... usa-91773/

josie andrews · Post by **josie andrews** » Thu May 16, 2024 8:08 am

If all this happens I can see a lot of the older fans, who’ve remained faithful to the club & the sport through good as well as bad times, being left behind. They can’t afford, money or health wise, well I can’t, to go gallivanting all over the place to watch games.

It’s okay for these chief execs & the RFL hangers on who just go to big events for the freebies. I wonder when Rodri Jones last bought a match ticket?

Post by **Mike** » Thu May 16, 2024 3:47 pm

Its a waste of time to bring a SL game to US. The sport has decided it won't allow any clubs from the US to join the league so why bring a SL game over here? The WCC has a bit more logic to it being a neutral venue for the game and potentially raising the profile of NRL and SL in one go. Now we have a streaming platform maybe they can sell a few more subscriptions, but until the SL start thinking of a USA based franchise again, there's not really any point in doing this.

Ipinwigan · Post by **Ipinwigan** » Thu May 16, 2024 4:22 pm

"but until the SL start thinking of a USA based franchise again, there's not really any point in doing this.'

Noooo, definitely NOT another franchise expansion idea for Super League.
Non of them have ever worked, they must just like flogging a dead horse.
London is a prime example of something that just doesn't work, they just aren't interested.

keptinthedarkfans · Post by **keptinthedarkfans** » Thu May 16, 2024 5:31 pm

Ipinwigan wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 4:22 pm "but until the SL start thinking of a USA based franchise again, there's not really any point in doing this.'

Noooo, definitely NOT another franchise expansion idea for Super League.
Non of them have ever worked, they must just like flogging a dead horse.
London is a prime example of something that just doesn't work, they just aren't interested.

Have to agree with you.

robbobillinge · Post by **robbobillinge** » Thu May 16, 2024 6:00 pm

I have close relatives who live on the California coast-very nice, but the journey is now becoming so stressful that we are thinking of not going anymore. I am 80 soon, but fit and well, but not being able to fly direct makes it horrendous. Just my thoughts.

moto748 · Post by **moto748** » Thu May 16, 2024 7:05 pm

To me it smacks of the RFL mindlessly copying the NRL, again. There was some logic in the Vegas trip, although a lot of Aussie fans didn't like it. Much less for English teams. As Josie says, it's fine if you're getting a freebie ticket and flight!

And if games must be played in the US, can't they find a pitch that's about the right size?

Barney841 · Post by **Barney841** » Thu May 16, 2024 7:31 pm

How about we getting big and thriving over here before we bugger off to the US?!!

EDINBURGH-WARRIOR · Post by **EDINBURGH-WARRIOR** » Mon May 20, 2024 10:07 pm

Was there not a problem with the England game in Colarado where the promoters didn't pay the RFL the agreed fee for the game . The USA will never buy into something they can't control themselves.

EW

fozzie58 · Post by **fozzie58** » Mon May 20, 2024 10:41 pm

EDINBURGH-WARRIOR wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 10:07 pm Was there not a problem with the England game in Colarado where the promoters didn't pay the RFL the agreed fee for the game . The USA will never buy into something they can't control themselves.

EW

Yup yet another flight of fancy, just because the NRL have the cash to splash to have a go in America does not mean our game can, indeed most clubs can barely afford the coach and half time satsuma's