What great awareness from Peter V’landys. The man did so much for sport during COVID – not only rugby league and racing, but sport globally.
V’landys created a market through succinct arguments and following protocols when the world was in lockdown.
V’landys restarted the NRL and racing in NSW in matter of weeks. This is a man with a vision and goals, and he will achieve them for the greater good of the public.
For that, we all thank Mr V’landys.
Since COVID struck, he sought a way through. The rest of the world followed in quick succession.
While we were in isolation, we had an event to watch, then another, then another…
As the global codes came back, V’landys was on a mission to promote rugby league globally.
Let’s be real. Rugby league is played on the east coast of Australia, a small part of England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
The market is open for expansion, but as V’landys suggested last week, the market is exhausted in Australia for more revenues.
He has done an outstanding job. And again, as a sport lover of all codes, I think it’s been fantastic.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
In the past few weeks or months, the NRL have targeted the USA and other markets. In any business, this is an appropriate action to create greater market awareness and is yet another smart move.
The rules of the NRL have been changed possibly too frequently over the preceding two or three years to create a better quality product that can be sold overseas.
Again, this is a great advertisement for the sport and to try to muscle in on the global power of their brother code rugby union, which has a far greater foothold on the global market.
Being in a niche market, with almost autonomous control over rules, means the NRL can adapt to consumer concerns.
However, appeasing one side will inevitably anger another.
The latest push for a Super Bowl-style format for the NRL grand final is certainly intriguing, especially when global cities being considered is incredible.
There are ones I’d love to see, and are definitely a revenue stream.
The statement made from V’landys, according to Fox Sports, is “one thing I know about supporters, they will travel”.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
Now remember that rugby league is built on the premise of the working class.
I’m all for expansion, but surely the appeal of Sydney or Brisbane (only) at this point should be front of mind for a minimum of ten years.
The beauty of rugby league in the ’80s and ’90s was that it gave an average punter a seat at the stadium. It has now become a seat, a flight and accommodation for two to three people.
The point is, it’s not the Super Bowl. That is the foundation of the sport.
Global sporting events with largest ticket prices for participation are the Super Bowl, the Champions League final in Europe mostly, the FIFA World Cup final, and the Olympics 100-metre sprint final (outside of the host city-allocated tickets).
To ask punters from rugby league’s heartland to travel and spend a minimum of $1600 per person to attend an event for NRL may be a stretch too far.
Is this about money or the people who support it, or is this simply to improve the bidding price and increase ratings?
If it is, has rugby league jumped the shark too early?
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
No-one has to travel, wherever it is played in Australia, and there are plenty of cities (well, 2 or three) that would be gracious hosts and almost fill their venues with locals, but plenty of Sydney and Brisbane people would travel for the GF. They already do for Origin. So, the idea of moving the GF is not a risk, they'll make money for sure. As for overseas 'exhibitions', that won't fly. No-one would be interested, especially in the US. As for the market in Australia being exhausted, is that an admission there will be no more expansion teams? Wow, there's at least two fair-sized cities that would be ideal NRL sites and make the game a real National League.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
If they do end up taking the game to the US a small suggestion… get American callers for the games. Whilst Aussie fans are used to the audio GBH we receive week in week out, I’m not certain American audiences will be prepared to descramble a Michael Ennis brain fart issued by The Julia Gillard Elocution School’s most notable graduate. If it is argued that an American commentator won’t understand the rules, don’t worry, neither do most of the dimwits on 9 or Fox
Contego
Guest
If it’s the National Rugby League it should go to the highest bidder, if it’s the New South Wales Rugby League it should be limited to Sydney.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
everyones working class except for the players - one look at their pay packet will tell you that.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Rose Bowl hosted it when the Rams and Raiders were in LA
no one in particular
Roar Guru
reimagining nothing
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
But the Rose Bowl hasn't held it since the early 1990's right? Like 30 years ago. Goddell has spoken about taking it over seas, but he hasn't.. Yes the point PVL was making was different cities, but it is played in different cities with an existing NFL market, with existing NFL fans and existing NFL sponsors. PVL also also said we have to remember it is called the National Rugby League for a reason - but also chose to put an expansion side in Brisbane. They should consider playing it outside of Sydney, but the only other option - currently is Brisbane. Apart from the total lack of atmosphere playing infront of a crowd where nobody gives a damn, no where else in the country has a rectangle stadium. You can play an exhibition game on a round ground, i don't think it is ideal, but you have to do what you have to do, but you can't put the grand final on a round field. Not anymore.
mushi
Roar Guru
Great but didn't the bundesliga go first? (I actually think corn bag tossing never shut down so really PVL was riding all sorts of coat tails!) It's referenced as such in most offshore materials and the scheduling seems to add up, plus it led to some peer reviewed studies that other leagues you referred to leveraged on. Even that aside it's still a long bow to suggest that it was a "but for" catalyst. By that logic why not credit PVL (well if he had have been the first) for the reopening of every market in the entire global economy that was shut. The logistics, goverernment, covid prevalence and restrictions were so varied that if it was such a magical bullet it would cross to other industries surely :thumbup: Truth is everyone was already working on ways to return, the NRL wasn't the penicillin of professional sport.
Nat
Roar Guru
Ignoring all the nitpicking and code-deniers of what PVL achieved in 2020, i don’t think he has jumped the shark at all. The guy is one of, if not the, smartest and well connected sports administrator in the country. He knows the US dream is not a short term vision, it won’t be rolled out in a year or two. He will build it and piggy back off the sports betting agencies money in making it happen. As far as the GF bidding goes, go for it. The GF gets over 3m viewers and only (upto) 100,000 punter will actually attend. Any stadium will sell out and the vast majority will watch from home. Will the punters pay $1600 to watch their team? Go back and check airfare prices when NQ made the GF. Good seats at Suncorp for Origin are already up past $600.
Mark
Guest
I think you are re-imagining what happened in 2020. The NRL announced on 9 April 2020 that it was planning to re-start on 28 May. The AFL didn't mock that - they simply said they would re-start their competition based on their own situation, which involved having teams in all 5 mainland states, unlike the NRL. Later in April the AFL announced they would make a decision after the 10 May National Cabinet meeting made decisions about inter-state movements etc. After that meeting, the announced its protocols for Covid testing, the re-start of contact training and a competition re-start in June.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
* re-started. It had already started in usual time in mid-March, but supspended in April.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
The NRL started in May that year as well.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Wasn't the NBA, EPL and Serie A suspended? Some major global sports. I remember reading about the NFL making enquiries with the NRL as to how they were able to start and maintain as their season was about to start. Those cut out life size posters of fans in the stadiums was a world first by the NRL. I saw other sports like EPL and NBA doing the same thing some time later. We live in a much closer world these days and it's much easier to get ideas, influence and be influenced by the world these days.
mushi
Roar Guru
I'm not conceptually against it but this isn't about fan fairness it's a heavy handed negotiation tactic. Which is becoming the default setting for the NRL.
Mark
Guest
Really - which ones? PVL did a great job in getting the NRL back up in May 2020 - but please don't pretend that major overseas sporting leagues were emboldened, or even noticed, what the NRL or the AFL did. Every league or competition that shut down in 2020 wanted to get started again - some, like the MLB and NBA, took until well into the 2nd half of 2020 to get started again, because of their own circumstances. Some, like the Korean football and baseball leagues, re-started in May 2020 before the NRL did. A few, like the Nicaraguan football league, never shut down at all.
mushi
Roar Guru
But to counter that. PVL has slashed the investment in anything not NRL, so grass roots / getting kids to be involved in RL is now increasingly funded by the government and the community. Smashing the business partner who is picking up the slack, whilst they have their own funding issues, is short sighted.
mushi
Roar Guru
Even accepting the AFL (I think it's simplified but sure there was some benefit to being a follower, they also had the capacity to wait longer). How is that sport globally?
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Other sports overseas were emboldened by him.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Max The author is correct. The VFL CEO was ahmmning and errring and looked like he was still in his PJs during interviews. Vlandys was in his suit and ready to rumble. Many, many naysayers in the media, public, politicians and forums such as these were saying he is nuts, irresponsible, couldn't be done,impossible etc Well he proved them wrong and with single minded doggedness he got the NRL up and running. It was he that emboldened other sports both here and overseas to get off their derrieres and stop using Covid as an excuse to cower and do nothing. And for that, I'm grateful that Vlandys gave so many of us joy during some trying times. Now if only he would get rid of the 6 again rule...
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
"Now remember that rugby league is built on the premise of the working class." Sounds like what you meant was NSW working class. Mate it's not 1908 anymore, the NRL is for anyone and everyone who wants to enjoy it. That includes working class people in other Australian states, and NZ as well. The NRL GF should be available to any major city with a team. Why should passionate supporters in Brisbane, Townsville, Melbourne or NZ miss out just because of NSW entitlement?