THE four big Sydney clubs that share Stadium Australia as a home venue – South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers – have agreed to a series of initiatives aimed at driving attendances and transforming the event experience at their matches in 2018.
The NRL season kicks off on the weekend of 8-11 March and, in a major breakthrough for their clubs’ Members and supporters (and away-team fans travelling to Stadium Australia), the Big Four have agreed to the following initiatives for all 33 NRL regular-season games at Stadium Australia.
- General admission tickets from $20 for an adult and $40 for a family on all pre-purchased tickets;
- Free entry for juniors 12-and-under on a pre-purchased adult ticket, with 4 children entitled to entry on every adult ticket purchased;
- All tickets include the cost of train travel to matches – with 2 Direct Trains to and from Olympic Park to run for each game vs a Sydney-based opponent*;
- Family-friendly, value-based food & beverage offers at Stadium Australia outlets for every game.
Additionally, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs, Eels and Tigers Members are entitled to free entry to all games at Stadium Australia in which their club is competing as part of their 2018 Membership. Club Members have Reciprocal Membership Rights when they are the away team. *Only Wests Tigers Members who have ANZ the Stadium in their package will receive access to away games.
Derby games involving the big four clubs will also be better promoted with the clubs committing to work together to build excitement among fans, including a plan for joint media conferences in lead-up to games.
For every NRL event at Stadium Australia in 2018, the following $9.90 Fan-tastic Kids’ Meal deals will be available in the retail areas of the stadium (along with the regular meal bundles).
- Cheese Burger Meal (Beef cheeseburger, fries and drink),
- Chicken Burger Meal (Chicken burger, fries and drink),
- Vili’s Pie Meal (Pie, fries and drink),
- Fish and chips meal (Fish, chips and drink).
Also, over the course of the NRL season there will be heavily-discounted food products rotated on a monthly basis, starting with $3 Vili’s pies at all games played in March!
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said: “These are incredible initiatives and I congratulate all four Clubs and Stadium Australia for being so proactive and working together to introduce them.
“As a game, we are focused on ensuring going to the footy is affordable as well as an enjoyable experience for our supporters.
“This is a fantastic example of clubs working together in order to get the best result for the fans and for the game.
“I can’t wait to see Members and other supporters take advantage of these offers in the 2018 season.”
The introduction of these initiatives follows extensive research by the Stadium Australia home clubs on what fans want at their games for season 2018. Attending games will now be more affordable, and there will be better access to the Stadium.
The Parramatta Eels will play 11 home games at Stadium Australia, the South Sydney Rabbitohs 9, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 9 and Wests Tigers 4.
In another win for fans, Stadium Australia will host 11 day-time matches in a focus to give families the best possible opportunity to enjoy the footy.
The opening NRL game at Stadium Australia will be the highly-anticipated Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters game on Saturday 10 March (4.30pm kick-off).
Round 3 will feature the first regular-season double header played at Sydney Olympic Park since 2008, with the Rabbitohs hosting the Sea Eagles at 5:30pm followed by the Eels playing the Sharks at 7:30pm on Saturday 24 March.
All four home clubs will feature in the Round 4 Easter Footy Fest, with the Rabbitohs hosting the Bulldogs on Good Friday 30 March, and Wests Tigers against the Eels on Easter Monday 2 April.
The annual Queen’s Birthday classic will see the Bulldogs hosting the Dragons on Monday 11 June.
*Direct trains subject to trackwork throughout the season.
