NRL members and fans will enjoy train travel with pre-purchased tickets to all regular-season games scheduled at Stadium Australia during the 2015 Telstra Premiership season.
The NRL today confirmed the deal with Transport for NSW and Sydney Trains, just in time for the first Stadium Australia matches of the season this weekend.
The deal will include transport for NRL club members, of the teams playing at Stadium Australia for that round, Stadium Australia members and corporate guests, and those fans with a pre-purchased ticket to the fixture on that same day.
South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels and St George Illawarra Dragons, are all major tenants at Stadium Australia, and have also played an integral role in forming this deal for members and fans.
NRL Chief Executive Dave Smith said the partnership was a fantastic win for fans and part of the NRL’s commitment to improving the fan experience in 2015.
Mr Smith said the NRL wanted to provide the best possible experience for members and fans – and that included their journey to and from the game.
“It will apply to all 26 club games being played at Stadium Australia this season. So, when you buy a ticket in advance for any game at ANZ you get the transport thrown in,” Mr Smith said.
“Not only is it going to save fans money but ideally it is going to reduce traffic congestion around the ground and give fans a much more enjoyable game-day experience.”
NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation Stuart Ayres said the announcement will provide an even better match day experience for fans.
“The Baird Government is proud to join the NRL and Sydney Trains in making it even easier for people to get out to the footy,” he said.
“With Olympic Park Station just a stone’s throw away from Stadium Australia this is great news for NRL members, fans and the greater sporting public.”
Stadium Australia Managing Director Daryl Kerry, congratulated NRL CEO Dave Smith, and the NSW Government – along with Sydney Trains – for continuing its commitment to the transport initiative in the 2015 season.
He also thanked the Stadium’s two longest-serving NRL tenants, the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs, along with Wests Tigers, Eels and Dragons, for playing an integral part in securing the deal.
“There will be a feast of rugby league action at Stadium Australia in season 2015, starting with two blockbusters this weekend – Bulldogs v Eels tonight and Rabbitohs v Roosters on Sunday,” Mr Kerry said.
The train travel will apply to the entire Sydney Trains network and the NSW TrainLink intercity network. That includes fans travelling from as far away as Bathurst, the Blue Mountains, Hunter Region (from Dungog / Scone), Bomaderry, and Goulburn.
Sydney Trains has also agreed, whenever possible during the NRL regular season, to provide two direct train services to Sydney Olympic Park taking into account the demographics of the two competing teams (in cases when the two competing teams are Sydney based), and one direct train service when the opposing team is out of Sydney.
