The NRL’s bold push into the American market is gaining serious traction, with the 2026 Las Vegas showcase shaping up to be its most ambitious yet.
Fan demand has surged so dramatically that a fifth Qantas Dreamliner has been added to ferry supporters to the Nevada spectacle, with a sixth potentially on the horizon.
Four of the specially chartered 236-seat flights have already sold out, doubling the number used in each of the first two years. League officials are now racing to meet the appetite for more seats ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster weekend.
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“The interest in Vegas is growing and growing”
“Demand has been so high, it’s been unbelievable. The interest in Vegas is growing and growing,” NRL general manager of US expansion John Vellis told The Daily Telegraph.
“For the first two years, we had two charters. This year, we have gone up to four, and we are now going to launch a fifth charter. These flights are specifically for our event.”
The 2026 event will feature marquee clashes, including Canterbury Bulldogs taking on St George Illawarra Dragons, and the Newcastle Knights facing off against the North Queensland Cowboys.
With fans clamouring for seats and the NRL going all in on its Stateside dream, Vegas 2026 is fast becoming a defining moment in the game’s global journey.