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read moreWeeks of speculation in Sydney’s media that the NRL Grand Final would again be staged in Brisbane have been ended today with the announcement that Accor Stadium will host the game on Sunday 2nd October.
With the NSW Government pledging "additional investment" to secure the match, Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Chair Peter V'landys today confirmed a one-year deal to keep the game in Sydney, the nation’s largest rugby league market.
Reports had suggested that V'landys has been in dispute with the NSW Government after it abandoned plans to upgrade suburban rugby league infrastructure in Sydney, with indications that he had threatened to move the NRL decider interstate.
However, while V'landys is reported to still be seeking hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in at least three suburban stadia, he advised that “further discussions” will take place for matches beyond 2022, suggesting the idea of a "Super Bowl-type concept" where the decider could be moved around the country to the highest bidding location.
V'landys advised that “we were hoping we would have an exclusive arrangement with the NSW Government (but) unfortunately, that is no longer the case. It opens the door for a Super Bowl-type concept or, who can give us the best deal for the game.
“After extensive negotiations we have made a decision which we believe is in the best interests of our fans and that is to hold the game in Sydney this year.”
With the NSW Government having frequently changed policy on stadium development over the past decade, its most recent commitment has been to redevelop Brookvale Oval, Leichhardt Oval, Shark Park and Penrith Stadium.
However, with restrictions on its finances as a result of the pandemic, the last NSW Government budget provided no funds for stadium development while former NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said it had been made clear to the NRL that limitations exist in its finances.
Earlier this month, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced that funds promised to revamp suburban grounds were instead needed to support the victims of NSW's flood crisis.
V’landys went on to say that the Queensland Government had been close to securing the hosting rights for the Grand Final in Brisbane, adding "up until last night's Commission meeting, if you asked me then I would say it would go to Queensland.”
With the exception of last year when the match was moved to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions, Sydney has hosted the NRL Grand Final every year since its inception.
Guardian Australia suggested that the NSW Government’s additional investment to attract the Grand Final was in the region of $8 million.
Advising that decision to host the game at Accor Stadium was “the right outcome for rugby league”, Premier Perrottet added “NSW has always been the home of rugby league and our government has made record investments in the sport.
“We’ve invested more than $1.5 billion in all levels of the game, from grassroots, to funding for regional content, to the very best purpose-built rugby league infrastructure in the world.”
Image: The 2017 NRL Grand Final at the then ANZ Stadium - now Accor Stadium.
7th August 2022 - Railing collapse at Leichhardt Oval during schoolboy rugby match raises safety concerns
3rd August 2022 - NSW Tourism and Sport Minister Stuart Ayres resigns following misconduct allegations
28th July 2022 - Move to wear historic pride jersey by NRL’s Manly results in player boycott
27th July 2022 - Australian Sports Commission program helps NRL’s Cronulla Sharks develop women leaders
6th July 2022 - NSW Government looks to acquire harness racing track as site for new Penrith Stadium
22nd June 2022 - NSW Government budget delivers $3.5 million for Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre but no money for new stadia
21st June 2022 - $113 million allocated for delivery of three new Rugby League Centres of Excellence
15th June 2022 - NRLW to expand to 10 teams for 2023 season
7th June 2022 - Sydney’s Accor Stadium lights up ahead of State of Origin game 1
23rd May 2022 - Inner West Council releases plans for redevelopment of Leichhardt Oval
30th April 2022 - NRL fixture to go ahead at Darwin’s TIO Stadium despite ‘dangerous’ fire alarm procedure
10th April 2022 - Pitch invasions at weekend NRL games raise questions about venue security
10th April 2022 - NSW Government calls for community input on Penrith Stadium redevelopment
16th March 2022 - Australian Rugby League Commission announces expansion for NRLW
15th March 2022 - New ‘Great Southern Screen’ unveiled at Sydney’s Accor Stadium
7th March 2022 - Wollongong City Council presents plan for redevelopment of WIN Entertainment Centre and WIN Stadium to NSW Government
28th February 2022 - Despite COVID-19 impact NRL reports $43 million surplus for 2021 season
4th February 2022 - Waratahs to play Super Rugby Pacific home fixtures at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval home after Manly refusal
5th January 2022 - NRL introduces strict anti COVID measures to ensure season start
26th November 2021 - Hotel operator Accor signs seven-year naming rights deal for Stadium Australia
9th November 2021 - NRL’S Warriors set for Auckland return with five matches confirmed for Mt Smart Stadium in 2022
22nd October 2021 - NRL reluctant to follow AFL in mandating COVID-19 vaccine
8th October 2021 - Australian Rugby League Commission agrees expansion plans for 17th NRL team
30th September 2021 - Rising Coronavirus cases sees Suncorp Stadium crowd capped at 75% for NRL Grand Final
29th September 2021 - Ahead of NRL Grand Final Suncorp extends naming rights deal for Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
9th September 2021 - Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to host relocated NRL Grand Final
11th June 2021 - Local craft brewery takes on naming rights for Manly’s Brookvale Oval
5th August 2020 - Manly Sea Eagles look to commence redevelopment of Brookvale Oval
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