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NRL records 'huge' uptick in American viewers for 2025 Las Vegas season opener
Charles Goodsir • March 6th, 2025 2:05 pm
Photo: Alex Whitehead/Photosport
The number of viewers in the US of the 2025 NRL Las Vegas season opener have been released and the NRL has seen an increase from the previous year.
In year two of the Vegas venture, the NRL’s season opener was broadcast on Fox Sports’ main channel rather than Fox Sports 1 in 2024.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis told SEN that this was a significant milestone for the NRL in their attempt to capture the American market.
“It’s a bit of good news,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The Canberra Raiders and Warriors game was live on Fox Sports (in America) and it attracted 371,000 viewers.
“That’s up on last year where it only attracted around 61,000 people.
“They’re not huge numbers compared to the audience in the US but the fact it’s up by more than 300,000 people is a massive spike and a good result for the NRL.
“Let’s hope we keep seeing it track upwards.”
Vossy is loving how rugby league fans are taking over Vegas | League Nation
45,209 was the peak attendance figure for the 2025 Las Vegas showcase at Allegiant Stadium; an increase on the 31.927 fans that attended the year prior.
SEN’s Andrew Voss acknowledged that the final attendance figure fell short of the expected 50,000 mark but that it out performed other big events in Sin City.
“I think the peak crowd figure was genuine and I believed that it peaked during game two,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I think 50,000 would be a massive get. Everyone focused on the empty seats but I told everyone that they needed to focus on the filled seats.
“Rugby league had more than double the highest attended event, show or concert over the past week in Vegas.
“I know we’ve flown in for it but it’s a big event in Vegas proportions. They’ve done very well.
“50,000 people there would be great with at least 5,000 Americans in attendance.”
