The four NRL rugby league clubs that share Sydney’s ANZ Stadium have teamed up to cut ticket prices and the cost of food at the venue.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels have agreed to a series of initiatives as part of a ‘fans first’ programme at the 83,000-seat stadium.
The initiatives have been unveiled ahead of the start of the NRL season on the weekend of March 8-11.
The four clubs have agreed to offer pre-purchased tickets from Aus$20 (£11.30/€12.77/$15.85) for an adult and Aus$40 for a family. Free entry will also be provided for under 13s on a pre-purchased adult ticket, with four children entitled to entry on every adult ticket bought.
Tickets will also cover the cost of train travel to matches, with two Direct Trains to and from Sydney’s Olympic Park to run for every match against a Sydney-based opponent.
In addition, members at the Rabbitohs, Bulldogs, Eels and Tigers will be entitled to free entry at all ANZ Stadium fixtures in which their club is competing as part of their 2018 membership package.
Club members will also be offered reciprocal membership rights when their team is the designated away side. The four clubs have also strived to better promote derby games involving the teams.
Furthermore, Aus$9.95 kids meals will be available in the retail areas of ANZ Stadium, with heavily-discounted food products to be rotated on a monthly basis. This initiative will launch in March with Aus$3 Vili’s pies.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said: “These are incredible initiatives and I congratulate all four clubs and ANZ Stadium 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.”
The Eels are scheduled to play 11 home games at ANZ Stadium this year. The Rabbitohs and Bulldogs will play nine each, with the Tigers to play four. Eleven day-time matches will also be played this year to make it more convenient for families to attend.
ANZ Stadium, which also serves as the home of A-League football team the Western Sydney Wanderers, is to be renovated as part of plans revealed last year by the New South Wales government for Sydney’s stadia.
ANZ Stadium will be knocked down and replaced by a 75,000-capacity stadium located in Sydney’s Olympic Park. Work is due to begin next year and the new venue is scheduled to open in 2022. The smaller Allianz Stadium is also due to be replaced by a new a 45,000-seat venue, with work to begin later this year.
Image: Adam W.J.C
