The Panthers have clarified their stance about involvement in the NRL’s historic double header in Las Vegas next year after ten clubs reportedly expressed their interest in taking part.
These teams are the Raiders, Sharks, Bulldogs, Broncos, Rabbitohs, Storm, Titans, Roosters, Sea Eagles and Dolphins as per The Daily Telegraph.
In a statement released on Friday, the Panthers said they have “expressed a desire” to be represented in the Las Vegas fixtures but believes the club’s representation would be “better suited” in future years.
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“The Panthers faces the unenviable task of managing a potential stadium upgrade over the coming years, with the club’s desire to play in the US during the transition period,” the statement read.
“The club has submitted an expression of interest to the NRL to be considered to play in Las Vegas in future years to help manage stadium transition.”
According to News Corp’s report, in addition to the Panthers, the Cowboys and Tigers are two other teams who are keen to take part in the initiative in the future, but not as early as 2024.
Due to the strong interest, an email from the NRL was sent to clubs earlier in the week.
The email outlined important details and requested clubs inform the NRL why they should be apart of the historic event and what they could bring to the table from a marketing standpoint.
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“The NRL has received significant interest from clubs to participate in this inaugural event and will consider the information requested below to allow the commission to determine the most optimal combination of teams for 2024 and beyond,” the email read.
“The NRL values what clubs will bring to this concept and, importantly, the engagement of as many fans as possible for this unique and exciting opportunity and experience.
“The NRL’s primary objective is to maximise stadium attendance and establish a solid foundation for a strong connection with the US market in future seasons. We are actively seeking partnerships with clubs to achieve this.”
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It has been confirmed that the two games will be played on the night of Saturday, March 2 local time. This means they’ll be shown live in Australia from 1pm AEST.
Those two fixtures will kick off the season, with the teams who remain back in Australia to play their first round matches the following week.
The NRL’s wish is to have the US host games once a year for five years from the 2024 season.
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