Parramatta CEO Jim Sarantinos has declared the time is right for the Eels faithful to take over Las Vegas as the NRL’s season opener soars to new heights in 2027.<\/p>\n
The club was one of four unveiled on Wednesday morning for next year’s edition of the Vegas extravaganza.<\/p>\n
The Eels will take on the Titans, while Wests Tigers and Melbourne will face off at Allegiant Stadium. English Super League clubs Bradford Bulls and Leigh Leopards will also do battle in a triple-header.<\/p>\n
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LV27 showmen: Mitchell Moses<\/p>\n
Next season will be the fourth time the NRL has descended on Las Vegas, with Sarantinos confident his club is well placed to capitalise on the opportunities the event presents on and off the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had looked at it earlier on in the concept,\u201d Sarantinos told NRL.com. \u201cWe went through a bit of change at our club between the 2024 and 2025 seasons and we didn\u2019t thank that was the right time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith stability in our coaching ranks right now, 2027 presents as the right time for us and we\u2019re looking forward to the opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a young team and we\u2019re a team that\u2019s looking to grow. There\u2019s always a lot of interest around our club, we have an amazing fan base that is incredibly loyal and everyone is desperate for success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe blue and gold army turns up all the time and I don\u2019t think it will be any different when we head over to the US.\u201d<\/p>\n
Excitement is already high as travel packages go on sale, with the rugby league world set to descend on Las Vegas for the fourth consecutive year in early 2027.<\/p>\n
Fans have crammed into Fremont St for the annual event launch, before Allegiant Stadium takes centre-stage on gameday.<\/p>\n
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Las Vegas rewind – 2026<\/p>\n
This year’s Las Vegas experience reached new heights on and off the field, with record-breaking crowds and television ratings as the NRL opened its season in front of a global audience.<\/p>\n
An even bigger atmosphere is expected next season, with the Eels and Tigers boasting two of the largest supporter bases in the competition.<\/p>\n
Sarantinos has been inundated with messages from excited fans in the hours following Wednesday\u2019s announcement and is eager to see Parramatta supporters paint the city blue and gold throughout the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur fans have been waiting for a few years now to get this opportunity,\u201d Sarantinos said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of interest already from fans wanting to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had fans telling me for years that as soon as we go to Vegas, they\u2019ll be in so there won\u2019t be a shortage of fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no doubt there are fans right now looking at booking their trips and blocking out their diaries for the last weekend in February.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NRL\u2019s season opener in Las Vegas has steadily grown with each passing year, with supporters from a growing number of countries descending on the city and more US sports fans showing an interest in rugby league.<\/p>\n
Clubs have also utilised the event to attract an international fan base and connect with sponsors in new markets.<\/p>\n
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Las Vegas rewind – 2025<\/p>\n
On the field, the action has been high quality with clubs finetuning the challenges of transporting a football department to the US for a match with a grand-final buzz.<\/p>\n
Sarantinos has travelled to Las Vegas for previous editions of the event and said his club has learnt plenty as they look to capitalise on the opportunity on and off the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s improved each year,\u201d he said. \u201cThat clubs that have gone in year three learnt from the clubs that went in years one and two. We\u2019ve got the opportunity to learn from clubs that have gone in the three years before us.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year the fan experience has improved. The events that have been put on the ground by the clubs to bring fans together have gotten better every year. We\u2019ll look to improve that next year for our fans.\u201d<\/p>\n