The Canberra Raiders will be given unprecedented exposure in the United States with next year's season opener to be beamed into up to 125 million homes across the country. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading $ 0 / $ NaN /year All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The Raiders' 2025 season opener against the New Zealand Warriors will mark the first time an NRL premiership game has been broadcast on a free-to-air network in the United States.
The Raiders-Warriors match at Allegiant Stadium on March 2 [AEST] in Las Vegas will be broadcast live in the United States on FOX, which has a distribution of 125 million homes in the US. The match is the first in a rugby league extravaganza including Penrith's clash with Cronulla, a women's Test between Australia and England, and a Super League game between Wigan and Sam Burgess' Warrington . The Panthers-Sharks match and Australia-England women's Test will both be televised on FS1 in the United States, while the Super League clash will be shown on FOX Soccer Plus across the US.
"The visionary support we have had from FOX in the US and Australia for this venture has been truly remarkable," Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys said. "Together we share the bold ambition for what is possible for rugby league in the US and across the world. The Canberra Raiders will open the NRL season in Las Vegas.
Picture by Keegan Carroll "Las Vegas in 2025 will give rugby league never-before-seen mass exposure in the US market, allowing us to showcase Super League, NRL and international athletes and win new fans." NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo says the decision to broadcast a game on a free-to-air network is a vote of confidence in the league's US strategy. "We are grateful for the shared vision we have from FOX on the potential for rugby league in the US and the belief and backing for what will be a bigger, bolder and better festival of Rugby League in Las Vegas 2025," Abdo said.
Tickets for Canberra's allocated supporter bay at Allegiant Stadium were snapped up in a frenzy while Raiders officials are looking into a colour rush-inspired playing strip to mirror those used by NFL teams. Canberra chief executive Don Furner is targeting the Las Vegas Raiders' $271.5 million performance centre as a training base during the club's eight-night stay in the US.
The lure of playing a game in Las Vegas already has sponsors salivating - and the prospect of being broadcast on free-to-air television in the US will be a major coup for Canberra's bean counters. "A lot of people are interested in going," Furner said. "A lot of people are extending their holiday and doing something on either side of it.
I've said it to the staff, the coaching staff and the players, it's never going to happen again, that they play an NRL game in the entertainment capital of the world." Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Caden Helmers Sports Writer Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times. Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
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