Paul Gallen has questioned if the NRL’s plans to open the 2023 season in the USA can come to fruition, after a reported twist in the giant marketing leap.
While Los Angeles has long been rumoured to be the location for an NRL season-opener in America, the league is now weighing up Chicago as an option, according to Nine’s Danny Weidler on 100% Footy.
Weidler believes a season-opening match between the Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm in Chicago is being discussed by league bosses.
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“LA is being viewed as perhaps too busy … and too much on there for the game to be played,” Weidler said.
“They want a lot of attention on it.
“It’s all to do with gambling revenue. The idea is to get into that American market because sports betting is going to become a big part of that.”
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Gallen put himself in the shoes of the clubs.
“It’s going to be a big effort for whatever clubs go,” the former Sharks captain said.
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“You’d think they’d have to get over there a week before. They’ve got to come back and play the week after. Surely they’d have to be doing it on a bye weekend or something like that, a spare week.”
The NRL is being lured by the fact sports wagering is now legal in several USA states, including Illinois, of which Chicago is the biggest city.
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