ARL Commission chairman Peter Vโlandys was certain league fans would be safe, and โthose [ICE] incidents are isolated to another state a long way from Vegasโ.
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A crowd of 40,746 attended the first edition of the NRL in Vegas, while 45,209 watched last yearโs matches. The NRL is hoping for a similar attendance for the two NRL games involving Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland. There is also a Super League game featuring Leeds and champions Hull KR.
More than 15,000 Australians have bought tickets, with Canterbury supporters leading the way in terms of sales, followed by the Cowboys.
The Cowboys and Bulldogs confirmed they would have security attached to their travelling players. The Dragons have hired Manlyโs long-time head of security Michael Malligan, while the Knights opted for the services of a US firm.
Bell said he could not fault the behaviour of players and fans over the past two years, and was due to present to the players and staff of the four clubs next week via phone hook-up.
โWeโll give them the basics, things they probably already know, but I want to reiterate with them how Las Vegas is a city where people think they can do what they want whenever they want, and for the most part you can โ you can come out here and enjoy yourself โ but you have to be responsible,โ Bell said.
โWe communicate all the time [with the NRL]. We talk about ways how we can keep everyone safe, and make sure they also enjoy themselves. If they come all the way over here, we want them to have a great time.
โThe fans have been great, the attendance has increased, and Iโd imagine it will go up again for this instalment.โ
The Knights and Cowboys are hoping to learn this week if visas have been granted to Dylan Brown and Matt Lodge. Brown pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual touching in 2023, while Lodge spent time in New Yorkโs famous Rikers Island after a violent home invasion in 2015.
