The time is right: Eels ready to take over Vegas

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.

The club was one of four unveiled on Wednesday morning for next year's edition of the Vegas extravaganza.

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.

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.

“We had looked at it earlier on in the concept,” Sarantinos told NRL.com. “We went through a bit of change at our club between the 2024 and 2025 seasons and we didn’t thank that was the right time.

“With stability in our coaching ranks right now, 2027 presents as the right time for us and we’re looking forward to the opportunity.

“We’re a young team and we’re a team that’s looking to grow. There’s always a lot of interest around our club, we have an amazing fan base that is incredibly loyal and everyone is desperate for success.

“The blue and gold army turns up all the time and I don’t think it will be any different when we head over to the US.”

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.

Fans have crammed into Fremont St for the annual event launch, before Allegiant Stadium takes centre-stage on gameday.

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.

An even bigger atmosphere is expected next season, with the Eels and Tigers boasting two of the largest supporter bases in the competition.

Sarantinos has been inundated with messages from excited fans in the hours following Wednesday’s announcement and is eager to see Parramatta supporters paint the city blue and gold throughout the week.

“Our fans have been waiting for a few years now to get this opportunity,” Sarantinos said. “We’ve had a lot of interest already from fans wanting to go.

“I’ve had fans telling me for years that as soon as we go to Vegas, they’ll be in so there won’t be a shortage of fans.

“I have no doubt there are fans right now looking at booking their trips and blocking out their diaries for the last weekend in February.”

The NRL’s 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.

Clubs have also utilised the event to attract an international fan base and connect with sponsors in new markets.

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.

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.

“It’s improved each year,” he said. “That clubs that have gone in year three learnt from the clubs that went in years one and two. We’ve got the opportunity to learn from clubs that have gone in the three years before us.

“Each 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’ll look to improve that next year for our fans.”

Rugby League hits Las Vegas. Direct Qantas Charter Flights and Travel Packages are on-sale now. This is your only way to secure a Rugby League Las Vegas ticket now. Find out more at nrl.com/vegas