The Perth Bears Rugby League Club today announced an extraordinary response to the launch of its Foundation Memberships – with more than 16,000 fans and counting signed up in just a few days.
Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie said 85% of the memberships hailed from Western Australia – proving the State was truly ready to put the “national” in National Rugby League.
“We had set a target of 10,000 foundation members by the end of October,” De Ceglie.
“We beat that number in the first 24-hours with at least triple the demand on Day One alone.
“By the end of our first weekend of sales we’re at an incredible 16,000 members with a new target of hitting 20,000 in our sights.
“We are truly grateful and honoured by all the support from our fanbase in Western Australian and in North Sydney thanks to the legacy and tradition of the North Sydney Bears.
“This proves that the Perth Bears will be a powerhouse of not just the NRL but of the entire national sporting landscape.
“And it proves that our coast-to-coast story is one that has been embraced.”
The Foundation Memberships will give fans priority access to ticketed and season memberships as they go on sale later this year.
“HBF Park fits about 20,000 seated fans – so my advice for those wanting to come to Perth Bears home games next year is to get in fast,” De Ceglie said.
The Perth Bears are also selling a Club 2027 Premium Foundation Membership for $3000 which gives priority access to up to five household immediate family members.
De Ceglie said the club was over the moon as many supporters have dug deep for a Club 2027 membership.
“The Perth Bears are the most exciting story in Australian sport,” he said.
“We are a non-profit club, so every dollar will go back into the Perth Bears and our overall mission of growing the greatest game of all in Western Australia.”
Junior registrations are already up 23 per cent year on year thanks to the arrival of the Perth Bears.
Perth Bears Chairman Ben Morton said the figures were remarkable.
"The fact that over 85% of our membership is from Western Australia proves what we in WA already knew … that there is huge support for the Perth Bears and the NRL in this State,” he said.
"To have 16,000 members sign up in such a short time is remarkable."
Perth Bears Head Coach Mal Meninga thanked all the Perth Bears fans for their support.
“We want this club to be something the whole of Western Australia and North Sydney can be proud of,” he said.
“We’re doing the hard work now and putting the planning in place to ensure we have a successful 2027 and beyond – that's what our 16,000-strong members deserve.”
Perth Bears General Manager of Commercial Katie Roberts said the sheer volume of traffic on launch day caused temporary technical difficulties, but supporters were incredibly patient.
“We keep planning for extra demand, but the excitement about the Perth Bears continues to be unprecedented,” she said.
“We’re well on our way to 20,000 foundation memberships and at least 30,000 members once ticketed and season memberships are released later this year. That will make the Perth Bears a top-five club for members in the NRL.”
The Perth Bears plan to release their inaugural jersey in August when the Melbourne Storm host the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at HBF Park. It will be the last NRL match at HBF Park before the Bears play home games there in 2027.
“Bears fans will have to be at this match to be the first to get their hands on our inaugural jersey,” De Ceglie.
“The Perth Bears continue to break commercial records across the board not just for the NRL but the national sporting landscape. I truly believe the Perth Bears can rival the Brisbane Broncos as the most commercially successful team in the NRL.”
Foundation Memberships are still available. Fans wishing to join the Bears family and be part of history can sign up at www.perthbears.com.au
