LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Perth Bears are preparing to enter the NRL arena, with their inaugural match set for next year. However, the club's ambitions extend beyond Western Australia as they explore potential opportunities in international territories.
As reported by international outlet City AM, Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie has indicated that the club is open to the possibility of hosting NRL games in Singapore. This initiative aligns with the ARL Commission's intent to tap into broader global markets, taking advantage of the compatible time zone.
"We are in a very different time zone to Sydney and Melbourne," De Ceglie noted.
"We're in the economic Asian powerhouse time zone and that's really handy for us."
He expressed enthusiasm about bringing the NRL to Singapore, envisioning it as a potential counterpart to Las Vegas.
The proposal follows the NRL's successful ventures in Las Vegas and is part of a larger strategy to increase the sport's presence on a global scale, particularly in Asia. De Ceglie sees immense commercial and broadcasting opportunities waiting to be tapped in these markets.
"There's so many opportunities, not just into the east coast market because it means we can play that late game, but also taking the game into Asia could be huge," he remarked.
"We're the most watched sporting code in Australia and we have a monopoly on it in Western Australia, it's a pretty easy selling point, but we're capitalising on the growth of the game."
Moreover, the National Rugby League in Singapore has shown a positive reception towards this concept. The city-state is already establishing itself as a hub for major rugby league events, including the World Club Challenge and prospective matches in a future NRL Global Round.