Rugby league has taken over Las Vegas over the last few days and just one more day remains until Saturday’s quadruple-header at Allegiant Stadium. Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves fans have been out in full force ahead of the clash and we’re expecting over 10,000 fans from the UK to be in attendance when the two teams go head to head.
Supporters from Australia and New Zealand are here in even bigger numbers and as they mix and mill around in the capital of entertainment, there has been something of a party atmosphere. That was certainly on show on Thursday night as thousands made their way to Fremont Street for an event unlike anything else, as all eight teams were given a grand arrival to Sin City.
Here’s what happened on our first full day stateside.
Fremont Street madness
Aside from the game on Saturday, if there was one event for a fan to be at this week, it was the fan fest on Fremont Street. For those that don’t know, Fremont Street is the beating heart of oldtown Las Vegas, with it’s neon lights, old school casinos and open-air bars setting the scene for an event that was genuinely remarkable.
Thousands of fans from both sides of the world crowded around a red carpet which rolled from the road, down to a large stage and then up Fremont Street. And, one by one, teams arrived to be given a welcome they will quite simply never forget.
Warrington Wolves were the first team to make their entrance, with beating drums, dancers and a primrose and blue flag guiding them down the carpet to the stage, where George Williams, Sam Dufty, Paul Vaughan and Matt Dufty were interviewed, with Williams remarking how the occasion made him feel alive.
Wigan followed, with the two Super League teams potentially receiving the loudest reception of the night, even as NRL superstars from New Zealand Warriors, Canberra Raiders, Penrith Panthers and Cronulla Sharks arrived.
There were few locals there, but it will be hard for anyone to look at Thursday night’s events and see anything other than opportunities for the growth in rugby league.
UFC stars blown away
Johnathan Thurston and Andrew Abdo were two of the more high profile guests called on stage to speak in between player arrivals. But, just before Warrington arrived in downtown Vegas, three UFC stars were called on stage in an unexpected treat for those in attendance.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, Johnny Walker and Michel Pereira were all interviewed by the hosts of the night and while the trio are no strangers to big crowds and big occasions, they were clearly taken aback by the amount of people in attendance.
There has been something of a link up between the UFC and the NRL this week with all eight teams being allowed to make us of the facilities at the organisation’s Performance Institute in the city.
‘Up, up Cronulla’
Before Serious About Rugby League had even landed in Vegas, it was clear how many rugby league supporters were heading to Sin City. The last leg of our journey was a short flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, which in so uncertain terms was packed full of NRL fans.
The majority of them were Cronulla Sharks fans with blue, black and white being the dominant colours as you looked down the plane. And, over the course of the 45-minute journey, flight attendants could be heard making reference to the amount of Australians on board on several occasions, after speaking to some passengers at the front of the plane they could even be heard chanting ‘up, up Cronulla’ on the Tannoy.
It didn’t go down particularly well with the few Canberra, Penrith and Warriors fans on board, but the Cronulla supporters loved it.
