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Media Release

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22 November 2024

Parramatta scores in NRL draw with 48 games of league

Parramatta has staked its claim as the home of rugby league next season with 40 NRL and 8 NRLW games locked in for the City in the 2025 NRL draw.

The Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers will play 22 collective NRL home games at CommBank Stadium while Sydney Olympic Park’s Accor Stadium is set to host 18 NRL home games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

NRLW will also be played at both CommBank and Accor Stadiums with the Eels and Bulldogs hosting a total of eight games at the venues.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the City was positioning itself as the premier national destination for sports, festivals and entertainment.

“We look forward to seeing thousands more footy fans flock to Parramatta next season with an extra 15 games scheduled here,” Cr Zaiter said.

“That means thousands more people visiting our City every weekend. We want to see packed stands at the stadiums – and packed shops, cafes, restaurants and bars across Parramatta before and after the game.

“CommBank Stadium is proving itself a premier venue, bringing drawcard events like the recent rugby league Pacific Championships finals and The Kid LAROI’s First Time Tour as well as hosting season NRL games and the A-League’s Western Sydney Wanderers.”

Cr Zaiter said sport and events had the potential to be a major driver of visitation for the City.

“It’s great the NRL will again be showcasing the game in Vegas with the season opener – we’d love to see the sport build a global following that drives more visitors from all over the world here,” Cr Zaiter said.

“As Parramatta becomes the home of rugby league next season with 48 games in our area surpassing the 31 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, it truly opens the doors for the world to do business with our local businesses and to sell our City as the heart of greater Sydney.”

The NRL season will kick off on Sunday 2 March, 2025 in Las Vegas, with the Penrith Panthers to play against Sydney Roosters in the first game to be played in the Parramatta area on Friday 14 March, 2025. The NRLW season kicks off on Thursday 3 July, 2025 with the Cronulla Sharks hosting the Parramatta Eels at Sharks Stadium.

Parramatta NRL chief executive officer Jim Sarantinos said CommBank Stadium was the spiritual home of the Parramatta Eels.

“Our first game at home on March 16 will be 39 years to the day since the opening game at the former Parramatta Stadium which was located on the same site,” Mr Sarantinos said.

“We’ll play host to 11 home games at CommBank Stadium in 2025 against the likes of the Bulldogs, Panthers, Tigers, Sea Eagles and Storm, and three NRL / NRLW double-headers as part of an expanded Women’s Premiership draw.” 
 

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