Rugby League is entering its business end of the season – with big crowds expected for its major events.
The 2025 Super League Grand Final is hoped to be one of the best-attended ever, with RL Commercial providing a ticket sales update.
Super League’s showpiece event takes place at Old Trafford on Saturday 11 October, with an attendance of 70,000 anticipated.
Of course, the two teams that will contest the final are still unknown, with Hull KR currently leading the table and Wigan Warriors in second place. The rivals contested the 2024 Grand Final, which was watched by 68,173 people.
And the 2025 final is expected to top that figure already, pushing the 72,827 figure seen in 2017 as Leeds Rhinos defeated Castleford Tigers. That was the second highest Grand Final figure. The best was the 73,512 seen in 2015 as Leeds Rhinos edged Wigan Warriors.
In fact, RL Commercial Manager Director Rhodri Jones has confirmed ticket sales are 25% up on this stage last year and is confident of breaking the 70,000 barrier.
He explained: “In terms of when we look ahead to the Grand Final, we’re 25% up on ticket sales for the Grand Final at Old Trafford and that’s from a strong base of last year when we had the best crowd since 2017. We’re very hopeful that we’ll be pushing that 70,000 mark come the 11th of October.”
Elsewhere, Super League attendances have increased by 10 per cent this year, while Sky Sports’ viewership has seen around a 32% increase and social media engagements have increased by 75%.
The regular season still has five rounds to go, with Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity battling it out for the final play-off spot – with places for St Helens, Leeds Rhinos, and Leigh Leopards all but tied up.
Meanwhile, Ashes tickets for the international series between England and Australia continue to sell well, with the first test at Wembley approaching 40,000 sales. Games two and three at Everton’s Hill-Dickinson Stadium and Leeds’ Headingley sold out weeks ago.
Confirming the latest Wembley sales, Jones also said a marketing campaign will begin next month with sales set to rise again.
“We’re at about 110,000 tickets sold now, which means around 38,000 or 39,000 for Wembley,” he said. “But our target is 65,000 to 70,000, with a lot of marketing activity to start around September.”