With Grand Final tickets selling out, the NRL, in partnership with the NSW Government and Eels club, has announced that a giant screen will be erected at Parramatta Stadium so all western Sydney fans can be part of a special Grand Final celebration.
And the excitement will continue after the match with the Eels players, regardless of the match result, to return to Parramatta Stadium and be presented to the crowd.
Gates will open at 2pm and will feature a broadcast of all of the Toyota Cup, pre-match entertainment and the Telstra Premiership Grand Final on a giant screen.
There will also be a kids entertainment precinct on the field, including face painting and other activities. Entry to the stadium is free with a free shuttle bus operating a return service from Parramatta Railway Station.
“The live site at Parramatta Stadium is a great opportunity for fans who can’t get to the Grand Final to watch the game in a great atmosphere and I thank the NSW Government for their support of this event,” NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today.
“We have some great activities for all fans of all ages at Martin Place on Thursday and Friday and our traditional events such as the Grand Final Breakfast and Carbine Club lunch have again received overwhelming support.
“It is a special week of the year and I encourage all Rugby League fans to make the most of the activities on offer.”
The Parramatta Stadium live site will be a highlight of a week-long NRL Grand Final celebration that will transform Martin Place, in Sydney’s CBD, into a footy fan paradise.
The 2009 Grand Final Breakfast will be shown live on a giant TV screen, there will be guest appearances from world boxing champions Danny Green and Roy Jones Jr, the Telstra Premiership Trophy will be on display and there will be the chance to win the last remaining NRL Grand Final tickets.
The Martin Place live site will also feature NRL Mascots, a huge screen showing highlights of the 2009 Telstra Premiership season and a charity BBQ hosted by the Lions Club, with gold coin donations going to Lions Club and One Community charities.
Joining the public activity will be traditional Grand Final Week events, the Grand Final Breakfast and Carbine Club Luncheon on Thursday, October 1.
Sold out months in advance, both events remain among the most sought after tickets in town and the partnership between them and a new range of public celebrations will make the 2009 Telstra Premiership Grand Final build-up the most exciting ever.
Corporate events will also be held across the city with Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks hosting corporate lunches at Balmain Leagues Club and Cronulla Leagues Club on Friday and St George Illawarra hosting its traditional Grand Final brunch on Sunday.
NRL Grand Final Week Events and Live Sites:
Thursday, October 1
Grand Final Live Site: Martin Place, Sydney
7am – 12pm
Catch all the action from the Grand Final breakfast live on the big screen at Martin Place. A BBQ breakfast will be available for a gold coin donation, while world boxing champions Danny Green and Roy Jones Jr will also make special appearances ahead of their their IBO cruiserweight title bout at Sydney’s Acer Arena on Wednesday, December 2.
The Today Show team will also be at Martin Place with the first 30 Parramatta Eels members to arrive and show their 2009 membership card to receive a ticket to The Footy Show Grand Final special.
There will also be NRL Grand Final ticket and merchandise giveaways, the Telstra Premiership trophy on display, NRL Mascots, Telstra Child Flight merchandise and the Telstra BigPond Music van operating throughout the morning.
Start: | Finish: | Event: |
7.00am | 8.30am | Grand Final Breakfast Broadcast |
8.45am | 9.30am | Roy Jones Jnr Appearance |
11.00am | 12.00pm | Danny Green Appearance |
Grand Final Breakfast, Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney
6.45am – 8.30am
The traditional Grand Final Breakfast will continue in 2009, with both teams to make their final public appearance before Sunday’s big game. Sold out months in advance, this is always a highlight of the Rugby League corporate calendar.
Carbine Club Luncheon, Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney
The Carbine Club will host their traditional Grand Final lunch with former Grand Final greats and representatives from each team to attend.
Friday, October 2
Grand Final Live Site, Martin Place, Sydney
6am – 2pm
Wes Carr will perform live and the Fiesta Dancers and UNSW Cheer Squad will keep fans entertained, while Triple M’s Grill Team will conduct a live broadcast from Martin Place.
There will also be video highlights of the 2009 Telstra Premiership Finals plus an opportunity for fans to win the last tickets to Sunday’s Grand Final.
Start: | Finish: | Event: |
6.00am | 9.00am | Triple M OB |
9.00am | 12.00pm | Week 3 Finals Matches on the big screen |
12.30pm | 1.00pm | Wes Carr Performance |
1.00pm | 1.30pm | Fiesta Dancers |
1.30pm | 2.00pm | UNSW Cheersquad Performance |
Wests Tigers Luncheon, Le Montage
Click here for more information
Sharks Grand Final Lunch, Sharkies Leagues Club
Click here for more information
Sunday, October 4
Parramatta Stadium Live Site
2pm - Late
The Eels’ home ground will host a live broadcast of the 2009 Telstra Premiership Grand Final on a giant screen with the Parramatta players to be presented to the crowd following the match regardless of the match result.