Magic Round will return to Brisbane as a three-day festival of football next year, with every single match of Round Eight played at Suncorp Stadium.
Tickets are on sale now for the return of one of the most exciting rounds of the regular season to be played on 1-3 May.
NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg and Queensland Minister for Tourism Industry Development, Kate Jones joined players representing all 16 clubs to launch the countdown today and announce tickets on sale.
Three-day passes to watch every match live start from $99.
"This is an event like nothing else – our fans can watch every single match at one ground, in one town," Mr Greenberg said.
"The biggest NRL stars and teams all in Brisbane showcasing the best of rugby league."
Mr Greenberg thanked the Queensland Government for their ongoing support.
"Our 2019 inaugural Magic Round was a huge success, in large part because of the vision and support of the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council,'' he said.
"We take our responsibility to provide Queensland taxpayers with a return on their investment very seriously. This year, close to 135,000 fans, including a quarter from interstate, descended on Suncorp Stadium and injected a great deal of money into the Queensland economy.
"Add to that an additional 3.8 million viewers tuning in, many of them no doubt jealous of the warm winter weather that Brisbane displayed, and we can't wait to get back here for a bigger and better Magic Round in 2020.
Mr Greenberg said the NRL would enhance the fan experience for 2020.
"Next year, it's about sharing the magic with even more fans. We're moving to a three-day format, making the entire round more accessible. We've kept prices affordable for families and friends. We'll have live entertainment and precinct activity around the stadium and throughout the city; and there will be plenty of opportunities to get up close and meet the stars of our game."
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the Magic Round was the NRL's
hottest tickets on its footy calendar.
"The State Government supports events that generate revenue for local
businesses and support jobs in Queensland – this event ticks all the boxes," Minister Jones said. "Footy fans flocked to Brisbane in droves earlier this year when every team played at Suncorp Stadium over one weekend. "Next year we're upping the ante, spreading the games over three days instead of four, creating a huge weekend of rugby league and entertainment here in Brisbane."
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane was thrilled to host another magical round of NRL action.
"The NRL Magic Round will once again attract tens of thousands of visitors to Brisbane and will deliver a huge benefit to our local economy, by filling hotel rooms, bars and restaurants, and boosting our retail and service sectors," Cr Schrinner said.
"Brisbane just keeps serving up more for residents and visitors to see and do, with a growing number of events, conferences and festivals taking place across the city.
"Let's get behind our NRL team and give a warm welcome to all the NRL fans who are travelling to Brisbane for this fantastic event.
"When they're not watching the action on the field, I encourage visitors to take advantage of our thriving dining and bar scene, tourism attractions and enjoyable outdoor lifestyle."