AROUND mid December I got a call from a bloke named Ryan Alexander from Premium Sports Events in Melbourne. Ryan was calling to see if I’d like to replace Darryl Brohman as ‘tour host’ for 90 people for the NRL in Las Vegas.
Darryl had recently been diagnosed with cancer and had to obviously pull the pin on traveling to Vegas in late February. I told Ryan to let me sleep on it. I spoke to my wife Meags about the offer and I told her that “I’ll go as long as you can come with me.” She said, “wow, do you think they’ll go with that?” I said I can ask. Ryan said, “no problem, I’ll book your flights.”
So off I went to the post office to renew my passport. We left Sydney at 2pm on Monday the 23rd of Feb and arrived at 5pm the same day in Las Vegas! I kept a little diary of my week in sin city and this is how it played out.
Monday – Arrived at the Luxor hotel just after 5pm.
Put our bags in our room and met the tour group. Great bunch of people who came from all parts of Australia. Had 4 or 5 Budweiser beers. Bed at 9pm, slept for 12 hours (for the first time I think ever) woke at 9am.
Tuesday – Grabbed brekky at Starbucks in our hotel and walked 2km over to Allegiant stadium. First glimpse you are just blown away by the sheer size of it. Elegantly monstrous is how I’d describe it. Walked back to the hotel to get ready for a night with the touring party at a reception centre at the Mandalay Bay Hotel which is next door to the Luxor. Had a 40 minute chat to the group about all things footy. Meags entertained the ladies of the tour, especially two couples from Alice Springs, one of which were Senator Jacinta Nampijimpa Price’s next door neighbours! More drinks with the crew then into bed around 11pm.
Wednesday – We headed down to Resorts World where most of the NRL teams and media were staying. We were blown away by all the NRL jerseys we saw along the way. Rugby League had definitely taken over Vegas! Recorded a new podcast with Mark Levy and Mark Riddell called Mark My Words! Got a cab home and got dressed to go to one of the most exclusive (and expensive) restaurants in Vegas, Lago at the Bellagio. Famous for its stunning views while eating and watching the fountains of Bellagio. For the 4 of us that went it cost us $1000 US! Great Italian feed, and honestly worth every cent.
Back to the hotel where our touring group had their own meeting place/bar. Bed 1am.
Thursday – Set off for our 1 hour tour of Allegiant Stadium at 10:30 with the group. All I can say is WOOOOW! Everywhere you look at this state of the art stadium is just classy. It’s by far the best stadium I’ve ever been in. Finished in 2020 it’s the ‘creme da La creme’ of sports stadiums. From chillers in every seat for your drinks to a main dressing room that’s bigger than my house. So impressive. There is even a nightclub in the bloody thing that is active while the game is on. Amazing!
We dropped into Gordon Ramsay’s burger joint then to the bar to meet up with the group. Groundhog Day! Bed just after midnight.
Friday – quiet day. Meags went for a facial in the hotel while I went to hook up with the 2GB boys to do our Saturday show from Resorts World. 1-6pm Sydney time 5-11pm Vegas time. Back to the hotel around midnight, few night caps, bed at 2:30am. Ouch!
Saturday – game day! Walking to the stadium and seeing all the different jerseys and different chants was mesmerising. Was hard to believe that here we were in Las Vegas about to watch the NRL! What an amazing spectacle we all witnessed. Back to the hotel where there was a sea of activity and also a sea of jerseys from the 6 teams who were being represented. Bed 3:30am another OUCH!
As I write this, it’s 7:30pm Vegas time. We leave tomorrow (Tuesday here) at midday via Dallas and get back into Sydney around midday on Thursday. What a time warp. But honestly, one of the best experiences of my life. So cool to be part of something so unique and amazing!
Here’s to Vegas in 2027!! My liver permitting hahahaha
MG (random Westie) OAM
