New South Wales’ Minister for Racing, Paul Toole, announced today that licensed venues across the state could remain open for an extra two hours on the night of the NRL Grand Final.
The 1 October Grand Final falls on the Sunday of the coming weekend. With most pubs and clubs licensed to trade until 10pm on Sundays, the State Government has granted an extension until midnight for the Grand Final, so that NRL fans can continue to celebrate later into the night.
“The NRL Grand Final is one of the biggest events on the state’s sporting calendar. Thousands of fans flock to licensed venues to watch the game on big screens with friends and family,” stated Toole.
The extension, however, does not apply to takeaway alcohol sales, and hotels and clubs must still comply with any individual trading restrictions or other special conditions that apply to their licences under the Liquor Act or imposed by local councils under planning laws.
Increased patronage is already expected for licensed venues, as this weekend is a long weekend, with many people expected to have subsequent Monday off.
The Government also noted that the trading extension will also prevent a mass exodus of patrons, relieving some of the pressure on public transport.