Following the breakdown of negotiations with Tones And I, the NRL has been “inundated” with offers from Australian performers, with an international star also expressing interest, to perform at next month’s Grand Final.
The game, set for October 4th at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, will proceed without its traditional pre-game concert, according to chairman Peter V’landys, who says he has ruled out securing another headline act.
“I have been inundated with emails from young Australian performers that want to perform at the grand final,” V’landys told Today on Wednesday. “We have even had an international star that has said if we donate money to his charity that he would possibly do it.”
While the league has abandoned plans for a headline performance, V’landys indicated that fans can still expect entertainment throughout grand final day, including a halftime program. “We have plenty of entertainment. Our entertainment is our game. We have a festival of rugby league all day. It’s a bit like buying a cheeseburger for the pickle. You don’t do that. People come to our game for the game,” he said.
“The halftime entertainment’s going to be out of this world. There’s going to be lots of entertainment, but it just won’t be a performer costing a million dollars.”
The decision stands in stark contrast to the AFL Grand Final, which will welcome Kylie Minogue to the MCG this weekend alongside a lineup of Australian performers. When asked about this, V’landys said: “We’ve got a better game, so we don’t need that sort of stuff.”
The NRL will instead redirect its entertainment budget, reportedly worth around $1 million, towards grassroots rugby league, with V’landys arguing the money would be better spent helping children participate in the sport.
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V’landys’ comments came after Tones And I’s management issued a statement to Rolling Stone AU/NZ, addressing reports that negotiations fell apart over the singer’s reluctance to perform her global hit “Dance Monkey”.
Her team clarified that existing commitments with Macklemore on Ed Sheeran‘s ‘Loop’ tour in the US – which he has since been removed from – had prevented her from accepting the offer, adding that “nothing was signed or confirmed in writing”.
“Tones had a prior commitment with Macklemore in America and explored all avenues to make it work. Due to the last-minute nature and prior commitments by Tones, we were unable to accept the offer,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Tones And I subtly addressed the matter, taking to Instagram on Tuesday night to share pictures of a number of local artists, writing: “Some artists that deserve opportunities. Not even scratching the [surface] of how many incredible artists we have in this country.”
