Record Crowds Anticipated at NRL State of Origin Game 2 at the MCG

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is set to host Game Two of the 2024 State of Origin rugby league series tonight, drawing tens of thousands of fans from across Australia and significantly boosting local jobs and businesses.

Ahead of the match, the Victorian Government’s Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, alongside New South Wales Blues’ Jake Trbojevic and Queensland Maroons’ Daly Cherry-Evans, attended the captain’s call at Federation Square. The Blues will be looking to bounce back from a 38-10 defeat in Game One, while the Maroons aim to secure the series victory in front of a potentially record-breaking crowd.

This match marks the ninth State of Origin game held in Victoria, with the last clash in 2018 drawing nearly 90,000 fans to the MCG and generating an economic boost of over $36.6 million. The event is part of a busy sporting calendar in Victoria, which includes the Australian Open, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Rip Curl Pro, Matildas Olympic qualifying match, Global Football Week Melbourne, the upcoming Ballin’24 matches, and the Wallabies vs. Wales Test.

First contested in 1982, the State of Origin is a major fixture in Australian sport, often ranking as one of the country’s most-watched television programs and will showcase Melbourne to a national audience.