- NRL Grand Final 2024 day has begun at Accor Stadium
- Thousands of people have arrived early to enjoy the football action.
- They have revealed a big difference compared to the television experience
Football fans who arrived early for the 2024 NRL Grand Final have revealed they will have a very different view of the game between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm compared to those watching at home.
Thousands of fans have begun to fill Accor Stadium in western Sydney to watch previous matches, including the NRL State Championship and the NRLW grand final.
They have released images from their seats at the venue, revealing a key difference compared to Channel 9’s television coverage – there are no advertising markings on the pitch.
This is because Channel 9 uses dynamic or virtual advertising on the field, where advertising posters on the field are superimposed on the broadcast image.
So instead of spraying the logos on the grass, they add them digitally to the transmitted image. The only logos on the field are the NRL finals logo, title sponsor Telstra and a Visit NSW government promotion at the halfway point plus line markings.
The reason virtual advertising was originally used was because incessant rain before a State of Origin match in 2010 made traditional painted advertising impossible.
“We literally couldn’t get the paint on the ground,” former NRL general manager commercial and marketing Paul Kind said at the time.
‘Harvey Norman was paying a significant amount to have it delivered to a national audience of over three million, but it was pouring rain.
“We were supposed to have eight posters for that game. We only delivered one, which was not of very good quality.’
An NRL fan posted this image on social media showing the lack of advertising on the Accor Stadium pitch on the day of the grand final.
Channel 9 broadcast shows virtual KFC and Westpac ads that fans on the ground can’t see
That led the league to explore the digital option and in 2013 virtual advertising was used for the first time in an NRL match in a clash between Manly Sea Eagles and Canterbury Bulldogs.
“What virtual signage gives us is guaranteed clarity on every logo, regardless of weather and wear and tear on the stadium,” Kind said.
“When you sell sponsorships, that’s very important.”
Virtual advertising in 2024 is being handled by a small New Zealand company called nzDisco, run by technician Daniel Klinac.
Thousands of NRL fans arrived early for the 2024 NRL Grand Final between Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers
Football fans traveling to Accor Stadium won’t have to worry about advertising
The operation is executed remotely from a custom-designed transmission center in real time.
‘Our first RBC (Remote Broadcast Center) can manage remote productions of up to 4 cameras with all the amenities. Duplex communications, audio mixing, live CG, etc. within a fully redundant integration,” Klinac posted earlier this year.
‘We are also processing and managing all virtual advertising integrations for all NRL and SuperRugby matches for the 2024 season. Lots of learning and smart technology.’
Some NRL fans at the grand final are even calling for more digital advertising after shelling out big bucks only to find themselves with restricted viewing at Accor Stadium.
“Who had the brilliant idea to have billboards so that in row 4 (unrestricted viewing) at the @NRL Grand Final you can’t even see the try line, let alone when you go to row 18 you can’t see?” the dead ball line,’ asked a very upset fan.
“Advertising should never get in the way of the game.”
But not all football fans were impressed, with some calling for the old-school painted markings to return.
‘Incredible, it’s just a small part of the day but significant. “If that makes sense lol,” one NRL fan posted.
“It was cool to see the Sharkies logo on the field when they were there.”
