The Dubbo region received a $2.4 million economic injection and occupancy rates were at a four-year high when the NRL was held in May.
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Dubbo Regional Council has compiled a report on the NRL match and it's impact on the city, as well as the wider region.
It was the first NRL game ever held in Dubbo.
The match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers attracted 10,824 people. Of those, 22.5 per cent were from more than 150 kilometres away from Dubbo.
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"The economic benefits for the region for the weekend is estimated to be $2.4 million into the region," council's manager regional events Kim Hague said in the report.
"This included a four-year high for May in accommodation occupancy rates for Wellington and Dubbo (79%), and Dubbo experiencing a May average occupancy rate of 86.8 per cent.
"In addition, the business and community engagement was very successful including a survey of attendees rating their overall satisfaction with the event very high. Some 89 per cent of attendees scored the event six or more out of 10. More than one third of survey respondents gave a perfect score of 10 out of 10."
The television broadcast of the Rabbitohs and Panthers game was seen by an additional 246,000 people.
But it wasn't just the Dubbo and Wellington accommodation providers who saw the benefits.
Ms Hague said foot traffic throughout the central business district was also high.
"An average of 3,920 people visited the CBD when the Rotunda Markets were held. On Sunday, 23 May 2021 (NRL game day), the sensors in the CBD measured a 70 per cent increase in foot traffic during the same market period," she said.
In the lead up to the match, Souths Cares - the charity and community branch of the South Sydney Rabbitohs - visited 10 primary schools, held a football clinic and coordinated an NRL Gala Day with ex-players and officials.
Council calculates about 2800 children and community groups were involved with their engagement program.
Council also looked at what improvements needed to be made to make the NRL match more successful in the future.
On the list included the way food and drinks were purchased, better security and more engagement from the South Sydney Rabbitohs players.
An NRL match in Dubbo during the 2022 season has already been locked in.
Orlander Ruming
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
