Hunter businesses report trade surge as Knights prepare for grand final
Luis Quintero / PexelsA packed stadium watching a live sports event under lights.(File image: Luis Quintero / Pexels)
Newy 87.8 FM – Newcastle and Hunter businesses are reporting a surge in trade as the Knights prepare for their first NRL grand final since 2001, taking on the Sydney Roosters at 7.30pm on Sunday 4 October at Accor Stadium.
The Knights qualified by beating Penrith 22–14 in the preliminary final at Accor Stadium on Sunday 27 September, in front of a crowd of 57,102. The club is chasing its third premiership, a year after finishing with the wooden spoon in 2025.
Pubs and clubs across the region are reportedly booked solid, with venues adding extra TVs and tables, queues stretching 100 metres at the Knights merchandise shop and coach companies at capacity. Newcastle tattoo shops have been booked out with Knights designs, and one butcher is selling Knights-themed blue sausages.
Fans who cannot make the trip to Sydney can watch at a free live site at McDonald Jones Stadium, a NSW Government and Venues NSW initiative delivered with the Knights. Gates open at 3.30pm on Sunday, with entry via Gates 2 and 3, and the NRLW decider between the Roosters and Broncos will screen before the men's game.
Free tickets were made available through Ticketmaster from 10am on Thursday 1 October, with registration required. Food and beverage outlets will be open at the venue.
Join the discussion on Facebook.
