Sydney hotels were close to sold out over the National Rugby League (NRL) Grand Final weekend, with room occupancy above 98% on both Saturday and Sunday nights.
As of today, 8 October 2025, operators report year-on-year gains as tens of thousands of people travelled from other Australian states for the men’s and women’s rugby league finals at Accor Stadium on Sunday, 5 October.
The spike supports wider interest in NRL Grand Final 2025, Sydney hotel occupancy, sports tourism Australia, and Accor Stadium Sydney.
The NRL is Australia’s top rugby league competition. Its season ends with one championship match called the Grand Final, held in Sydney.
In 2025, the men’s final featured Brisbane Broncos (from Queensland) against Melbourne Storm (from Victoria), and the women’s competition—National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW)—also staged its final the same day.
The event draws large crowds, organised fan activities across the city, and heavy use of public transport to Sydney Olympic Park.
When interstate clubs reach the decider, travel demand from outside New South Wales rises sharply and can lift Sydney hotels across both the central business district (CBD) and the western suburbs.
Interstate travel drives demand above 98 per cent
With two non-New South Wales teams in the men’s final, many supporters flew or drove into Sydney.
This created short booking windows, limited last-minute availability and high occupancies across the weekend. Hotels reported strong pick-up on shoulder nights as fans stayed longer to attend fan zones and community events linked to the rugby league final.
Activity focused on the stadium precinct at Sydney Olympic Park, but demand spread across Western Sydney and the central business district (CBD) along major rail lines and transport hubs, supporting restaurants, bars and local services.
What it means for hotel planning and revenue
The weekend underlines sport as a reliable driver of travel and rooms revenue in Australia.
Hotel teams can prepare by aligning prices and inventory with ticket sales and finals progression; offering clear two- or three-night options for interstate visitors; planning late check-outs around evening kick-offs; and staffing for post-match flows.
Using plain, search-friendly terms such as NRL Grand Final 2025, Sydney hotel occupancy, sports tourism Australia, Accor Stadium Sydney, Sydney hotels, and interstate travel demand can also help properties capture intent from travellers planning future stays.
