‘They’re not targeting Australians’: Police chief says NRL fans will be safe in Vegas

1 month ago 7

The latest killing of a protesting civilian by immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) officers in America should not concern Australians thinking of heading to Las Vegas for the March 1 NRL double-header, according to one of the city’s top police officers.

Lieutenant Kendall Bell, who has patrolled the famous party trip for more than two decades, is well aware of the global headlines involving ICE officers who shot and killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, on the weekend in Minneapolis.

Allegiant Stadium during the round one NRL match between Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors last year.

Pretti’s death came almost three weeks after ICE officers gunned down Renee Good as she sat in her car, also in Minneapolis, and has prompted protests all over the country, including in Vegas.

As the NRL banks on a record number of Australian league fans heading to Vegas for the season-opener at Allegiant Stadium, Bell said there was nothing to fear.

“There have been a lot of headlines about ‘ICE’ – but they’re not targeting Australians,” Bell said on Tuesday.

“They’re looking for different nationalities, or people from different countries – Australians are perfectly fine.

Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton will be one of the stars in Vegas.

“We’re also not really having those issues here in Las Vegas.”

Minneapolis is about 2500km from Las Vegas, the equivalent of flying from Sydney to Cairns. The Australian government’s advice for those travelling to America is to “avoid areas where demonstrations and protests are occurring due to the potential for unrest and violence”.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys was certain league fans would be safe, and “those [ICE] incidents are isolated to another state a long way from Vegas”.

A crowd of 40,746 attended the first edition of the NRL in Vegas, while 45,209 watched last year’s matches. The NRL is hoping for a similar attendance for the two NRL games involving Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland. There is also a Super League game featuring Leeds and champions Hull KR.

More than 15,000 Australians have bought tickets, with Canterbury supporters leading the way in terms of sales, followed by the Cowboys.

The Cowboys and Bulldogs confirmed they would have security attached to their travelling players. The Dragons have hired Manly’s long-time head of security Michael Malligan, while the Knights opted for the services of a US firm.

Bell said he could not fault the behaviour of players and fans over the past two years, and was due to present to the players and staff of the four clubs next week via phone hook-up.

“We’ll give them the basics, things they probably already know, but I want to reiterate with them how Las Vegas is a city where people think they can do what they want whenever they want, and for the most part you can – you can come out here and enjoy yourself – but you have to be responsible,” Bell said.

“We communicate all the time [with the NRL]. We talk about ways how we can keep everyone safe, and make sure they also enjoy themselves. If they come all the way over here, we want them to have a great time.

“The fans have been great, the attendance has increased, and I’d imagine it will go up again for this instalment.”

The Knights and Cowboys are hoping to learn this week if visas have been granted to Dylan Brown and Matt Lodge. Brown pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual touching in 2023, while Lodge spent time in New York’s famous Rikers Island after a violent home invasion in 2015.