Two major events in the 2021 Bathurst calendar are set to go head-to-head on the same day.
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The NRL announced its draw for next season on Thursday morning, scheduling the round eight Penrith Panthers versus Manly Sea Eagles match for Saturday, May 1, which coincidentally, clashes with the Royal Bathurst Show that is booked in for April 30-May 2.
While the scenario could present a number of logistical issues for event organisers, Bathurst A, H and P executive secretary Brett Kenworthy believes the NRL match has the potential to benefit the show.
"I think the main game is on at 3pm, so the game will be over by 5pm and won't it be fantastic for the people that go to watch the footy can come over the road to the show afterwards," he said.
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"I think it's got the potential to benefit us. There'll be a few minor headaches with operations though."
Mr Kenworthy said the major concern is parking, with Carrington Park - the host venue of the NRL match - being used for wet weather parking in recent years.
"That's a minor impact in one way, but we'll find alternatives," he said.
"Obviously there'll be some traffic impediments too but we'll discuss it with council with what is the best way moving forward.
"One thing that we've been pushing for a number of years now is using the land the council owns on Hereford Street for parking. We're looking at that as a potentially viable place in the future, to help take the pressure of Morse Park."
"This may indeed [the clash of events] be the chance to ramp this up a bit."
The Royal Bathurst Show has not been held since 2019, after this year's event was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, marking the first time since the Second World War that the event had been cancelled.
An NRL match hasn't been held in Bathurst since 2019 too, as this year's scheduled Penrith Panthers home fixture was moved back to Sydney due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Besides this year, Panthers have brought one home game to Bathurst each since 2014, with next year's opponents Manly Sea Eagles to make its first appearance in the Carrington Park fixture.
The clash between the show and NRL may never have happened, as the show was originally scheduled to take place two weeks earlier before it was rescheduled to avoid clashing with the Royal Sydney Show.
Restrictions will be eased from January 21, which would allow country shows be able to operate for a maximum crowd of 5000 at any given time under COVID-safe guidelines.