14°C | Monday May 20, 2024 
8 May 2024
By Hannah Wilcox
The Beer, Footy and Food festival is hitting North Sydney Oval as a part of the upcoming Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Magic Round.
Over two days the oval will be home to six games of footy, a variety of food and beverage offerings and kids activities.
Festivities kick off at 1pm on May 18 with Penrith Panthers going up against New Zealand Warriors followed by Canberra Raiders versus St George Illawarra Dragons at 3pm.
Last year’s grand finalists, Norths Bears and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, will face off at 5pm in the annual Mario Fenech Cup.
Fenech graced the field sporting red and black for 82 games between 1991–94.
Day 2 will begin with Western Suburbs Magpies versus Parramatta Eels at 11am, with the BFFF’s long-standing home ground team Newtown Jets taking the pitch against Newcastle Knights at 1pm.
Blacktown Sea Eagles will face off against Canterbury Bulldogs at 3pm.
Off-field, the festival will host an impressive lineup of brewers including Bloke In A Bar, Young Henrys Six String Brewing, Broken Bay, Hawkes Brewing Co, Yulli’s Brews, Willie The Boatman, Bucketty’s Freshwater, Sydney Beer Co and Finders Distillery.
Burgerhead, Dumpling Kitchen, Sparkys Jerk BBQ, Tapasman, Volksvurst and White Pearl Pizza will be working their magic to feed the crowd over the two days.
Meanwhile, local favourite The Greens will be running a BBQ.
Bears members are reminded their 2024 Bears Members Card, including Admit One Cards and Season Passes, will not be accepted at the gate.
Those with current Grizzly, Season Pass, Platinum, Diamond, 1908 and Junior Bear memberships may access one complimentary ticket to the Saturday game day of Magic Round which will count towards your annual allocation of games on your member profile.
Kids under 12 are able to enter for free.
Organisers have encouraged fans to get in quick and purchase their tickets before 1pm on May 16 to go in the running to win two nights complimentary stay at Quest North Sydney.
The prize includes a stay in a Studio Superior Apartment with complimentary parking for both nights, breakfast for two at their onsite ground floor café partner Lost & Found and a late Checkout at 12pm.
Winners will also receive a double pass to Legends Lounge on game day with a fully catered experience located on the second level of the Mollie Dive Stand – the best view in the venue.
All ticket holders who have purchased before midday will go in the draw with the winner to be drawn at 3pm the same day.
It comes as the Bears launched its USA Plater Pathway Partnership with Boston Bears for the 2024 USARL season on May 3.
The partnership will focus on development of players and game structures for the USA based team.
Bears Head Coach Pat Weisner and his coaching team will work directly with the Boston Bears coaching staff on pre-season conditioning programs, skill development, team and player game structures.
Development players from both sides will have the opportunity to play and study in the opposing countries.
Previously known as the Boston Thirteens RL the US club will be rebranded as the Boston Bears to compete in the newly combined USARL competition in June.
This partnership comes after the Boston Bears successful introduction in the NRL Vegas 9’s competition, sporting the iconic Bears red and black hoops jersey, in March.