The NRL has broken new ground by staging pre-match entertainment outside the ground on grand final day.

Given some of the past showbiz shambles – Billy Idol brought undone by a power outage, 42nd Street dancers waiting in vain for their music to start – maybe that wasn’t a bad idea.

ANZ Stadium still rocked to the sounds of live on-field music, provided this year by Joel and Benji Madden’s Good Charlotte and Irish band The Script.

But for the first time grand final day took on a carnival atmosphere with a special entertainment precinct for the 83,000 fans inside a two kilometre fence around the ground.

It was a combination of footy, fairground, pub and picnic allowing fans to come and go at will.

The precinct featured restaurants, bars, showground rides, rugby league skill clinics and big-screen entertainment.

Sydney’s Olympic Park was bathed in sunshine as fans enjoyed the activities from 11am right up until big match time at 5.15pm.

Kids had their faces painted in club colours, had photos taken with club mascots and enjoyed pony rides and performances by clowns and acrobats.

They played on bouncing castles and dodgem cars and the more adventurous could take a ride on the Slingshot.

Adults could drink and bet and both the Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs had separate areas for their supporters to congregate.

“The fans want a vibrant show that is in keeping with Sydney’s international status,” said an NRL spokesman.