The two-day Wagga Gold Cup carnival will be held on Thursday and Friday, with the Canberra Raiders set to take on the Penrith Panthers in the city on Saturday.

With 10,000 people expected to attend the Gold Cup and 6000 tickets already sold for Saturday's NRL clash, Wagga's visitor economy and events coordinator Fiona Hamilton said the two events were expected to bring at least $2 million in spending to the city.

Ms Hamilton said there had been huge interest in both events, with accommodation virtually filled for the nights of the Gold Cup and rapidly filling for Saturday night.

She said there had been an unusually high amount of interstate interest in Saturday's Raiders-Panthers game.

"Thirty per cent of the tickets sold so far have been sold to interstate buyers," Ms Hamilton said.

"There have been purchases from every state and territory except the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

"That's really quite high. Typically for a similar event, it would be about 20 per cent of sales."

Ms Hamilton said the idea of having the two events run together was to generate greater exposure for Wagga.

"It is very exciting. Hopefully we will see a lot of people getting out and about in the restaurants and retail areas as well," she said

Dave Barnhill from Wagga's William Farrer Hotel, said the city was going to be "chockablock" in coming days.

"All these events are very good for business. It's a smart way to do it," he said.

Murrumbidgee Turf Club chief executive Steve Keene said the Wagga Gold Cup and NRL double-header was going to be "phenomenal".

"It's just great for Wagga," he said.

Wagga mayor Greg Conkey has noticed a "buzz going around Wagga" as enthusiasm for the events builds.

"It's a great boost for the community, the hotels, the restaurants and the city's retail businesses," Councillor Conkey said.

Tickets to the Raiders-Panthers clash are available to from the Wagga Visitor Information Centre in Tarcutta Street or the Oasis Aquatic Centre in Morgan Street.