NFL’s First Australia Game
The NFL announced its first regular-season game in Australia: the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne on Thursday, Sept. 10 (Friday, Sept. 11 local) — a major push for global expansion. The league also bumped the season opener in Seattle to Wednesday, Sept. 9 to give the 49ers and Rams extra rest, and Las Vegas is set to join the Super Bowl rotation on a five-year cycle. (youtube.com)
Kickoff has been set for 10:35 a.m. AEST (5:35 p.m. PT) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (mcg.org.au) More than 151,000 fans are currently on the waiting list for tickets to the Rams–49ers Melbourne game. (theramswire.usatoday.com) Presale and hospitality windows are scheduled this spring: Rams season-ticket holder presale on April 1 at 2 p.m. PT, hospitality packages available April 6 at 5 p.m. PT, and general public sales begin April 7 at 5 p.m. PT. (cbsnews.com) The Rams will be the designated home team at the MCG as part of the NFL’s multi-year plan for games in the Melbourne market, a strategy the league says includes year-round development across the Asia‑Pacific region. (therams.com) (nfl.com) The NFL scheduled the traditional season-opener in Seattle for Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock to allow the Rams and 49ers extra time to return to the U.S. after their Melbourne trip. (nfl.com) (nbcsports.com) NFL owners are expected to vote to award Super Bowl LXIII to Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium) for the 2028 season’s championship game played in February 2029, marking a second Las Vegas Super Bowl within five years of the 2024 game. (espn.com) (sportsbusinessjournal.com)
