Australians Love Sport: But Can the NFL Win Them Over in Debut Melbourne Match?
BBC News
In summary: An unusual sporting event is taking place in Melbourne as the National Football League (NFL) holds its first meaningful, non-exhibition regular season game outside the US. The LA Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday at an early time of 7 am local time.
The Scene:
- An oval ball in September in Melbourne typically signifies Australian rules football (AFL) finals, but this year it’s American football instead.
- The match sold out months ago, with a significant number of attendees expected to be from outside Victoria.
- The NFL has held international matches since 2007, but this is the first time a meaningful game has been played in Australia.
The Teams and Their Preparation:
- San Francisco 49ers: Players arrived late last week and have had time to adjust to the time zone, acclimatize, and practice at a nearby stadium.
- LA Rams: The team is taking an unconventional approach by arriving on a chartered Qantas A380 superjumbo on Thursday morning local time, playing on Friday, and leaving shortly afterwards to minimize jet lag effects for their next match.
Local Reactions:
Thomas McMillan, host of the Any Given Sunday Australia podcast, notes the buzz surrounding the event: "Walking down the street, it’s AFL finals week and you wouldn’t even know… It’s all NFL everywhere."
Challenges:
McMillan raises concerns about the Rams’ unconventional travel schedule: "Definitely it’s a gamble. If they don’t quite get things right after the 16-hour flight, you still might have that jet lag…"
