Rams and 49ers kick off first NFL regular-season game at the MCG
Almost 100,000 fans will attend the first NFL regular-season game played in Australia on Friday.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will play at the MCG on Friday in the sport's first Australian regular-season match. The sell-out crowd of almost 100,000 shows growing appetite for American football locally.
The NFL estimates 9 million Australians already follow the sport, and more than 100,000 school children have played Flag Football in the past four years. Training programs have opened on the Gold Coast.
The story traces back to Wessley McGrath, who co-founded the Waverley Raiders 42 years ago when the sport was largely unknown. American football could follow basketball's path to mainstream status, which now has 1.3 million players in Australia.
The NFL has signalled this expansion is a long-term investment.
- almost 100,000
- Sell-out attendance
- 9 million
- Estimated local followers
- 100,000+
- School children in Flag Football (4
- 42
- Years since sport launched in Australia
Why it mattersA major American sport is testing whether it can become mainstream in Australia, potentially reshaping local sports participation and viewing habits.
AustraliaThe game signals NFL commitment to Australia, which could shift how Australians spend sporting time and money over the next decade.
Corroborated by7news.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 d ago
