Melbourne is adding another sporting spectacle to its already packed calendar, with the city set to host the first-ever NFL regular season games in Australia. The announcement, made at the MCG by Premier Jacinta Allan alongside Visit Victoria Chair Andy Penn and board member Eddie McGuire, confirms a multi-year deal that cements Victoria’s reputation as a global sports hub.
The MCG, already home to some of the world’s biggest sporting events, will welcome fans from across the globe when the Los Angeles Rams take the field as the designated ‘host’ team next year. With almost 20 million Americans tuning in for each game and millions more watching worldwide, the broadcast will beam Melbourne into lounge rooms across the US.
American football has been growing in popularity in Australia, with a fan base now at 6.6 million. Thousands of supporters are expected to gather across Melbourne for the Super Bowl LIX matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on Monday morning. Bringing regular-season games to Victoria means fans will no longer have to watch from afar—the game is coming to them.
Travel links between Melbourne and the US are already strong, with 1,200 non-stop flights each year carrying 435,000 passengers. The economic impact of American tourists is clear, with leisure travellers from the US spending $239 million in Victoria over the past year. To support growing demand, the state government has struck a deal with Melbourne Airport and Delta Air Lines to add three new direct flights per week from LA to Melbourne starting in December, with more services to come.
Premier Jacinta Allan called it “another touchdown for the sporting capital of Australia,” highlighting Victoria’s track record of hosting global events, from the Australian Open to the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Boxing Day Test.
Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos described it as a “massive coup,” bringing thousands of jobs and millions of eyes on Victoria. Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements said Melbourne was the “natural home for the world’s best major events,” while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that expanding to Melbourne reflects the league’s ambitions to grow internationally.
Fans eager for ticket details and match schedules can register at nfl.com/melbourne. The countdown has begun.
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