Rams President Kevin Demoff said that the “opportunity to play in Australia was an example of the Rams’ ‘dream big’ philosophy,” according to Sam Farmer of the L.A. TIMES. The Rams have made an “aggressive global push,” obtaining the NFL marketing rights to Australia in 2021, New Zealand in 2022 and this year Japan and South Korea. Including China and Mexico, the Rams have rights to six global markets, “tied for the most in the league” with the Dolphins. It was the Rams who “initially explored the idea” of playing in Australia, after they obtained the marketing rights, and then “brought that notion -- and the willingness to be the home team -- to the league.” The Rams already have played multiple international games, including four in London between 2012 and 2019. The team was supposed to host the Chiefs in Mexico City in 2018, but that was “moved back to the L.A. Coliseum because of poor field conditions” (L.A. TIMES, 2/5).
STARTING DOWN UNDER: NFL EVP/Club Business & League Events Peter O’Reilly said that, while scheduling “still needs to be finalized, the expectation is the Melbourne game will be played in Week 1 of the 2026 season.” In L.A., Adam Grosbard noted this would “allow teams an extra week” to make the flight to Australia and adjust to the 19 hour time difference. Demoff said, “We’ve always wanted to be the team of Australia, the team of the Asia-Pacific continent. … This was always a vision of how we can go play abroad in a meaningful way and really go open the doors in the next country” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/5).
SYNCING CALENDARS: In Melbourne, Bourke & Douglas wrote with the NFL coming to the MCG, a “possible clash” with the Australian Football League’s finals “looms.” The NFL season traditionally begins in early September and began on September 5 in 2024 which “aligned with the first week of the AFL finals last year.” One “logical solution” would be to line the match up with the AFL’s pre-finals bye. An AFL spokesperson said that the league would “ensure scheduling of both sports allows fans to experience ‘the best of both worlds.’” O’Reilly and Victoria Minister for Sport Steve Dimopoulos “spoke glowingly” of the AFL’s involvement in securing the multi-year NFL deal. Bourke & Douglas noted Sydney and Perth “were the other cities which had been vying for the hosting rights of the landmark fixture” (Melbourne HERALD SUN, 2/6).
SEISMIC MEANING: In Sydney, Vince Rugari wrote the NFL is coming to Melbourne, “and it’s a big deal. A very big deal. ... And a lot bigger than the average American football agnostic here might appreciate.” Rugari noted it is “probably the biggest sporting coup a city can pull off, aside from a FIFA World Cup or Olympic Games” (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/6).
