The Los Angeles Rams are set to play the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia. Although the Rams are designated as the home team for the matchup, the crowd is anticipated to lean heavily in favor of the 49ers, who are the NFL's most popular team in Australia.
The 49ers' strong following in Australia has been cultivated over decades, with many fans tracing their allegiance back to the franchise's dominance in the 1980s, a period when the NFL began gaining traction Down Under. Charlotte Offord, NFL Australia and New Zealand general manager, noted that many fans have continued to support the teams they followed during that era. The 49ers are actively leveraging this support by planning a week of events in Melbourne intended to "paint Melbourne red," with thousands of their traveling fans expected to attend.
This situation is familiar to the Rams, who have frequently seen a significant presence of 49ers supporters at their home games, including at SoFi Stadium. However, the game in Australia presents a unique opportunity for the Rams to win over a new audience that has not yet committed to a team.
The Rams possess a roster capable of making a strong first impression on this developing fan base. Led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, the offense is coming off a 12-win season, and the defense, featuring players like Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, and Trent McDuffie, has established Los Angeles as a formidable team on paper. For the burgeoning Australian audience experiencing their first live regular-season NFL game, the performance of the Rams could be pivotal. While the 49ers may enter Melbourne with a pre-existing advantage in fan numbers, the Rams have a chance to convert spectators who are still deciding on their NFL allegiance. The 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground might begin with a predominance of red in the stands, but a convincing performance by the Rams could ensure that not all attendees leave as 49ers fans.