The San Francisco 49ers are feeling right at home in Melbourne ahead of their game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1.
The NFL will make history in Australia, as the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams will face off at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11. It will mark the league’s first-ever clash in the regular season in Australia.
It is part of the NFL’s vision to make the sport more global. The league visited Australia in the preseason in 1999, when the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers played at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
The San Francisco Standard’s David Lombardi showed that a well-known landmark in Melbourne welcomed the 49ers in a colorful way.
“One of the most famous buildings in the entire country, the Flinders Street Station, the busiest railway station, is already in 49ers red and gold,” said Lombardi.
Fans appreciated the awesome idea.
“I love it,” said @diamondj1466.
“GO, 49ERS! BRING. IT. ON,” added @RechGiliana.
“If the Niners are playing the Rams, it’s ALWAYS a home game,” stated @JayLockeriusII.
“Can’t wait for the game. Heading down for it! 49ers should be awarded marketing rights for Australia though, Rams do not deserve it!” claimed @TeslaREDJules.
“That’s Flinders Street Station, iconic in Melbourne, and what a way to welcome and promote the game,” wrote @fromXEROau.
The 49ers arrived with a 200-member traveling party, including tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa, who are nursing an Achilles injury and a knee injury, respectively.
According to a report from the Associated Press, the 49ers landed in Melbourne on Friday to give them enough time to acclimatize. The Rams, however, chose a different route.
“The Rams are scheduled to arrive Thursday, only about 24 hours before the game. The team’s plan was to attempt to stay as close as possible to its West Coast US time zone to avoid jet lag,” said the report.
The NFL will make history in Australia, as the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams will face off at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11. It will mark the league’s first-ever clash in the regular season in Australia. It is part of the NFL’s vision to make the sport more global.