The National Football League (NFL) has announced a historic multi-year agreement to bring its regular-season games to Melbourne, Australia. The inaugural match will be held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) next year, marking a significant step in the league's global expansion strategy.
The NFL has announced a landmark multi-year agreement to bring its regular-season games to Melbourne , Australia . The league will stage its inaugural regular-season match Down Under at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground ( MCG ) next year. This move marks a significant step in the NFL 's global expansion strategy, solidifying its presence in a key international market.
The Los Angeles Rams have been selected as the designated team for the inaugural match, with their opponent to be revealed at a later date. \ In a joint statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed his excitement, saying, 'Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth. We look forward to making history in what is an important market for the NFL and a significant next step in expanding our international footprint.' Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan echoed the sentiment, hailing the deal as a 'major touchdown' for Victoria. She highlighted Melbourne's status as a global sporting hub, noting its hosting of events like the Australian Open tennis tournament, the Formula One Grand Prix, and now, an NFL regular-season game.\Eddie McGuire, a member of the Visit Victoria board, revealed that Melbourne beat out stiff competition in a bidding war to secure the fixture. He emphasized the MCG's historical significance as a venue for major sporting events, stating, 'This is the place where the first Test cricket game was played. This is the place where the first game of Australian rules football was played. This is the place where the first Olympic Games in the Southern Hemisphere was conducted. It has been the theatre of dreams for so long and now it's going to be the first place in Australia where (NFL) games will be played for points.' The announcement was further bolstered by the recent confirmation of direct flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne, providing seamless travel for fans and players. Andrew Penn, the chair of Visit Victoria, underscored the significance of this development, stating, 'Suffice to say, this is a major, major coup for Melbourne and Victoria. But at the end of the day, some of the most persuading factors about why the NFL is coming to Australia is because … of where we are today — we're at the 'G (MCG), we're in Melbourne.' This marks a return for the NFL to Australia after a preseason match between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers at Sydney's Stadium Australia in 1999. The league continues to expand its international presence, with over 50 regular-season games played outside the United States in cities like London, Munich, and Mexico City
NFL Australia Melbourne MCG International Expansion Roger Goodell Jacinta Allan Eddie Mcguire Andrew Penn
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