San Francisco 49ers set to play first regular-season game in Australia amid strong local fan support
The 49ers will open their season against the Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne's Cricket Ground, with tickets selling out quickly and the team expected to draw a large contingent of Australian supporters.
San Francisco will travel to Melbourne on Thursday night for its season-opening matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, marking the first regular-season NFL game in Australia. The league reported that 175,000 fans registered interest for the 100,000-seat venue, and tickets sold out within two hours of the initial sale, suggesting a full house.
NFL Australia and New Zealand general manager Charlotte Offord said the 49ers are the most popular team in the country, a legacy she attributes to the franchise’s success in the 1980s and 1990s. "I think that comes from history, the Montana days, the Jerry Rice days," Offord said, noting that many Australian fans have followed the league since that era.
Ticket data show that 48% of purchasers are from outside Victoria, including 10-12% from the United States, and the team’s merchandise ranked third in sales last year, behind only the Seahawks and Patriots. United Airlines reported a 65% increase in bookings on the San Francisco-Melbourne route compared with the same period last year.
49ers linebacker Fred Warner expressed optimism about the crowd, saying, "The hope is that it's a sea of red. The faithful, in my opinion, are the best fans in the world."
Team CEO Al Guido added that the organization is "thrilled" with the response from Melbourne fans and highlighted community outreach activities the squad has undertaken in the city. While Australia is not currently a designated international market for the 49ers, Guido said the club is evaluating longer-term engagement strategies.
Local supporters such as 48-year-old Huw Davies, who became a fan in 1989, and 30-year-old Harry Murtough, who followed the team’s resurgence in 2011, secured tickets after a lengthy queue and plan to bring family members to the game, underscoring the personal significance of the event for Australian fans.