Rams, 49ers to Open NFL's First Melbourne Game at MCG — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Kevin Demoff (Rams president) denied 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan's theory that Los Angeles chose San Francisco to keep 49ers fans out of SoFi Stadium, saying "We did not select the Niners at all"
- The Rams volunteered in 2024 when the NFL moved toward Australia and became the first team designated as the home team before any formal announcement, per Demoff
- The 49ers were chosen as the opponent because they are Australia's most popular NFL team; Australian NFL fans grew from 5.7 million to 8.8 million (a 54% jump) between 2022 and 2025
- Melbourne beat Sydney and Perth on walkability and the MCG, the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a capacity of more than 100,000
- The Rams originally wanted to host the Kansas City Chiefs, but Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in mid-December and the NFL refused the Week 1 swap, leaving the 49ers, Cowboys, and Cardinals as the only options
- The game is the first of a multiyear agreement to stage regular-season NFL contests in Australia, airing on Netflix Thursday at 8:35 p.m. ET
Why it matters: The Rams-49ers pairing was driven by Australia's 54% fan growth since 2022 and the 49ers' status as the country's most popular team, not competitive considerations — Shanahan publicly griped about the 16-hour flight while Matt LaFleur backed the SoFi theory the Rams denied. With the December 2023 rule requiring every team to host an international game every four years, the league is locking in a multiyear Australia commitment that pairs its Melbourne debut with a Rio opener featuring Dallas against the Ravens.
Ask SkimNews
