NFL keen for Australia game to become annual fixture in 'strategic' market

The National Football League (NFL) is aiming to establish a regular annual fixture in Australia as part of its international strategy, according to a senior executive. The league will host its first game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on September 11, with the LA Rams taking on the San Francisco 49ers. This marks the beginning of a record nine-game international schedule across seven countries.

The MCG's hosting of the game is included in a multi-year contract with Australia's Victoria state, which guarantees two confirmed games over four years, with the option for a third. Gerrit Meier, managing director and head of NFL International, expressed the league's preference for annual games in Australia, similar to Britain's commitment for the past two decades.

The league's long-term scheduling for games in Australia must consider the players' experience, the clubs' value, and the hosts' satisfaction with the economic impact. The Victorian government estimates the cost of each game to be between A$10 million and A$15 million, expecting significant economic returns from the investment. The NFL has set up a local office in Australia and New Zealand since 2022 and opened a second international academy on the Gold Coast in 2024.

Australian fans are already common in NFL teams, with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata becoming the country's first Super Bowl winner as a participant in 2023.