Overview
- The San Francisco 49ers, which arrived on Thursday, have spent the week doing public events in Melbourne and are highly visible in signage and fan gatherings around the MCG.
- The Los Angeles Rams plan to fly in about a day before the 10:35 a.m. AEST kickoff, a timetable Sean McVay says keeps players on Pacific Time to protect performance.
- Media voices and local fans have criticized the Rams' minimal on-the-ground presence, arguing the designated home team has not done enough to promote the game or connect with Australian supporters.
- Reporting and photos indicate a heavy 49ers presence in the stands despite the Rams holding official Australian marketing rights and being the game’s designated home team.
- The matchup is part of a multi-year NFL plan to grow the Australian market and observers say the teams’ contrasting travel and engagement choices could influence how the league stages future international games.