Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
A flurry of states have left the door ajar to host an NFL game after league officials hinted that they want to play matches in different Australian cities.
Ahead of the competition’s first regular-season game in Australia next Friday between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the MCG, the NFL’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand Charlotte Offord wouldn’t rule out sharing games with other states.
The competition currently has a four-year deal with Victoria to host at least two confirmed games, with the 49ers landing in Melbourne on Friday following a 16-hour journey,
However, the league also indicated that matches could come down under annually, opening the door for different states to present fixtures once the contract expires.
The Queensland government wants to cash in following the competition’s Commissioner Roger Goodell visiting the state in April, where he pitched Flag Football as a sporting option for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“We are already raiding major sporting events from other states,” a spokesperson for Sports Minister Tim Mander said in a statement to AAP.
“Queensland is a world-class sporting destination, an obvious choice for the NFL, and we would welcome them to the Sunshine State.”
Victoria has reportedly forked out $10 to 15 million for the deal, and on Friday Premier Ben Carroll said it was a good deal for the state.
It comes as Melbourne is anticipating a cash influx with about 50 per cent of spectators coming from interstate or overseas, while hotel occupancy in the CBD has risen by 39 per cent for the night of the game.
The NSW government has also pricked its ears following Offord’s comments, despite Premier Chris Minns previously conceding that the NFL was “too expensive”, and the government had to spend taxpayers’ money wisely.
The state’s Sport Minister Steve Kamper said they are “open to conversations”.
“Sydney has the fans, the venues, and the visitor economy to deliver a world-class NFL event, and it could be a great addition to our sporting calendar,” he said in a statement.
Although the Rams were chosen as the “home team” as they have marketing rights in Australia, other franchises with rights in the country include reigning Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks, 2025 winners Philadelphia Eagles, and the Las Vegas Raiders.
The prospect of the Eagles and the Seahawks coming to NSW is enticing, as both Philadelphia star Jordan Mailata and Seattle punter Michael Dickson are from Sydney.
