Former LA Rams star Todd Gurley says he can “definitely see” NFL matches performed in Australia within the close to future, however he’s not as sure {that a} deliberate NRL mix within the States shall be as profitable as hoped.
No official NFL matches have been performed in Australia, however an exhibition recreation between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers was held in Sydney in 1999 in entrance of an enormous crowd at Stadium Australia.
It’s most probably a recreation would happen in 2026 when the Rams have 9 residence video games scheduled; the NFL likes to make use of the groups with 9 (as a substitute of eight) to play worldwide match-ups.
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Back then it was a novel idea, with articles on the time referencing Crocodile Dundee and Nicole Kidman, whereas a lot was made from the Broncos leaving Denver on Sunday native time and touchdown in Sydney on Tuesday, due to this fact shedding a complete day and resulting in comparisons to Rip Van Winkle.
But the game has grow to be immensely common over right here since then, with the NFL exhibiting a real dedication to rising the sport that peaked with the launch of the worldwide collection in 2007.
Three matches have been performed in London this yr and one other two in Germany, with greater than 50,000 followers rocking as much as the match in Frankfurt between the Colts and Patriots.
College soccer has already performed some video games in Australia, whereas the NHL took a few pre-season video games Down Under for the primary time this yr.
“It’s not that far when you think about it. It’s not that much of a difference from LA to Germany to what it is coming out here. Once you get past 10 hours, it’s all the same,” Gurley stated, with flights from LA to Sydney roughly 4 hours longer than the journey to Frankfurt.
“I think it’d be a great opportunity to play here.
“I don’t know how it’d work, but I think the NFL would have to mandate that the teams come here for six or seven days (for jet lag and to grow the game).
“That’s how it started with the London games, but guys just get there like three days before the game which is tough to get acclimatised to.
“These players are going to London, Germany, Mexico City, and for some of them, this is the first time they’ve left the country.
“I reckon they could come here for the week, play the game and then have a bye week. I can definitely see it happening.”
There’s each probability we might see Australian star Jordan Mailata characteristic in one of many video games given his Philadelphia Eagles are one among two NFL groups designated to Australia as a part of the NFL’s residence advertising space initiative.
The different workforce is the LA Rams who received Super Bowl LVI and have elevated their footprint in Australia with an occasion on Monday morning in Coogee the place Gurley was available to advertise a flag soccer occasion that includes state champions Arndell Anglican College.
The LA RamsHome connection has been robust in Australia for 2 years, and it might grow to be even larger if the NRL goes by way of with its plan to carry a mix subsequent yr when it opens the season in Las Vegas to attempt to encourage school stars who missed out on the NFL to change codes.
Gurley, who scored 79 touchdowns within the NFL, was intrigued by the thought however warned it might be powerful to get younger Americans to maneuver to Australia given there have been rising alternatives again residence with new leagues popping up.
“Not bad, not bad at all,” he stated when advised concerning the mix.
“The only problem I’d say is that those guys love football.
“So for them, it’d be a big risk to step away from their comfort zone.
“Yes, it’s similar because you need an athletic ability, but half the people playing college football probably don’t even know where Australia is located, so they’d probably be scared about such a big move from that standpoint.
“You’ve got to remember there are so many other alternative leagues starting back up with the XFL and the CFL and others, so those players still have options.
“If they’ve got the funding to do (the combine) then they (the NRL) might as well try it.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
