San Francisco 49ers arrive in Melbourne for historic NFL game against the LA Rams

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Melbourne for their season-opening NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sept. 11.

It is expected to be the first of many regular-season NFL games in front of its growing Australian fan base.

The team’s 200-member traveling party touched down on Friday morning after a 15-hour chartered Qantas flight and will spend a week acclimatizing before facing the Rams in front of an expected sold-out crowd at the MCG.

The Rams are scheduled to arrive next Thursday, only about 24 hours before the game.

The match is scheduled for a Friday morning start in Australia so it can be televised on Thursday evening during prime time in the eastern United States.

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