Goodell calls NFL’s Melbourne game a success
The Week 1 matchup drew an official attendance of 100,021, while the teams took different approaches to preparing for the trip.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised the league’s Week 1 game in Melbourne at a league meeting, saying it had met the NFL’s expectations across the board. His comments came as he discussed overseas games and how teams managed the journey to Australia.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground recorded an official crowd of 100,021. Kickoff was at 10:30 on Friday morning locally, allowing the matchup to be televised in the United States on Thursday night. Goodell said the turnout reflected Australians’ enthusiasm for sports.
Responding to a question about whether the long-distance trip could make games in Asia possible, Goodell indicated that teams could manage the travel. He said the league had learned from the different preparations the teams used.
The 49ers arrived a week before the game to acclimate and beat the Rams by a wide margin. The Rams arrived only a day ahead. Goodell has expressed a desire for more NFL games overseas.
