Rams Reach Melbourne 28 Hours Before Opener as 49ers Spend Nearly 1 Week Adjusting
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 10
Rams Reach Melbourne 28 Hours Before Opener as 49ers Spend Nearly 1 Week Adjusting
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 10
Summary
Thursday’s NFL opener in Melbourne has become a live test of two travel models: the Rams landed about 28 hours before kickoff after a 17-hour time shift, while the 49ers arrived nearly a week early.
The Rams based their late-arrival plan on sports-science advice and a 2025 London win after reaching town roughly 30 hours before kickoff, using a charter with 53 beds and a tightly managed sleep schedule.
San Francisco stuck with its established acclimation approach, shaped by past success staying east between road games and training at altitude before Mexico City, after consulting sleep experts and veteran international coaches.
The result could influence how clubs handle future Australia trips, even as NFL executives say one team’s shorter stay is not a concern for fan engagement or the broader event.
Melbourne is the first of a record 9 international NFL games this season, and the league sees Australia as a key test market as it pushes toward as many as 10 games in 2027 and 16 longer term.