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Live sport on SN this weekend‘We want to embrace the fans’: NFL sets sights on more plans down under
Sport Nation • October 15th, 2026 4:03 pm
NFL in Melbourne | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
The NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia gave the league a major showcase down under.
But for Charlotte Offord, NFL’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, it was also a chance to build on the sport’s growing presence across the region.
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11 in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Offord said the Rams, who had already invested in the market, and the 49ers, who were keen to support the NFL’s international expansion, were both willing to make the trip.
“It was a very, very amazing week and a lot of work went into it, but we wanted to show this part of the world that there are fans that exist here and we can put on an exceptional experience,” she told Sport Nation Afternoons.
Melbourne Cricket Ground held Australia's NFL clash in September | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
The league now wants to turn that interest into participation, with flag football providing opportunities for young people across the region.
“I certainly want games to continue to be played in this market.
“We're actively really growing flag football. We have aspirations to keep that in the Olympic Games post LA into Brisbane ‘32 and really offer pathways for young people.
“That programme has actually grown from pretty much zero to 380 schools across New Zealand now, with about 56,000 kids playing flag football.
“So we're seeing huge growth. I have a full-time employee that sits out of New Zealand that runs that programme for us, and she's fantastic and we're really seeing the appetite.”
Offord said the NFL also wants to deepen its connection with existing fans. The Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, both of which have investment rights in New Zealand, are aware of their local support and are keen to help develop it.
“They actively talk to us about what can we be doing in New Zealand to really grow and nurture that audience.
“We want embrace the fans down there and I think we've got a lot of things we could be doing across the country.”
Listen to the full interview below:
