Date, time and ticket prices for MCG’s San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams clash revealed

Australia’s love for American football will be put to the test when the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams go head to head at the MCG in September this year.

The date and time for the historic NFL clash has now been revealed, with the match to start at 10.35am AEST on Friday, September 11.

But not only will the time pose a challenge for those keen to get to the game, so will the exorbitant ticket prices.

‘Standing’ tickets alone will set a person back $95, while general seating starts $140.

Hospitality packages start from $1600 and range up to $2800.

It is the first in-season NFL match to be played in Australia and the early scheduling means it can be broadcast into America in prime-time — 8.35pm on the US East Coast (New York) and 5.35pm on the West Coast (Los Angeles).

But, with many Australians grappling with an endless cost-of-living crisis, the fans — who are able to get off work on a Friday — might baulk at the hefty starting price of the tickets.

The match-up also falls smack bang in the middle of the AFL finals and the MCG is likely to be under pressure to convert the famous turf back to an AFL ground for a likely clash the following day.

The MCC’s chief executive Stuart Fox insists they have a plan in place if there is a clash.

“We’ve obviously worked with the AFL on this issue, and we don’t know what we’re working with yet, and we won’t know until five or six days out,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“We’re ready to play a game of AFL if needed, the next night or twilight, and we’re also available the next day after that, Sunday.”

Despite the ticket prices and and the early morning start, Fox believes “the place will fill no matter what”.

He said the logistical challenge of shifting from an NFL pitch to an AFL oval was an exciting one.

“We’ve been working on it for a year, and it feels like we’re nearly ready to go with it,” he said.

The NFL is also confident in its Aussie market and believes that the 49ers are a “popular franchise” with Australians.

Two-time Super Bowl winners, the Rams, are the ‘home’ team for the clash, while the 49ers are another storied franchise with five ‘world championship’ triumphs to their name.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan also ruled out the option of a public holiday, but said there would be a significant cash injection with more than 140,000 people registering interest for the game.

“The British Lions events (last year) that were held at the MCG generated over $100 million in economic return for our state. This will be potentially even bigger than that,” she said.

Ticket sales

MCC pre-sale: April 1, 10am AEDT

Hospitality packages: April 7, 10am AEST

General tickets: April 8, 10am AEST