Angry fans say they have been squeezed out by sky-high ticket prices for the one-off NFL game at the MCG in September, as pre-sale tickets for restricted view seats were priced as high as $630.
Pre-sale tickets for MCC members and American Express card users for the September 11 game went on sale on at 10am Wednesday, with public tickets available from Wednesday, April 8. The cheapest tickets at $95 per person for standing room, and $140 for the bottom row, sold out almost immediately on Ticketmaster – many punters complaining they had next to no chance of securing these despite being emailed a link on Tuesday.
This meant prices leapt to as high as $920 on level two, although there were still tickets available at about $500 or more. A restricted view on level one was $630 at one point for the first NFL regular-season game on Australian soil.
An NFL Australia spokeswoman said sales had been strong for the week one clash.
“Ticket pre-sales for both Amex and MCC have gone extremely well today, with high demand across both. We’re looking forward to seeing the high level of interest continue into next week when general access tickets and corporate hospitality go on sale,” she said.
An MCC spokeswoman told this masthead that ticket pricing for the game was set by the NFL.
One fan, who did not wish to be named, clicked on at 9.45am and soon found himself at about 22,000 in the Ticketmaster queue, and 77,000 in the queue of American Express card users.
“It must have been a humongous demand. It’s always the same with these things,” the fan said.
The fan said he had been quoted $350 for the last row of the Shane Warne Stand, and eventually opted to withdraw.
“The back row of the Southern [Shane Warne] Stand should be $140, it’s not a special spot,” he said.
Other fans took to social media to express their frustration.
“The absolute deadset last row of the MCG is $450 for the stupid NFL rams 49ers game omfg how could these Americans do this to us w these ticket prices,” he said.
Another fan posted on X that the NFL was “taking the mickey”.
An AFL dining room buffet package via the Amex pre-sale costs $2250 per ticket.
Fans were also frustrated at a system they said would not allow them to click through to secure tickets that were still available.
More than 140,000 people had registered their interest in coming to the game.
While fans are eagerly anticipating the contest, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan caused a stir this week when he said he wasn’t a fan of the long trip and jet lag.
Speaking at the annual NFL owners meeting in Phoenix, Shanahan, when questioned about the trip, replied sarcastically: “Oh, so fired up. That’s our goal – to go 19 hours away to play a game.”
He added: “They tell you, and you deal with it,” when discussing the international games.
When asked whether he could see any positives from playing internationally, Shanahan couldn’t point to one.
“I don’t see any pro. I mean, it’s cool. It’s cool for the league to play globally. I think that’s awesome. But, um, as far as the team doing it, you know, it’s … no, there’s not much benefit to it. Sometimes, it’s nice to get a bye week after. But it doesn’t happen week one.”
The franchise’s general manager, John Lynch, said the 49ers would do “the best we possibly can”.
“It’s kind of like there’s a price to being a high-profile team with a lot of stars. The league wants us on prime time … What I’ve learned, you have to advocate. I certainly do for our guys, but at some point, these are the cards you’re dealt. Let’s make it the best we possibly can,” Lynch said.
However, Rams players have repeatedly told this masthead they are fortunate to have the opportunity to play at such a famous stadium. September’s clash will be a Rams “home” game.
It is one of nine international games on the NFL’s 2026 calendar, with some of those scheduled in London, Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, Munich and Rio de Janeiro.
The AFL may need to play a final at Marvel Stadium this year for the first time since 2011 to accommodate the game.
The 2026 AFL finals begin with wildcard round on the last weekend of August, meaning the Rams and 49ers’ regular-season game will fall on semi-final weekend, with kick-off scheduled for 10.35am in Melbourne – prime-time in the United States.
The MCC says the ground will be unavailable for a Friday night final but ready to host the AFL again by late Saturday afternoon.
The MCG has hosted exhibition soccer matches, NRL State of Origin, and Bledisloe Cup games during the AFL season in the past, as well as concerts in December 2022 before that year’s Boxing Day Test.
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
