LA Rams Down Under: Australia’s official NFL ‘hook-up’

If you have never been in a pub with Aussies (those friendly blokes from Australia), then you have truly missed out on some of the best fun remaining on the face of this planet. Now, imagine sitting side by side with those same mates downing a pint, watching the LA Rams play, and sitting in a stadium in Australia?  Well, it could be happening sooner than you realize.

It’s all becoming a possibility thanks to the NFL taking a rather large step towards addressing international markets by creating a new initiative: The NFL International Home Marketing Area (HMA) Teams and Markets.

For the LA Rams, the team will take the lead in three critical international markets: Australia, China, and one of nine teams to market in Mexico.  The Rams are already investigating ways to make American Football (a.k.a Gridiron) more popular, and will undoubtedly be working with Gridiron Australia in the future to explore avenues that will mutually benefit the popularity of the sport.

International Marketing Initiative

The NFL is committing to creating a more internationally friendly and accessible NFL going forward. That includes scheduling at least one international game for each of the league’s 32 teams over the next eight seasons. Whenever possible, the league will try to locate the game in the HMA of that respective team.

While the logistics of a regular-season game may be several years away, the organization has options of conducting a mini-camp series of practices,  a period of training camp, and perhaps even the possibility of a preseason game in Australia sooner than later.

What’s up for the folks Down Under?

For starters, the LA Rams Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kevin Demoff, has admitted to having ‘interesting plans’ for the Ram’s newest international market of Australia. Those plans, upon further elaboration, included planning to play an NFL football game ‘Down Under’.

"“Our head coach (Sean McVay) would probably kill me for sending the team there, but we have a lot of interesting plans for Australia and ways to engage. I would love to play a game there at some point; be it an exhibition game, or come for training camp, or if the NFL ever decides to put a (regular season) game over there, I think we would be the first to raise our hand and look to do it.It may be a while away. SoFi Stadium needs to be broken in a little bit more before we take another game out there, but the Rams played one of the first international games in Asia. They played one of the first international games in London (as well) and we have a pioneering, international spirit in our building and we can’t wait to get to Australia some way, somehow.” – LA Rams COO Kevin Demoff as per News.Com.AU reporter Mark McGowan"

Playing in Australia is certainly something to look forward to.

Right now, the NFL is not particularly bursting with players who are Australian natives. But there are a handful of players, perhaps the most famous is Philadelphia Eagles LT Jordan Mailata. He may soon be joined by Minnesota Golden Gopher’s Daniel Faalele, a hulking 6-foot-8 384-pound offensive tackle who hails from Melbourne, Australia.

While he is currently projected to come off the 2022 NFL Draft Board in the second round, the Rams could show interest if he is on the board when the Rams make their selection with the 103rd pick. In the meantime, we have our LA Rams fans who reside in Australia in mind. Let us know in the comments section how to continue to include our Australian #Ramily.

Go Rams!