Forty-Niners Head to Australia | NFL News

0:00On September 7th, the NFL is shaking things up with more international games, and this year, the San Francisco 49ers are heading to Melbourne. Australia, to play the Los Angeles Rams, this marks the first regular season NFL game ever held down under. Coach Kyle Shanahan isn't exactly thrilled about it, especially since the league changed its rules, taking away team's ability to protect home games, from being moved overseas. Shanahan's main gripe is losing that home game advantage. Usually, when the Rams plan Los Angeles, 49ers fans show up in droves, making so-fies stadium feel like their own turf. They've got a solid record against the Rams there, too. Now, their fly halfway across the world, and Shanahan feels it's a disadvantage that the Rams, who reportedly push for this matchup, don't have, to face the same travel burden. The league, however, sees it differently. Commissioner Roderger Gidell is all about growing the sport globally, and this expansion of international games is part of that vision.

1:02While Shanahan is focused on the logistical challenges and the impact on his team schedule, the NFL is looking at the bigger picture of fan, engagement and the sports reach beyond American borders. To try and combat the jet lag and get acclimated, the 49ers made the long trek to Australia well in advance of the game. The Rams, on the other hand, are taking a much quicker approach, flying in just before the game and heading straight back home afterward. This difference in preparation could be a key factor when the two teams finally face off. Despite Shanahan's reservations about the travel and schedule disruption, he's still confident that the 49ers fan base, known as the Faithful, will make their presence felt, even thousands of miles away. It's a unique situation, with the game taking place on a Thursday in Australia, meaning it will already be Friday when fans back home tune in. That wraps NFL News Today, brought to you with AI. I'm Corey with The Story.