NFL in Australia is on the rise as fans pack viewing parties

Super Bowl Monday has become one of the biggest events in Sydney’s hospitality calendar.

Super Bowl Monday has become one of the biggest events in Sydney’s hospitality calendar, with pubs and venues around the state packed with buffalo wings, cheerleaders, beer and punters taking a day off work to watch America’s biggest sporting event of the year.

NFL Australia and New Zealand General manager Charlotte Offord has seen a mammoth rise in popularity for the sport since 2019 and the decision to host their first ever NFL sanctioned party in Sydney, on-board Sea Deck, was a declaration that they want a bigger part of the already fluctuated Australian sporting market.

“Having a Super Bowl Party is the first step in saying we want to put a stake in the ground and be part of the sporting landscape in Australia,” She said.

“We want to continue to grow fans across Australia.”

For the first time ever the NFL held an official Australian watch party on Sydney’s harbour, hosted by former NRL players Justin Horo and Josh Reynolds.

Fans gathered on Sydney Harbour for Australia’s First Official Super Bowl Party Hosted by the NFL

While the pair have played in the biggest sporting games Australia has to offer they both agreed that nothing compares to the Super Bowl.

“Look at any State of Origin and it’s that times a thousand. They just do it well in America and I hope we can take some tips off them,” Reynolds said. “As you can see today, us Aussies are embracing the NFL.”

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Horo said the game was “only getting bigger in Australia.”

From the Fiddler in Sydney’s west to the Sporting Globe in the city pubs were packed from early hours in the morning to late in the evening.

North Shore salesman Thomas Comeford, 27, and his friends took the day off work and were one of over 400 people who attended Merivales Hotel CBD.

The event was booked out before it had even been decided what teams would play in the event.

Hosts of Australia's first official NFL Super Bowl party former NRL stars, left to right Josh Reynolds, Justin Horo, Willie Mason with the Vince Lombardi Trophy

“The atmosphere was amazing because the game is always amazing,” said Comeford.

“The city is full of NFL jerseys and it’s something that is very clearly a big deal to Australians,”

“Going to the pub with your mates to watch the Super Bowl is something that is fun and brings everyone closer together, ill be coming back here for sure.