Caulfield to host epic Super Bowl Monday party, featuring Nick Riewoldt

Watching the Super Bowl on a jumbotron at Caulfield Racecourse – while enjoying an NFL field, American food and drinks, and insights from Nick Riewoldt – will be the “next best thing” to being there.

Caulfield Racecourse will host a Super Bowl Monday party as part of an NFL-themed summer carnival, in what Nick Riewoldt is calling “the next best thing” to being in the stands of the New Orleans Superdome.

The new February 10 event will feature a live broadcast of the match on a four-sided, 248-inch jumbotron, followed by a twilight race card.

Caulfield’s front lawn will be transformed into an NFL field with end zones and bleachers.

And the $20 entry ticket includes two complimentary Budweisers and a bacon and egg roll. Attendees can then get stuck into classic American food, with Philly cheesesteaks, loaded chips and hotdogs, bourbon-and-maple-glazed wings and more on offer, while DJs, cheerleaders and competitions will further add to the occasion.

Riewoldt said he would be involved “as a fan first and foremost”, while also sharing will share his insights on the match with attendees – a role he had on American sports giant ESPN’s coverage of the past two Super Bowls.

NFL super fan Nick Riewoldt – pictured with sons James, Will and Teddy, and cheerleaders Kelsey Jenning and Ashleigh Kempster – can’t wait to attend Caulfield Racecourse’s Super Bowl Monday party as part of an NFL-themed summer racing carnival. Picture: David Caird

“The game’s growing so rapidly over here, so Caulfield jumping on board is a great move,” the former St Kilda star said.

“(Super Bowl Monday) is almost becoming a holiday in Australia. It’s a great spectacle – whether you’re in it for the game itself, or the ads or the halftime show.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to attend the last two Super Bowls, due to work I was doing with ESPN, but the next best thing is to get together with a big group of people.”

The AFL great said he watched NFL “religiously” while living in Texas, where wife Cath was from, while sons James, 10, Will, 8, and Teddy, 5, had loved playing the sport.

He added his boys would be code-switching to Aussie rules now they had moved back to Melbourne: “They want to do what their friends are doing, but they’ve still been watching the NFL playoffs and college football.”

Riewoldt with sons, James, 10, Will, 8, and Teddy, 5, who played American football while the family lived in the US. Picture: David Caird

Riewoldt gets ready to play ball on Caulfield racetrack with his sons. Picture: David Caird

Of the four teams remaining in the playoffs, Riewoldt said he had “a soft spot for the Buffalo Bills”.

“Having gotten so close and not being able to salute so many times, I suppose there’s a bit of affinity there with the Saints,” he said. “I’d love to see them get up and win it.”

The gridiron theme will also infiltrate the Melbourne Racing Club’s two major summer race days: Herald Sun Caulfield Family Day on February 8 and Caulfield Blue Diamond on February 22.

Family Day will feature flag football for kids, punting competitions for adults, cheerleading demonstrations, a DJ and a carnival of free rides. The Group-1 C.F. Orr Stakes will headline the day.

Blue Diamond will feature a marching band, cheerleaders, special guest Q&As, American football-inspired competitions and eats – and Victoria’s premier race for two-year-olds, the $2m Blue Diamond Stakes.

Admission to both race days is free for children under 18. Adult tickets start at $25.

MRC executive Alana Bray said: “The NFL’s popularity in Australia has soared in recent years, and with Sportsbet Super Bowl Monday landing between our two feature February race days, it’s a no-brainer to capitalise on the sport’s grand final and put eyeballs on our premier summer racing.”

mrc.racing.com