{"id":2053540,"date":"2026-07-21T07:42:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T04:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2053540"},"modified":"2026-07-21T07:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T04:42:36","slug":"nfl-expands-australia-push-with-live-nation-backed-melbourne-kickoff-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2053540","title":{"rendered":"NFL Expands Australia Push With Live Nation-Backed Melbourne Kickoff Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2256688322-e1773894226584.jpg?w=1024&#8243;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"a-content a-content--featured a-bb-pro-article-image-offsets a-bbpro-font-body-m a-dropcap\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-paywall\">\n<div class=\"pmc-contextual-player\" data-pmc-adm-ad-id=\"10140328\">\n<h3>\n\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \"><strong>Live Nation<\/strong> is partnering with the <strong>NFL <\/strong>to bring live music to Australia\u2019s first regular-season NFL game week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe NFL Melbourne Game Kickoff Festival presented by American Express will take over Melbourne Park from Thursday, Sept. 10, through Saturday, Sept. 12, surrounding the Los Angeles Rams\u2019 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, Sept. 11.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe three-day event will include daily entertainment and music performances from Australian artists and local DJs, with a headline act each evening included as part of the festival ticket. The full artist lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story \/\/ lrv-u-align-items-center u-align-items-flex-start@mobile-max  lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column@mobile-max u-width-710@desktop lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv-u-margin-tb-1 u-margin-b-250@mobile-max u-margin-t-275@mobile-max u-margin-t-250@desktop u-margin-b-250@desktop u-margin-lr-n1@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-1 lrv-u-border-color-brand-secondary-dark lrv-u-border-t-1 lrv-u-padding-tb-1  lrv-u-padding-tb-1@mobile-max lrv-u-padding-r-1@mobile-max lrv-u-padding-l-00@mobile-max u-grid-gap-18@desktop u-grid-gap-0@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-text-align-center lrv-u-flex-shrink-0 lrv-u-padding-a-050 u-padding-l-0625@mobile-max u-padding-b-0.375@mobile-max  lrv-u-background-color-brand-primary u-margin-t-n2@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-l-1@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-b-075@mobile-max\">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-article-related-module-title a-article-related-module-title--color-brand-primary a-font-accent-xl u-font-weight-800 u-letter-spacing-0179 u-line-height-normal lrv-u-color-grey-dark bb-pro-related-stories-label lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story-wrapper lrv-u-flex lrv-u-justify-content-space-between  a-children-border-vertical a-children-border--grey a-children-border-width-050\">\n<div class=\"o-card  lrv-u-width-100p\">\n<div class=\"o-card__image-wrap lrv-u-flex-shrink-0 u-width-191 u-width-150@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image   lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/P106J8IX-e1784562822137.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Darius Rucker of Hootie &amp; the Blowfish at The 52nd American Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.\" height width><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content  lrv-u-padding-l-150@desktop lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  c-title a-font-basic u-font-size-22@desktop u-font-size-16@mobile-max u-line-height-26px u-line-height-22px@mobile-max u-margin-b-0.625@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line@desktop a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max lrv-u-color-grey-dark lrv-u-color-grey-dark:hover\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tDarius Rucker Says He&#8217;s Considering Retiring From Touring in Two Years\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"o-article-byline \/\/ lrv-a-unstyle-list a-font-accent-m lrv-u-color-grey lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-word-spacing-n3px u-padding-t-0.875@desktop u-padding-t-00@mobile-max\">\n<li class=\"lrv-u-flex a-byline-color\">\n<div class=\"c-tagline  u-word-spacing-n3px a-children-link-color-black:hover a-truncate-ellipsis-2line\"><span>Jessica Nicholson<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe festival marks a major entertainment push around the NFL\u2019s first regular-season game in Australia, turning Melbourne Park into a game-week hub with live music, watch parties, fan activations, retail pop-ups, Flag Football clinics, American-style food and NFL exhibits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cThe NFL\u2019s first regular season game in Australia is a landmark moment, and Live Nation is proud to help build the excitement around it with a game-week experience that matches the scale of the occasion,\u201d Luke Hede, senior vice president of touring and commercial at Live Nation Australia, said in a statement. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cThe Kickoff Festival will bring together live music, entertainment and the unmistakable energy of the NFL, giving fans a new way to be part of the action. From Melbourne Park to the MCG, this will be a truly memorable celebration for fans across the city.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tCharlotte Offord, NFL general manager for Australia and New Zealand, said the festival is designed for fans attending the game and those who want to be part of the wider celebration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cThe Kickoff Festival promises to be an action-packed experience for sports fans of all ages,\u201d Offord said. \u201cWhether fans are attending the game or not, this event is the perfect way to get a taste of the NFL, be part of the celebrations and enjoy what we know is going to be an incredible few days in Melbourne.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe Kickoff Festival will also host the official watch party for the 2026 NFL season opener, when the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on Thursday, Sept. 10, in a Super Bowl LX rematch. A separate official watch party will be held for fans not attending the Rams-49ers game at the MCG.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBeyond music, the event will feature appearances from NFL figures, including a live Q&amp;A with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, activations from the Rams and 49ers, and appearances from NFL Australia and New Zealand Global Markets Program clubs, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tFans will also be able to take photos with all 60 Super Bowl rings and the Vince Lombardi Trophy, test their skills at the NFL Academy Combine Zone and watch Flag Football programming at Kia Arena, including clinics, school visits, a celebrity game and Australia vs. New Zealand men\u2019s and women\u2019s national Flag Football games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAmerican Express Card Members will have access to presale tickets from Monday, July 27, at 10 a.m. AEST through Wednesday, July 29, at 10 a.m. AEST, while supplies last. General tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster on Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m. AEST.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAdult tickets are priced at $49 for Thursday and Saturday sessions and $59 for Friday. Kids 13 and under can attend free with an accompanying adult ticket.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers at the MCG on Friday, Sept. 11, at 10:35 a.m. AEST.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/live-nation-nfl-melbourne-kickoff-festival\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2256688322-e1773894226584.jpg?w=1024&#8243;] Trending on Billboard Live Nation is partnering with the NFL to bring live music to Australia\u2019s first regular-season NFL game week. The NFL Melbourne Game Kickoff Festival presented by American Express will take over Melbourne Park from Thursday, Sept. 10, through Saturday, Sept. 12, surrounding the Los Angeles Rams\u2019 matchup against the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[48,226],"class_list":["post-2053540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-billboard-com","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2053540"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053540\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2053540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2053540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2053540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}