Shanahan still upset that Rams escaped 49ers' home-field advantage in Australia
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan says moving the Rams' designated home game to Melbourne didn’t relieve the competitive edge his team loses when the Rams play at SoFi Stadium.
Kyle Shanahan arrived in Melbourne ahead of the 49ers’ Week 1 clash with the Los Angeles Rams, noting that his earlier criticism of the NFL’s inaugural Australian game has softened toward the host city but not toward the scheduling decision. He maintains that moving the Rams’ designated home game 8,000 miles away from SoFi Stadium lets the Rams avoid the hostile environment created by 49ers fans who routinely fill the Los Angeles venue.
Because the 49ers enjoy the highest fan popularity in Australia, the match could still feel like a 49ers-friendly atmosphere despite being held abroad. Shanahan highlighted the logistical burden of a week-long stay in Melbourne to adjust to time-zone differences for a division game that could influence NFC West tiebreakers. Fred Warner echoed the sentiment, hoping for a sea of red in the stands. Overall, Shanahan suspects the Rams will not escape a 49ers-dominated crowd, only see it relocated to Melbourne.
Why it matters
The venue shift could affect competitive balance in a key NFC West matchup and set a precedent for future overseas games.
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