49ers CEO Al Guido says Melbourne trip was an “unbelievable success” – San Francisco 49ers CEO Al Guido says the club’s week in Melbourne was an “unbelievable success”, as the team prepared for its NFL rivalry clash with the Los Angeles Rams.
The appearance underlines the scale of the NFL’s Australian moment: two Super Bowl-contending franchises have brought their season opener to the MCG, where the 49ers say they found a warm local welcome and a familiar sea of red.
Speaking with Seven’s Mel McLaughlin, Guido said the 49ers’ events at Federation Square and Transport Bar had connected the club with both dedicated fans and curious locals.
“The folks in Melbourne have just welcomed the San Francisco 49ers with open arms,” Guido said. “We already knew we had the number one fan base in Australia. I think we won over some hearts and minds in the course of the last week.”
Guido said the players and coaches had enjoyed the visit, while also praising the MCG after taking in an AFL match between Carlton and Geelong. On the game itself, he said both the 49ers and Rams had Super Bowl aspirations and had strengthened their rosters in the off-season.
Asked about the long-haul travel, Guido said there was no single right answer, but that the 49ers had made the decision that best suited their team and had acclimatised to the time.
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