It may have blown a hole in their wallet but Americans have ticked off a "bucket list" item with a trip Down Under for a historic NFL clash.
On a brisk spring morning, NFL jersey-clad locals and tourists clutching coffees poured into the MCG to watch the San Francisco 49ers smash the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the code's inaugural Australian regular season clash.
AJ Reyes and Danny Rosales were among a group of friends who travelled from California for the sold-out blockbuster that attracted 100,021 fans.
"This has been an experience like no other," Mr Reyes told AAP.
"This is the top of my bucket list since I was a little kid ... and being able to watch my Rams and come to Australia at the same time - I'm killing two birds with one stone."
Mr Rosales, a 49er follower, said he forked out about $US400 ($A558) for a seat, plus $US1200 ($A1674) for plane tickets and another $US400 ($A558) for room and board.
But he wasn't complaining about the cost or the 10.35am AEST start time.
"It's a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I couldn't pass up on it," Mr Rosales said.
"This is the time when we're usually tailgating."
Sydneysider Riley Clarke and Brisbane-based buddy Luka O'Brien had talked about this moment every single week since buying their tickets for $600 a pop.
Passengers were decked out in 49ers and Rams jerseys on Mr O'Brien's flight and at the airport bar.
"I'm a huge Brisbane Lions fan and the atmosphere feels bigger than a (AFL) prelim," the New England Patriots supporter said.
"There's lines around the block for merch ... it feels crazy in Australia that there is this much American influence."
Corey Williams, who represents Rams linebacker Shaun Dolac, said he only touched down in Melbourne on Thursday night.
Friday was business but he had big plans for Saturday before catching a red-eye back to the US on Sunday morning.
"I want to see a kangaroo, I want to see some koalas and I want to see the march of the penguins," Mr Williams said.
Fellow player agent Darren Deloatche, who has 49ers Nate Hobbs and Jon Weeks in his stable, said Australia had always been on his bucket list and the match was the "kick in the butt" to make it happen.
"Melbourne is squeezing every penny out of us," he joked.
"No lie. Y'all are a la carte everything."
For those unable to score a ticket, pubs and live sites across the city were the next best thing.
Decked out in Rams gear, couple Dexter Shaw and Alana Shaw and their friend Jim Millman rocked up to a "tailgate experience" along the Yarra River.
The trio scouted tickets but blinked at the eye-watering price of $1000 each.
They'll get another shot at it, with Victoria locked in to host at least two games over four years and the option for a third.
