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Events and Attractions

Success Of College Football Game Raises Prospects That NFL Could Play In Australia

The "resounding success of the first Sydney Cup college football game" between Cal and Hawaii on Friday has "raised hopes that an NFL fixture will be next to hit" Australia, according to Jamie Marcuson of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Hawaii AD David Matlin said that the NFL was "watching the event closely and believes a competitive fixture is on the cards for Sydney." Matlin: "Obviously (the NFL) are paying attention to this. I think it's a possibility. I think you have the facilities and the sports enthusiasts, so it's a real good place for sporting events." Meanwhile, Matlin said the event was "an incredible cultural experience for our student athletes and a lot of fun." He would "like to see the game become an annual fixture, especially due to Hawaii's relatively close proximity to Sydney." Matlin: "Absolutely the NCAA should send more games down here. I think this is a great venue and a great city for games, it's been supported well by the people of Australia and Sydney." Cal coach Sonny Dykes said, "Australia is kind of a sports crazy place. That's the thing that stands out when you get here" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/28).

HYPE MACHINE: In Sydney, Kim Arlington noted 61,247 fans turned out Friday to see Cal defeat Hawaii, showing Australia has a "healthy appetite for all things American football." It was "hard to overstate the hype" surrounding the game. However, fans complained of waiting "for an hour for giant hot dogs and ANZ Stadium running out of beer" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/28). In San Jose, Jon Wilner noted the contest was the "first college football game played in Australia in three decades" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/27). ESPN.com's Wye & Wootton noted the "most popular" jersey at the game was for former 49ers' Jarryd Hayne, who played in the NFL for one season before returning to Australia to play rugby. His jersey was "easily being worn by over a thousand spectators" (ESPN.com, 8/27). Wilner wrote Cal players "had fun during their week Down Under." The athletic department collected $1M in profit, and the team "handled an opponent they were supposed to handle" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/27).

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