The NFL is coming to the MCG!
On Friday 11 September 2026, the Los Angeles Rams play the San Francisco 49ers at 10.35am. It is the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia.
That morning kick-off changes how you plan the trip. There is no long day of sightseeing before an evening game. You get a free afternoon instead, plus an open day on either side.
And if you have flown in from the United States, your body clock will have you awake at 4am anyway. Melbourne is definitely worth seeing at that hour.
See the MCG from the air before you see it from your seat
Melbourne is the only major city in the world you can commercially fly a hot air balloon over. More than five million people live below you. You cross the city at a few hundred meters, near silence, before the traffic starts.
Where you drift depends on the wind. Flights often pass over the Yarra River, Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay, Eureka Tower and Melbourne’s sporting precinct.
Seeing the MCG from above, a morning before you walk into it, is something no other city can offer an NFL fan.
We have flown these skies since 1992. In that time, we have carried more than 150,000 passengers and earned thousands of 5-star reviews. We are also Australia’s only fourth-generation aviation family.
Can you fly a hot air balloon on NFL game day?
Our honest answer: fly on Thursday 10 September or Saturday 12 September instead.
You are in the air for about an hour, but the full experience takes three to three and a half hours from check-in. That covers the drive to the launch site, the balloon inflating, the pack-down and breakfast afterwards.
Against a 10.35am kick-off, that is tighter than we would like your morning to feel.
Flying the day before buys you three things:
- An unhurried morning, with nowhere you need to be
- The MCG from above, a day before or after you help fill it
- A weather buffer, which matters more than it sounds
Balloon flights are weather dependent. If we cannot fly you Thursday, we can usually move you to Saturday or Sunday in a few clicks. Book game-day morning and there is nowhere left to move you.
Set on the Friday anyway? Of course we can add you! Call our Melbourne team and we will talk you through the timings honestly before you book.
Breakfast a short walk from the MCG
Melbourne flights meet in the foyer of Pullman East Melbourne, 192 Wellington Parade. Your buffet breakfast is served at the same hotel once you land, a short walk across Yarra Park from the MCG gates. Parking is discounted to $10 for our passengers.
So, you can spend the morning above the stadium, then finish eating breakfast in sight of it.
What’s included in a Melbourne flight
- Approximately one hour of sunrise flight over Melbourne
- Buffet breakfast at Pullman East Melbourne (optional)
- Complimentary in-flight GoPro photos
- A digital flight certificate and our luxe balloon magnet to take home
- In-flight commentary from your pilot on ballooning and navigation
- A hands-on role in the balloon set-up and pack-down (if you want one)
- A carbon-neutral flight, offset through Greenfleet. We are the only Victorian operator that does this.
- Complete flight and ground insurance, plus all launch and landing government fees
- Discounted $10 parking at Pullman East Melbourne
Melbourne flights are available from $605 per person.
A three-day NFL Melbourne itinerary
Thursday 10 September, the day before
- Pre-dawn: check in at Pullman East Melbourne. Your pilot confirms the exact meeting time the night before through our app.
- Sunrise: about an hour drifting over Melbourne as the city wakes
- After landing: buffet breakfast back at the hotel
- Late morning: the laneways. Hosier Lane for street art, Degraves Street and Centre Place for coffee.
- Afternoon: an MCG tour and the Australian Sports Museum (five minutes from breakfast)
- Evening: dinner along Southbank or in the CBD
Friday 11 September, game day
- From 7am: gates open, with fan activities across the Yarra Park stadium campus
- 10.35am: kick-off
- Afternoon: take it easy. The Royal Botanic Gardens, or a walk from Federation Square along the Yarra.
- Evening: dinner in the CBD while the rest of the world watches the replay!
Saturday 12 September, the day after
- St Kilda for seaside cafes, then the Brighton bathing boxes
- Or head an hour out of town to the Yarra Valley exploring wineries and orchards (only 50 mins drive from the city)
Before you book
Weather
Every flight is weather dependent, and your pilot makes the call. You will hear from us through our app the night before, with confirmation and your exact meeting time.
If we cannot fly, rebooking takes a few clicks. Our team will also check our other launch sites for you if one of them has a better forecast.
What to wear
Melbourne mornings in September sit in the single digits before sunrise. Wear layers, long pants and flat closed-toe shoes, because you will be standing in a paddock for part of it. The basket itself stays warm, thanks to the burner. The ground before dawn does not.
Accessibility
The balloon basket stands about 1 – 1.1 metres high. You enter it using foot holes and a step ladder. Please get in touch before booking if you have mobility questions and we will talk it through.
Getting looked after
Our flights include Mandarin-speaking hosts. Every enquiry is answered here in Australia, usually within 24 hours.
We fly 364 days a year, with live availability online. We are also well set up for group bookings, which helps if you are travelling with a fan group.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What time is the NFL Melbourne game?
The Los Angeles Rams play the San Francisco 49ers at 10.35am AEST on Friday 11 September 2026, at the MCG. Gates open at 7am.
Can I do a hot air balloon flight and still make the NFL game?
It is very tight. The full experience takes four to five hours from check-in, against a 10.35am kick-off. We recommend flying on Thursday 10 September instead, which also leaves you room to rebook if the weather does not cooperate.
Can you see the MCG from a hot air balloon?
Often, yes, though flight paths depend entirely on the wind. Melbourne flights regularly pass over the CBD, the Yarra River and the sporting precinct, including the MCG.
Where do Melbourne balloon flights depart from?
All Melbourne flights meet in the foyer of Pullman East Melbourne, at 192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. It is a short walk from the MCG, and buffet breakfast is served at the same hotel after you land.
How long is a Melbourne hot air balloon flight?
About an hour in the air. The complete experience takes three to four hours from check-in through to return at Pullman East Melbourne.
What happens if my flight is cancelled?
Flights only go ahead when conditions are safe. If yours is cancelled, you can rebook online in a few clicks, with live availability.
Ready to see Melbourne from above?
Book your Melbourne sunrise hot air balloon flight with Global Ballooning Australia. Start your NFL weekend somewhere no one else in the stadium has been.
