Matt Iannacito's take on the Super Bowl clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs is simple: "I love it."
The 29-year-old had the best seat in the house to watch the action at Sydney's Cheers Bar - one of many Australian venues that hosted events on Monday for the biggest showdown on the US sporting calendar.
"We get a bar tab going and we just have a good time," Mr Iannacito said as he sat alongside his friends in a Las Vegas Raiders jersey after making the trip into the city centre from the western suburbs to watch the game.
"You've got to represent your team, that's the whole fun of it and we just enjoy it."
Nearby, Regan Pinker, 29, said it was his eighth year watching the Super Bowl at the pub.
"It's just exciting. The big plays are massive," Mr Pinker, a New England Patriots fan, said.
The game was also a chance to soak up some Super Bowl atmosphere, he said, despite taking place some 14,300km away in New Orleans, Louisiana.
"I don't work Monday's so it's great," the resident of inner-city Annandale said.
Also in attendance was Gary Pettigrew, a Scottish national, who said NFL was much bigger in Australia than in his home country.
"It's a huge event here," said the 30-year-old, a Green Bay Packers fan, adding he liked NFL enough to watch the play-offs leading up to the Super Bowl.
Bel Montgomery, 27, at the venue with her US-born boyfriend, was also enjoying the day, although she was less taken with the sport.
"I feel like I grew up watching rugby, soccer - everything that's very fast-paced," she said.
"I find this a bit slow."
But Ms Montgomery added she was happy to attend for her boyfriend's sake.
"He calls this his Christmas," she said.
The Eagles defeated Kansas City 40-22 in the NFL showpiece game, which included the appearance of Sydney-born offensive lineman Jordan Mailata, the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl victory.
The MCG will host the first NFL regular-season game to take place in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025 under a multi-year deal that forms part of the US football league's international expansion.
The Los Angeles Rams have been confirmed as the host team, while their opposition will reportedly be the now title-winning Eagles.
