Reports the National Football League (NFL) is heading to Melbourne for a series of matches have fuelled Super Bowl 2025 fever in Australia and added to the excitement over the celebrity-studded ads that accompany the game’s “grand final”.

According to the Herald Sun, the NFL will play up to three games in Melbourne beginning in 2026.

One of the games will feature the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that will play off against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025, in New Orleans on February 9.

According to sports data and analytics company Gemba there are more than 3.1 million passionate NFL fans in Australia, making it the third most followed US sport behind NBA and UFC.

Ad spots during this year’s Super Bowl sold for a record $US8 million a pop and that’s on top of the astronomical price brands fork out for celebs to appear in their commercials.

Here is this year’s Super Bowl 2025 drinks ad line-up …

Well, Budweiser saved a bit of dosh in its budget by going celeb-free and getting its signature Clydesdales to star in this year’s ad instead.

Shane Gillis, Post Malone and Peyton Manning appear together in the Bud Light ad. “Big Men on Cul-de-Sac” is set to Huey Lewis and the News’ 1985 hit “The Power of Love”. It pays homage to all the neighbours who enjoy barbecuing in their backyards and talking in their driveways.

Stella Artois’ “The Big News” ad features global ambassador David Beckham in an English pub with his fictional parents. After being served Stella Artois drafts, David sits down for a serious conversation with his parents and discovers that he has a long-lost brother in America – the ‘Other David’.

Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara star in an ad for Michelob ULTRA. In “The ULTRA Hustle” the Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner appear alongside NFL legend Randy Moss, Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser and WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu.

The 60-second spot sees the screen icons play an unassuming duo who take to the pickleball court and hustle their way to beating the competition and collecting Michelob ULTRA as their prizes. 

“For me, it was such a thrill to be a part of this Super Bowl commercial, so I have Michelob ULTRA to thank for making me feel very cool,” said O’Hara. “I just know that people will see this and have a good laugh – Willem and I had such a good time hustling everyone on the pickleball court.”

“When Michelob ULTRA came to me with the concept, I thought it was funny. I enjoyed the process of bringing this to life, especially working with Catherine,” said Dafoe. “I think people will get a kick out of it seeing us play the villains in a fun yet competitive environment.”

Oh, and while it’s not a drinks ad, we couldn’t help sharing the Hellman’s mayonnaise ad starring When Harry Met Sally‘s Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan …

Super Bowl fever goes off the charts in Australia