The Richmond apartment that Grant makes available for his family, and on Airbnb.
Melbourne Storm NRL captain Harry Grant has revealed he will be opening the doors to his Richmond property for fans visiting for next months American NFL game.
As the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers take to the MCG on September 11, a handful of the sports fans travelling from regional NSW will be spending the night in a Richmond apartment owned by the rugby league champion who often rents it out on Airbnb.
It’s the same home his family stays in when they come down from Queensland to watch him play in Melbourne, and he’s got it set up to feel like a home away from home for them and the growing list of sports fans he’s helped bring to Melbourne.
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Grant was named the Rugby League Players Association Rookie of the Year in 2020, played in Australia’s 2021 Rugby League World Cup winning team, and has been a regular in State of Origin matches — including at the MCG earlier this year.
“Playing on the G, especially this year for the State of Origin, was incredible,” he said.
“There’s 90 odd thousand people there, and it just felt like a roar and everyone there right on top of you.”
Grant is confident that will be what the NFL players will be feeling as they turn out to their first game on Australian soil.
“Hopefully it brings the same atmosphere and a long lasting relationship with the NFL and Australia. There’s no better place to host it than the MCG. It’s just such an iconic sporting venue.”
Melbourne Storm’s Harry Grant is renting a home out to NFL fans. Picture: NRL.
It’s also likely a fair few of the fans in the stands will be flying in from the US, with Airbnb recording a 250 per cent increase in search interest from Americans looking to book a stay in Melbourne from September 8-14, compared to 2025.
There’s also been a 75 per cent increase in demand from Australians in the same week.
Grant is not sure if past fans renting the home off of him were aware who he was, and doesn’t publicly disclose it’s his property, but has had at least one start talking with him about State of Origin.
“But the main reason I have it is for my family, so they have a space that feels like home when they are down from Queensland to watch a game,” Grant said.
“And, something I enjoy about the housing side of the unit itself, is that people can feel comfortable and have an enjoyable stay there.”
The balcony has views out across the suburb.
As a player, he said helping get fans to games had another benefit — as for players the crowd was a significant part of what they loved about the game.
Grant said part of the pull of the location was the sporting precinct within walking distance that includes the MCG.
Another major benefit is the wider entertainment precinct which is teeming with pubs, clubs, cafes and other major events hubs including AAMI, where Melbourne Storm usually play, and Rod Laver Arena.
Grant said he often saw Airbnb demand for the home spike around major sporting and social events being held in the area, and he hadn’t been surprised to see fans planning to make a trip from NSW to stay in the apartment for a few days around the NFL match.
The apartment has space for visitors to do a bit of work before the game if need be.
He’s tipping the Rams to win the big match.
Airbnb have revealed Generation Z, which Grant is a part of, is now the fastest growing demographic of hosts in Australia and Victoria, where their numbers have risen 92 per cent in the past three years.
The short-stay rental platform is also planning a tailgate party at Seaworks in Williamstown to celebrate the NFL match, and it will be hosted by the first Australian Ultimate Fighting Championship winner Alexander Volkanovski.
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