'Absolute joke': Australian fans blow up over Super Bowl 'disgrace'
International fans have taken to social media in anger after Game Pass crashed just moments into Super Bowl LIV.
The NFL’s official streaming platform obviously couldn’t handle the huge amount of interest for the big game, with fans around the world reporting outages all throughout the first half on Monday.
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Although the game was broadcast live and free on Channel 7 in Australia, a lot of Aussie fans bought Game Pass so they didn’t have to watch commercials.
According to the Game Pass website a subscription for Aussie fans just to watch the Super Bowl is $28.
However it’s a lot more if you paid for an annual subscription early in the season.
Fans from all around the world flocked to social media to express their disbelief.
@NFL What's happening with NFL game pass in Sydney, Australia? Pretty unfortunate to pay for the service but not have it work on the Super Bowl #nflgamepass
— jake metz (@JakeMetz8) February 2, 2020
NFL Game Pass goes down on the opening drive of the super bowl of course. And now we in Australia are stuck with Booger #SBLIV
— John Roberts (@johnloydroberts) February 2, 2020
We now go live to GamePass pic.twitter.com/lTZPgVtoQl
— Steve, but with a clever username (@steveohrourke) February 2, 2020
Make Gamepass Great Again.
— Alan McGuinness (@Alan_McGuinness) February 3, 2020
NFL Game Pass crashing for millions of people one single minute into the BIGGEST game of the year is the height of professional negligence. #disgrace
— RedDeadRed 🔴 (@RedDeadRed1_0) February 2, 2020
Wtf @nfl how can gamepass be down during the super bowl? #bebetter
— Allan Verbraeken (@AllanVerbraeken) February 3, 2020
NFL Gamepass crashes on super bowl night ... Beyond ridiculous, I have no doubt I’m one of the many idiots,that have not bothered their asses, over the years , to unsubscribe! Well guess what my main mission is tomorrow! #nfl #NFLGamePass
— David Curtis (@CurtisDavid101) February 3, 2020
Gamepass International is not working! 200 dollars and you guys screw up during the final game! An absolute joke! I will not be subscribing to your crappy service anymore! Compensation is a must for all of your paying customers! @NFL Stop shitting on your fans #rookiemistake
— Dré Lite (@Skaegster) February 3, 2020
This! So much this! Having to buy extra subscription for Danish streaming service on the go (50$ out of the window right there) is what you get with NFL GamePass. So not cool! https://t.co/HLxK1AEUl4
— Benny Friis (@nunobow) February 3, 2020
Luckily I live in a country where I can watch the Super Bowl on free to air tv. But how is it possible that @NFL gamepass goes down during the Super Bowl.
We’re you not expecting an increase in demand tonight, really?— Frazer Shaw (@frazershaw90) February 3, 2020
So glad I got out of bed to watch a blue screen saying something went wrong. Absolute joke 😡 #GamePass
— Jay 🇬🇧🇩🇰🇪🇺 (@Googoya) February 3, 2020
49ers have a field goal? Didn't see it. Why? Because I use NFL Game Pass.
— Jenna (@Jenna86481677) February 3, 2020
Absolute joke
— Irish Seahawks (@irish_seahawks) February 2, 2020
Aussie punter chasing history
Australian punter Mitch Wishnowsky is set to make history when his San Francisco 49ers face the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 27-year-old former glazier from Perth has the 49ers' punting and kick-off duties at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
"It's crazy to think about," said Wishnowsky, looking back at his rise from high school dropout in Perth and his glazing job to playing in the Super Bowl.
His life changed when he was invited to Prokick Australia in Melbourne seven years ago to transform his powerful but raw Aussie rules kicking style into the mechanics of an American football punter.
Impressive stints at California's Santa Barbara City College and the University of Utah led to the 49ers boldly selecting him in the fourth round of last year's NFL Draft.
Las Vegas bookmakers have the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs slight favourites in the big game.
The 49ers, with their proud history and past star-studded teams headed by Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Steve Young, have five Super Bowl victories.
A win against the Chiefs will elevate the 49ers to the top tier with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers who have six each.
The Chiefs have just one Super Bowl win and that came 50 years ago.
Wishnowsky will also make Australian sports history with a win.
Only one other Australian, Jesse Williams, has won a Super Bowl ring.
Williams, however, was injured for the entire Seattle Seahawks' 2013-2014 championship-winning season.
with AAP