The Allianz Arena will host two NFL games in the next four years. FC Bayern board member for marketing Andreas Jung explains how this will be received worldwide.
Why did FC Bayern decide to host an NFL game?
"Since FC Bayern opened its office in New York in 2014, we have carried out many projects with the NFL - for example, a video call between coaches Julian Nagelsmann and Andy Reid from the Kansas City Chiefs, a meeting with Julian and Matt LaFleur from the Green Bay Packers at our Audi Summer Tour, or the visit of Odell Beckham Junior, who won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, to us in Munich. For the first time, an event outside of football will take place at the Allianz Arena, people will travel from all over Europe, millions of fans will tune in from the US - it's a great stage for FC Bayern."
The response was enormous, what does that mean?
"All the tickets were sold after just one hour. American football is becoming more and more popular in Europe, and the numbers confirm that we can offer people here a great chance to see the stars of the NFL live, not just on TV. The Allianz Arena has hosted Champions League finals, World Cup and European Championship matches - we have proven many times that we’re a good host, and now NFL fans will experience that too."
What does this interplay mean for raising FC Bayern's profile in the USA?
"FC Bayern is becoming more and more of a household name in the USA, not least thanks to our Audi Summer Tours. Football is becoming more and more present in the States in general. I was just able to take part in the interesting discussion called 'Soccer or Football - Which is the Real Game?' at Havard University. This event at the Allianz Arena will raise our profile even more. There was a TV clip about it at the Super Bowl in February, an NFL draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was broadcast from the 'Allianz Arena - Home of FC Bayern Munich' in April, and we will present a joint merchandising collection. Tampa Bay will train at our FC Bayern Campus, the Seahawks at Säbener Straße - this will also be followed by the media and transport the FC Bayern name to the USA. With this interplay, we are once again making sporting history: football and American football are playing together across the pond."
Facts about the NFL and the game in Munich:
- Regular season around the world: The NFL has been playing competitive games outside the USA since 2005. Most of the matches so far have taken place in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca and London's Wembley Stadium. Between 2022 and 2025, one game each year will be played alternately in Munich and Frankfurt.
- The NFL received 250,000 ticket requests in the first two days of advance sales alone. The game was completely sold out within a few hours.
- With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks, two teams will be playing in Munich's Allianz Arena on 13 November who have previously won the Super Bowl. The Bucs won the title in 2002 and 2020, while the Seahawks triumphed in 2013.
- Gridiron in Munich: There are six American football teams around Munich with the Dachau Thunder, Erding Bulls, Fursty Razorbacks, Munich Cowboys, Feldkirchen Lions and the Munich Rangers. In addition, another team, the Munich Ravens, will be added in 2023.
NFL player and Munich native, David Bada, has been following the German record champions since childhood:
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