Football
Austria’s football association is working together with one of the most famous teams. The AFBÖ and the record six-time Super Bowl winner New England Patriots agreed on a partnership, as the association announced on Thursday. Both parties primarily hope to get more people interested in the sport. For the former team of the legendary player Tom Brady, it is also a further step in the expansion.
“Nationwide activation measures and events will be carried out in Austria to get even more people excited about American football. As part of the partnership, the New England Patriots and the AFBÖ are particularly promoting the promotion of flag football,” the association said in a statement. The contactless version of American football will make its debut at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in four years under the sign of the rings.
“I am very pleased about the cooperation with the New England Patriots, the most successful NFL team of the young millennium,” explained AFBÖ President Michael Eschlböck. “As part of our growth strategy, we rely on strategic partnerships with organizations and associations in our international home markets,” said Joe Dorant, Senior Director of International Business for the New England Patriots. “The collaboration with the AFBÖ is an important step towards increasing our presence in Austria and working together to get people excited about sport.”
Signed in Munich
The agreement was signed over the weekend in Munich, where the final game of this year’s International Series between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants (20:17 n.V.) took place. Similar to the Panthers, the Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) region is also a “home market” outside the USA for the Patriots. The Patriots played a must-win game in Frankfurt against Indianapolis about a year ago.
For the glorious franchise – only the Pittsburgh Steelers can boast as many Super Bowl titles – it is the first cooperation with a national football association. A year ago we worked together with the German Football Association (DFB).
Constant expansion
The NFL has been working on its expansion for some time, which is particularly noticeable through games outside the USA. According to the latest statements from Commissioner Roger Goodell, there will already be eight such games next year. Three are set in London, one in Sao Paulo and Madrid as well as in Germany – Berlin now seems to be in pole position. There are also plans to return to Mexico City, where the Aztec Stadium was adapted for the World Cup, and to host it on the Irish island in Dublin for the first time.
