On Sunday, November 10, 2024, the NFL game “Munich Game” took place on German – more precisely on Bavarian – soil in Munich. After the two thrilling games in Frankfurt in 2023, three million tickets could have been sold again for this match, according to the NFL. Ultimately, a total of 70,132 fans from central Hesse as well as from all other parts of the republic, but also from all over the world, were lucky enough to get tickets for what is probably the most important sporting event of the year in Germany. Among others, Jannis Gigler (pictured right), Frederik Bouffier’s office manager, and Felix Giezek, managing director of Hovi GmbH, found their way to the Bavarian metropolis from Giessen.
Hours before the game, the fans who had arrived celebrated a mega party in front of the Allianz Arena and then in the stadium after it opened. The emotional highlight at the beginning was the performances of the national anthems of the USA and Germany. The two national flags were rolled out on the playing field in XXL format. Star violinist David Garrett interpreted the American anthem very sensitively and the singer Florentina shone with the loud throats around the stadium during the German anthem.
While two years ago everything revolved around the then NFL superstar, quarterback Tom Brady, this time the absolute superstar was missing from the field. However, there were a lot of celebrities in the stands. The omnipresent Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder was enthusiastic about the atmosphere, as were Bayern stars Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala.
In terms of sport, the two NFL teams, the Carolina Panthers and the Giants from New York, are currently only the second choice in the NFL. Nevertheless, viewers should get their money’s worth. Ja’Tavion Sanders scored the first touchdown in the middle of the first quarter and kicker Eddy Piñeiro increased the Panthers’ lead to 10-0 at halftime.
Machine Gun Kelly couldn’t warm up all the fans in the very cool arena with his very short halftime show. An English colleague said smugly that he would have preferred to see “Shotgun Anny”.
After the half-time tea, the Giants woke up. Tyrone Tracy found the end zone and made it 10:7. The Giants made it 17:7 and 17:14 seconds before the end and Graham Gano made the surprising 17:17 from 42 yards. It went into overtime, the first in the fourth NFL game on German soil, but the Panthers quickly won it 20:17 after losing the ball with a 36-yard field goal by Eddy Piñeiro.
The 70,132 fans provided the goosebumps moment at the end with “Country Roads” by John Denver. That belongs to the “Munich Game” like “Stern des Süds” belongs to Bavaria. NFL and Germany; it still fits together. However, the fans now have to be patient for another year and then we will see where the next NFL game in Germany will be.
