Attention football fans: The big world of popular American sports will come together in Düsseldorf next year. American Football Madness (AFM) is taking place in the NRW state capital for the first time. We have put together all the information about the venue, the program and the tickets for you here.
When and where does the AFM take place in Düsseldorf?
The AFM takes place on May 30 and 31, 2025 in Düsseldorf. For two days, the Merkur Game Arena will be transformed into the venue for the first football event on European soil.
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What can I expect at the event?
The AFM combines festival and convention: visitors can look forward to both fan-oriented activities and a professional exchange with professionals. The weekend’s many program highlights will include an NFL Flag Tournament, with exciting flag football action on the fields outside the arena.
The program on the “Main Stage” of the festival will be led by TV presenter Florian Ambrosius, a face familiar from football broadcasts. He answers questions like “What does a training week look like for a player?” and “What does the coach think during the game?” and gives other interesting insights behind the scenes of sport.
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At the “Meet and Greet”, however, you have the opportunity to meet your favorite players and coaches, while you get active yourself in the “Activation Area” and compete with like-minded people in various football challenges.
In the neighboring “podcast area”, nationally and internationally well-known podcasters provide the audience with exciting insights into the world of American football with exciting discussions and insider knowledge. The six-time Super Bowl champion from the US state of Massachusetts is also hosting the “New England Coaches Clinic of American Football” as part of the AFM, which is aimed at coaches from Germany and Europe.
You can also look forward to musical acts, a gaming area and delicious American street food. Further information about the program can be found on the AFM website.
What happens after the AFM?
The AFM is not the only football event that local enthusiasts can look forward to in the coming year. Two days after the event, another special highlight awaits fans.
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As Max Paatz, managing director of Rhein Fire, announced at a press conference for the AFM, the two-time and reigning champion of the European League of Football will play a home game in the Merkur Spiel Arena on June 1st.
Are there still tickets?
“Early Bird Tickets” for the AFM are now available in the event’s web shop. They cost 29.95 euros and are only available for a short time. As soon as the tickets in this category are sold out, the “Huddle Tickets” will go on sale for 39.95 euros.
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For particularly big football fans there is also the “Early Bird Touchdown Ticket”. This also gives you access to the festival, but also has an exclusive, limited American Football Madness goodie bag ready for you. You can also get to the event faster via the priority lane at the entrance. The ticket is yours for 49.94 euros in the discounted sales phase. Afterwards it starts for 59.95 euros.
What is the background of the event?
The aim of the AFM is to “represent the sport of football in all its facets,” as Kuhn, event ambassador and former NFL player, explained at a press conference in early November. “The convention part is aimed at clubs, associations, players and coaches from Germany and Europe, as well as everyone who is at home in the world of American football. On the other hand, the festival part offers fans a lot of program and opportunities to get involved.”
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“Football has almost 20 million fans in Germany. As the home of NFL Germany, the premiere of American Football Madness is a perfect fit for Düsseldorf,” adds Steinforth, General Manager of NFL Germany.
How do I get to AFM?
You can easily reach the Merkur Spiel Arena from Düsseldorf main station by public transport. Simply get on the U78 subway line and get off at the Merkur-Spiel-Arena/Messe Nord stop. From there it is only a few meters to the stadium.
Alternatively, you can also arrive by car and park your vehicle in the Arena parking garage and the parking lots P1 and P2. However, these are only available to a limited extent and experience shows that they are quickly occupied. Input data for the navigation system: Arena-Straße 1, 40474 Düsseldorf
