Football is becoming increasingly popular in Germany, and there seem to be no limits. That’s why the NFL bosses are thinking ahead – and now want to conquer Berlin.
The NFL was hoping for a spectacle in Germany – and the NFL got another spectacle in Germany. After 2022 with football legend Tom Brady in Munich, two games in 2023 in Frankfurt (including with superstar Patrick Mahomes), Munich was once again awarded the contract in 2024 – and German football fans were not disappointed. In the end, the Carolina Panthers won a spectacular game on Sunday evening 20:17 after overtime against the New York Giants.
70,132 spectators celebrated a party in the sold-out Allianz Arena. t-online is also there as thousands of fans sing along to the classic songs “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey, which are part of many football games. The fans swayed peacefully in the rows of the stadium with impressive volume and, above all, lyrical confidence. Tom Brady celebrated this two years ago and said: “This is one of the greatest experiences I have ever had.”
This time Munich had other protagonists, but they were also more than impressed. Although he lost the eighth game of this NFL season with New York, Giants coach Brian Daboll said at the press conference after the game: “It was impressive. The fans were great, we had a great time here – only the loss hurts sore.”
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young took a similar note. “It’s a huge honor for us. To play in front of this crowd – I’m absolutely grateful for everyone who supported us,” Young said. “It’s great to win here. I feel blessed.” What seemed unthinkable a few years ago has become a fact after the last three years at the latest: the NFL and football have finally gained a foothold in Germany. The popular US league, which is expanding worldwide in order to generate more fans and of course more money, is becoming increasingly popular here. Football fans are no longer uncommon in Germany; the sport has become popular with the masses.
“The first time we could have sold three million tickets. And this time there were even more people in the queue,” reported Alexander Steinforth, the NFL’s Germany boss, before the second guest game in Munich. Although this year’s game didn’t have much sporting value, crowds of NFL enthusiasts had been populating downtown Munich for days. They all wanted to soak up a piece of the NFL – and get it: the fan shops were completely overcrowded despite sometimes extremely high prices.
And there seems to be no limit to it all. The NFL bosses are of course also watching closely and have sufficiently recognized the potential of playing games in Germany.
Berlin can look forward to a visit from the NFL next year. League boss Roger Goodell said in Munich about a report by RTL/ntv that it would be the capital’s turn to have the Olympic Stadium in 2025: “Normally I tell people: Don’t believe the rumors. This time I would say: Believe them!” The deal has not yet been finalized, “but we are working on it.” A spokeswoman for the city confirmed that Berlin was interested in long-term cooperation. According to RTL, Berlin wants to invest several million euros.
What does this mean for Munich and Frankfurt? Unclear. It is possible that the fans there will have to wait until an NFL game is played in their city again. However: In principle, the prospect of a game in Berlin is great news. On the one hand, because this ensures that the NFL will come to Germany in 2025 – and on the other hand, because a game in Berlin increases the spectator capacity to up to 76,000 spectators. So more fans will have a chance of getting tickets.
