Last November, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seattle Seahawks at the game in Munich. Image: imago images / Christian Kolbert
NFL
With its first NFL game in Germany in November last year, the NFL caused a huge stir. Long afterward, players raved about the atmosphere that reigned among the 70,000 fans throughout the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.
The highlight was when the spectators sang along loudly to John Denver’s “Country Roads” during a quarter break and didn’t stop when the game was already on again.
Ex-NFL star Sebastian Vollmer said months ago in a watson interview: “It was the best atmosphere at a football game I’ve ever experienced. It was a really badass and immersive experience and just not typical of football,” recalled the NFL ambassador and two-time Super Bowl winner earlier in the year.
The NFL game in Germany was also extremely worthwhile financially, as the league published in a statement on Wednesday.
NFL in Germany ensures millions of expenses
According to a study conducted by the Sports Consultancy Group, the game generated an overall economic impact of €70.2 million and generated €32.2 million in direct spend.
To underscore the positive economic impact on the city, the NFL announces, that the fans would have spent 333 euros per day in Munich. Almost 100 euros more than a normal Munich tourist.
The watson app for your smartphone
“The economic and social impact of our first game is impressive and underline the contribution the game had to the city of Munich and beyond. We look forward to playing more games in Germany in the years to come,” said Alexander Steinforth, general manager of the NFL in Germany.
But the event was not only a success for the city of Munich, but also for the league itself.
NFL game in Germany breaks numerous records
The league announced that 8.2 million people worldwide watched the game. On the league’s own channel “NFL Network” it was even the most watched international game in the USA with 5.8 million viewers.
And the game broke another record in mid-November: Merchandise sales at the Munich Arena were higher than at any game outside of the United States. The NFL previously hosted international games in Mexico and the United Kingdom.
NFL Vice President Peter O’Reilly spoke of a “historic game” whose legacy will live on for a long time.
Two regular-season NFL games will be played in Germany this year. The Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots will definitely be there, but their opponents and where they will be played, as well as the date, will not be announced until the end of the month. The only thing that is clear is that a game will take place in Frankfurt.
