The dream of an American football match being played in Spain is closer than ever. As Relevo has learned, the NFL has given the go-ahead for one of the matches to be played outside the United States in 2025 to be at the Santiago Bernabéu. Some details of the agreement still need to be outlined, but The idea of all parties is that it can be closed definitively in the coming days or weeks, to be able to announce it before the season ends (the Superbowl is on February 11).
After the good experiences with the games played in Europe this season (three in London and two in Frankfurt), the American league wants to add new countries from the old continent. In this line, Last October, a delegation from the international area of the NFL visited the Santiago Bernabéu and the Metropolitano, to analyze the possibilities that both venues have to host a meeting. They were very satisfied with both, but they especially fell in love with the Bernabéu, even though the works are yet to be completed. It is in the Madrid stadium where they want the first match in Spain of the best American football league to be played.
At first, the possibility of the Bernabéu hosting a match in 2024 was even considered, although Brazil will ultimately be the country chosen for that year. NFL leaders prefer to wait until 2025, year in which the Madrid stadium will be completely finished and with the experience of having hosted different large-scale events.
“Spain is a strong and important market that clubs are interested in. It is important to marry the places where clubs are building their fan base,” Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of the NFL, said in October about the possibility of Madrid as headquarters. That same month Inmaculada Sanz, vice mayor of the capital, confirmed the negotiations and assured that “It is good news for Madrid that the NFL has been interested in our city for an international event as important as an NFL game.
The NFL, increasingly followed in Spain
The interest in this sport in Spain grows every year, to the point that two franchises (Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins) They chose our country to exploit the NFL’s marketing rights there. Therefore, it is to be expected that if the agreement ends up being closed, one of these two teams will be present in the match that is played at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2025.
In addition to being impressed by the New Bernabéu, The emissaries of the NFL were delighted with all the possibilities that Madrid offers as a city. The matches played in Europe attract fans from all over the world and in that sense the Spanish capital is one of the best connected places. It also offers the option of a complete tourist experience beyond the meeting.
This agreement, if it is closed definitively, would be another great success for Madrid after achieving the arrival of a Formula 1 Grand Prix. It would also be a great satisfaction for Florentino Pérez, because when the renovation of the Bernabéu began One of its great goals is to have an NFL game played in the stadium. The works have made it possible, the NFL has given the go-ahead and if nothing goes wrong, Spanish fans of this sport will be able to enjoy a live game in 2025.
Sergio Santos is in charge of covering all the information about Real Madrid and the Spanish soccer team for Relevo. Born in Madrid, he studied Journalism at the Complutense University and grew professionally at Diario AS. He has covered the Champions League final in Paris 2022, as well as the World Cup in Russia, Qatar 2022, and the Olympic Games. Tokyo and the 2016 and 2020 Euro Cups. In addition to exclusively reporting on Zidane’s departure and signings such as Kepa for Chelsea or Ceballos and Brahim for Real Madrid, his mission is to discover the next talent in Spanish football. …
Florentino Pérez Santiago Bernabéu
2023-12-13 11:18:01
#NFL #approves #game #Relief
