After the recent awarding of Formula 1, Madrid adds another top-level event. The new Santiago Bernabéu will be the venue from 2025 NFL games United States, the main American football competition and the sport that has grown the most globally in recent times. The news, made public this Friday at a press conference in Las Vegas, with the presence of Emilio Butragueñoarrives on the eve of the celebration of the Super Bowl and will turn Spain into a stop on the ‘tour’ of which they have already been part United Kingdom, Mexico o Germany.
Why was the Bernabéu chosen?
It fulfills one of the aspirations that Florentino Pérez’s Real Madrid had with the new Santiago Bernabéu, the stadium finally chosen for the start of a ‘regular season’ match. A decision made despite the fact that, as this newspaper has learned, the Metropolitano, where Atlético de Madrid plays, was very much to the taste of the organization of these events due to the possibilities offered by the countryside environment. You have more possibilities, for example, to install a ‘fan zone’.
Why did the NFL choose the Santiago Bernabéu? Because the fiefdom of Real Madrid It will be completely finished by 2025. In addition, its privileged location in the city center facilitates the preparation of events and associated activities. The machinery of American football is not reduced to what happens on the field. Everything surrounding the event is so important. During the previous week the capital will be filled with events.
It is not ruled out that in the future there may be alternation, also with Barcelona, when the new Spotify Camp Nou is completed – completion is scheduled for June 2026 -. In the Catalan capital there is more tradition of a sport that has been conquering new markets. The Barcelona Dragons were the only Spanish professional American football club that participated in NFL competitions (in Europe).
Which NFL teams will play in Madrid?
So much so that in 1993, the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium hosted the first NFL game in Spain that pitted two important teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49erswho in the early hours of Sunday to Monday (00:30) play Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The favorite teams to play the Madrid match are the Miami Dolphns and the Chicago Bearsfranchises that chose Spain as expansion areas, although the teams with the most followers in national territory have historically been the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers.
Before Madrid, the NFL will arrive in 2024 in Brazil with a party in Sao Paulo (Arena Corinthians). At the moment the Philadelphia Eagles are confirmed. Each season meetings are negotiated with the teams. It is a sensitive matter, because the one who acts as a local loses one of the profit windows (there are eight per season). Especially if they are popular franchises in their territories.
Sometimes the opposite happens. For example, to the Jacksonville Jaguars have been called “London’s franchise”, because it has been the favorite team for trips to England. It is not a team with deep roots in its city, hence its relocation always adds brand value. One of the factors that has favored the arrival of the NFL to Spain is the expansion from five to nine games abroad.
Madrid as world capital of sport
The measure is in line with the globalization of the competition that has been approved by the 32 franchises. “It is good news that the NFL has been interested in our city to host such an important international sporting event. Madrid is always interested in cutting-edge events,” Inmaculada Sanz, vice mayor of the capital, defended in October.
The arrival of the NFL to Madrid is part of the strategic plan that has been promoted by the Community chaired by Isabel Díaz Ayuso to turn the region into one of the world capitals of sports. It also reinforces the value of the new Santiago Bernabéu, where Florentino Pérez’s Real Madrid has had to double the bet to a cost of 1,170 million euros.
The American football match would be the first major event at the new Santiago Bernabéu that does not have to do with football. The intention, declared by Florentino, is that the stadium “allows us to have economic solidity”. And this also includes shows of all kinds, such as Taylor Swift’s concert scheduled for May 30, 2024.
2024-02-09 17:24:08
#Madrid #host #NFL #games #Bernabéu #starting
