The New England Patriots arrived at FC Bayern’s Säbener Straße training facility on Thursday, utilizing six buses to transport the 53-man roster and support staff for their final preparations ahead of Sunday’s NFL game against the Detroit Lions.
By Wednesday, the standard football goals had been removed to accommodate the installation of professional 9.14-meter-high, Y-shaped field goal posts, physically transforming the pitch for American football.
Head coach Mike Vrabel led the squad onto the field at 16:15 local time (15:15 UTC) to begin the penultimate practice session. The session featured loud music and intensive drills, overseen by the coaching staff as the team prepares for the Sunday kickoff at 15:30 local time (14:30 UTC) at the Allianz Arena.
“The show with the 53-man squad plus practice players started at the football giant in Munich,” reported BILD. During the session, the squad was split into three groups for warm-ups, with quarterback Drake Maye leading the offensive units.
Among the players participating in the session was German offensive tackle Lorenz Metz. The 29-year-old, who stands 2.06 meters tall and weighs 145 kilograms, is a native of Neuötting, located approximately 90 kilometers east of Munich. Metz, a former chemicotechnician who played for the Kirchdorf Wildcats in the German Football League, frequently led the offensive line drills during the team’s first session in his home country.
The training session drew notable local interest, including the presence of Bayern II coach Dante, who observed the Patriots’ practice from the sidelines.
While the Patriots secured the Säbener Straße facility for their Thursday and Friday sessions, the Detroit Lions have scheduled their practice for Friday at 15:30 local time (14:30 UTC). The Lions will conduct their drills at the FC Bayern youth campus located on Ingolstädter Straße. Neither team has opened these training sessions to the public.
The Patriots’ arrival in Germany began on Thursday morning at 09:38 local time (08:38 UTC) at Munich Airport. The team was greeted on the tarmac with a red carpet, a brass band, and cheerleaders before transitioning to their base at the home of the German record champions.
A dedicated NFL shop on Neuhauser Straße 47 is scheduled to remain open through November 16, excluding Sunday. On Saturday, the NFL Pre-Game Party is set to take place at the P1 Club from 21:00 to 03:00 local time.
Patriots supporters have designated the “Herrschaftszeiten” venue at Tal 12 as their primary meeting point, with operations running from Friday through Sunday. Meanwhile, Detroit Lions fans are gathering at the team pub located within the Hofbräuhaus at Platzl 9, with events scheduled through Sunday evening. A broader fan festival is also slated for the Odeonsplatz on Friday and Saturday.
The New England Patriots are scheduled to hold their final training session at Säbener Straße on Friday at 12:30 local time (11:30 UTC).
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