The Nationwide Soccer League at this time confirmed that three cities are in discussions to host regular-season video games in Germany.
The NFL, which has staged 29 video games in London since 2007 and can play its thirtieth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, is aiming to seek out probably the most appropriate accomplice metropolis for a potential growth of the Worldwide Collection into Germany.
After an preliminary interval by which expressions of curiosity have been acquired from a number of cities, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich have been invited to proceed to the “candidate section” of the method. These cities will now take part in deeper conversations about staging video games in Germany.
“Common-season video games are a key a part of persevering with the event of our German fan base by creating extra pleasure for the game and extra connectivity with followers and communities,” mentioned Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe and UK.
“The robust curiosity we’ve acquired from German cities underlines what a implausible alternative that is for a number, starting from the numerous financial advantages and international publicity to the possibility to grow to be a hub for the expansion of the NFL’s fan engagement, group and grassroots actions.
“In addition to figuring out a stadium that’s totally able to dealing with the logistics of an NFL sport, we need to work with a number consortium that includes native and regional authorities, stadium possession, native stakeholders and potential business companions. We wish this to be a long-term partnership.”
The NFL has loved numerous robust years of fan progress in Germany, the place it now has 19 million followers. Weekly NFL tv viewership on companions ProSieben and DAZN has grown by greater than 20% yearly since 2017, and thousands and thousands of followers tuned in for Tremendous Bowl LV in February, making it the third consecutive season of report German Tremendous Bowl viewership. Germany is a number one market exterior North America for NFL Store gross sales, fantasy soccer participation and gross sales of the Madden NFL online game.
German-born gamers are making an rising influence on the NFL, with fullback Jakob Johnson turning into a daily starter for the New England Patriots throughout the 2020 season and two different Germans at the moment within the NFL as a part of the Worldwide Participant Pathway program, David Bada (Washington) and Aaron Donkor (Seattle Seahawks). In latest seasons, Sebastian Vollmer gained two Tremendous Bowls (XLIX and LI) as a part of the Patriots offensive line that protected quarterback Tom Brady, whereas Björn Werner was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts within the first spherical of the 2013 NFL Draft.