The Bernabéu to host first official NFL game in Spain!
Madrid, Nov 14 (EFE).-
The Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid will host the first official NFL game to be played in Spain on Sunday, with the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders set to face off.
The historic game will be accompanied by American football-related activities and entertainment throughout Madrid.
According to Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president of international business and events, the league wanted to make the event feel like a “mini Super Bowl”.
Madrid is gearing up for the major event, with some areas being transformed into American football-themed areas, including three giant helmets in front of the Palacio de Cibeles, Meninas adorned with the teams’ colours, and a mini flag football pitch.
This is part of the NFL’s expansion strategy with economic returns, as it is estimated that since 2007, the economic impact of all the games held in London has been 2 billion pounds (2.2 billion euros), 185 million pounds (209 million euros) of which was generated by the games played in 2024.
In Germany, the game in Munich in 2022 brought in 70 million euros, and the two consecutive games in Frankfurt in 2023 brought in 110 million euros, while the first game in South America brought in 72 million euros.
The goal for the Madrid game is to match the 70 million euros figure reached in Munich in 2022, as the NFL considers the Spanish market to be strategic with its estimated 11 million fans.
The event will feature a top-notch musical performance during halftime, starring Argentine producer Bizarrap and Puerto Rican artist Daddy Yankee, who will perform their collaboration “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 0/66” for the first time.
The Madrid Marine Corps Band will also perform the Royal March, and American singer Karina Pasian will sing the US national anthem.
DAZN will broadcast the match, which is expected to draw more than 84,000 spectators and generate an estimated economic impact of between 10 and 21 million euros on Madrid’s restaurant and tourism sectors.
The Spanish government and the Community of Madrid are backing the event, which reinforces Madrid’s position as a leading destination for major international sporting events.
However, it also poses challenges in terms of security and mobility, as 425 municipal police officers and five civil protection units will be responsible for ensuring the safety of the expected 83,000 attendees. EFE
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