NFL
NFL earmarks games in Spain for 2024 season
Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of the NFL stated that either Santiago Bernabéu or the Metropolitano could host games starting next season.
The NFL and American football are constantly evolving and always looking forward and for 2024 that future includes Spain. The comprehensive renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu, which will totally ready by the summer of 2024, and the construction a few years back of Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano has made NFL executives look at Madrid as a viable option in staging a NFL game for the 2024 season.
“There is no type of schedule set yet, although we are spending time looking at the Spanish market, establishing relationships and studying their stadiums,” commented Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of the NFL, on a podcast with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “There are some classic football clubs around the world that are really interested in hosting the NFL and establishing a relationship with the league.”
In December 2021, when the NFL had to distribute the international marketing rights it assigned the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears to Spain with the aim of creating a fan base and promoting the sport among a younger demographic. “Spain is an important market and one that is of interest to many clubs. It is important to marry the places where clubs are building their fan bases with games,” O’Reilly concluded.
NFL games in Europe
- Atlanta Falcons - Jacksonville Jaguars (1October in London)
- Jacksonville Jaguars - Buffalo Bills (8 October in London)
- Baltimore Ravens - Tennessee Titans (15 October in London)
- Miami Dolphins - Kansas City Chiefs (5 November in Frankfurt)
- Indianapolis Colts - New England Patriots (12 November in Frankfurt)
The NFL is aware that a large part of its brand’s growth strategy is to expand to other countries. Cities such as London (Great Britain), Frankfurt or Munich (Germany) have all staged American football games as part of the International Series and as things stand, it looks as if Spain is next in line to welcome Mahomes, Rodgers, McCaffrey and company.