About two years have passed since then. peter o’reillyExecutive Vice President National Football League (NFL)accompanied by a smile Emilio ButarañoDirector of Institutional Relations real madridthe Spanish capital announced from Las Vegas. … American football game will be played in 2025 santiago bernabéu. The wait has been almost eternal, but yesterday the city began a powerful transformation to host next Sunday’s duel between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders in white territory. It will definitely be an event that goes beyond sports.
of NFL It’s more than just a sport, it’s the spectacle, the hustle and bustle, the capitalism, the fireworks, the high-decibel rock and roll, all wrapped up in an unexpectedly welcoming family atmosphere. For Americans, American football is a way of life where the game itself is just the culmination of hours of conversation, half a liter of beer and a hot dog. And it is precisely this fusion of sensations that NF.L. In our country, preserve the soul of our most iconic sport and allow it to thrive in societies as different as ours.
To accomplish this, the American League’s development in Madrid will be huge. Dozens of activities will be carried out, starting with the installation of a giant helmet. Plaza CibelesThat is until the Dolphins and the manager’s “Fan Zone” is inaugurated, or until several meetings are held at the Vallehermoso stadium in the Chamberí district, where shields from all over the world, from Mexico to England, will face off against each other.
The NFL isn’t the only organization that could benefit from an organizational chart like this. madrid It becomes more than meets the eye. According to City Council data, the event is expected to have an even greater impact than estimated. 70 million eurosIt is driven by hotel occupancy and spending on restaurants, transportation and leisure. Occupancy for the conference weekend is expected to be close to 95%, with a significant increase in bookings from the UK, US and Germany. For local authorities, this event will strengthen Madrid’s position as a city capable of hosting major international events. “Events of this type mean immense external promotion,” they stress. Tourist information centerwill assess the global media impact of the match, which will be broadcast to more than 180 countries.
The NFL’s expansion into Spain is no coincidence, but part of the league’s global strategy to strengthen its presence outside the United States. Following the success of the games held, London, Munich, Mexico CityMadrid has been added to the list of cities hosting official meetings. NFL International Vice President Mark Waller recently answered why our country was chosen over other competing nations. He noted that Spain “plays an important role in the growth of sport in Europe” due to its “strategic position, organizational capabilities and cultural affinity with sporting spectacles”. The league is even considering opening a permanent office in the nation’s capital to coordinate development activities and programs for American football in the country.
Sports on the rise
This field is not entirely foreign to Spain. The first steps date back to the 80s. madrid panthers Or a boxer from Barcelona who began practicing a sport that was little known at the time. As time passes, National Football League (LNFA) The activities of clubs like Osos Rivas, Badalona Drax or the L’Hospitalet Pioners contributed to its integration. There are currently over 4,000 federation players in Spain, and the fan base continues to grow thanks to television broadcasts and social networks. The NFL capitalized on this interest and organized youth clinics and training programs aimed at promoting the sport from the grassroots.
Bernabéu with armor
The Dolphins and their managers will train at the Bernabéu from today, and as expected, the Bernabéu will be the structure that will withstand the most changes in the years to come. metropolitanhouse of atlético de madridit will be the white territory that will host the big event on Sunday. For example, the turf will be expanded to match the NFL’s official dimensions, from 105 x 68 meters to 109 x 48.8 meters. The solution is to convert the first row of the backrest into a retractable one and get the required space.
Benches will also change, and American football teams will be much larger than traditional ones, with more than 50 players per team required. A new press room also had to be installed. NFL He wants each team to have its own space to deal with the media, as is customary on the other side of the Atlantic, and there will be no exceptions at the Bernabéu.
Another important aspect is the noise generated during games and during halftime shows when artists perform. Visawrap and Daddy Yankee They appear. Complaints from neighbors who live near the stadium have led to the cancellation of all concerts scheduled for the structure in October 2024. To avoid further potholes, Madrid has therefore installed various types of panels to cover areas facing the surrounding roads and reduce noise transmitted to the outside world.
Security will also be updated. For example, bags brought into the Bernabéu must be transparent and made of plastic, vinyl, or vinyl. PVCmust not exceed dimensions of 30.5 x 15.25 x 30.5 centimeters. Furthermore, the list of prohibited objects ranges from beach balls, propaganda banners and drones to alcohol and large photo cameras.
All is not enough for one of the most important sporting events of the year, which aims to make history on the territory of Spain and expand the sport to the ends of the known world. At least the landing lived up to expectations.
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