World-class football on Erdinger's doorstep

Created: 02/27/2022, 1:00 p.m

No chance to throw the ball: Miller grabs Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (r.).

The fans are also hoping for gripping scenes like this during the game in the Allianz Arena.

© Frederic J Brown/AFP

Local fans will soon no longer have to go to the United States for an NFL game.

Everyone wants tickets for the Allianz Arena - almost everyone.

District – An NFL game in Germany?

Years ago, that was considered impossible and the secret dream of many fans.

But at a press conference a few days before the Super Bowl, the NFL announced to Hammernews that it would soon be playing one game per season in Germany until 2025 – alternating between Munich and Frankfurt.

Munich will start this year in autumn - great news, especially for local football fans, after all the Allianz Arena is not far from Erding.

The demand for tickets is huge.

The Erding Bulls hope the game will attract more people to their own club.

There are pros and cons for fans.

Sebastian Voichtleitner is “incredibly happy that there will soon be NFL games in Germany.

Especially since it was even earlier than expected”.

It was already apparent and therefore deserved, since football was sold more and more prominently in the media, Erdinger explains.

"The NFL has noticed that and is entering a market with huge potential."

Sebastian Voichtleitner wants to be there live in the stadium.

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He actually works at DAZN on Sundays and looks after the NFL there, explains the 30-year-old.

He hopes to be able to produce the game live from the stadium for the streaming platform.

Voichtleitner says that the Kansas City Chiefs are a hot tip for a game in Germany and that it will then be a division duel.

The Chiefs are in a division with the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.

Voichtleitner is hoping for the Broncos to oppose the Chiefs, since the two clubs don't really like each other and the party would be really hot.

"The fact that I'm also a Broncos fan adds the rest." Erdinger has never been to an NFL game - but almost.

For Thomas Rademacher, the incentive for a ticket in the stadium is not that great, although he is a big football fan.

"If I were in the USA, I would do anything to get to the stadium," explains the Wartenberger.

"I've been to the stadium several times in the USA, including with the Bengals, although they were the worst team in the league at the time.

I just wanted to experience how a game like this works in America," he says.

Of course he was there because of the sport, "but I also wanted to experience the entertainment and the atmosphere".

And this is exactly where he sees a problem in Munich.

"I've been to the Allianz Arena several times and I don't think the atmosphere is that different.

A little maybe, but it won't be comparable to the one in the USA," explains the 50-year-old.

Even if he doesn't apply for tickets,

Thomas Rademacher prefers to watch the game on TV.

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"Interest in American football grows with every broadcast," explains Eva Lütcke, spokeswoman for the Erding Bulls.

She suspects that live games are a huge draw for new fans.

"It's not just the game itself, it's everything that goes with it.

An American Football Gameday is an event, and I hope that a similar atmosphere will also develop in Munich,” says Lütcke.

The club hopes the game will have a positive impact on membership numbers as the game is almost on their doorstep.

"More interested parties would definitely be welcome, since the competition in the greater Munich area should not be underestimated and there are many teams playing here," explains the Bulls spokeswoman.

The Erding Bulls have existed since 1980 and have continued to develop since then.

The club now offers American football from the age of eight.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say American football isn't a fringe sport anymore.

There was also a lot of hype in the 1990s with the NFL Europe and World Championships,” explains Lütcke.

She hopes that interest will not wane again this time.

Whether American football is no longer a fringe sport can only be answered in a few years.

Almost all Bulls players have now registered for tickets for the game in Munich.

"It would be great if the football clubs were given a quota so that they could securely purchase tickets for players or coaches," hopes Lütcke.

She suspects the Kansas City Chiefs could be one of the teams coming to Munich due to their ties with Bayern Munich.

She suspects the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as opponents, since the Buccs have marketing rights for Germany.

"It would be awesome if the Chiefs played against the Buccs in Munich," explains the spokeswoman.

"Let's hope."

By Tom Mertens