The NFL celebration comes to Madrid: "The Bernabéu is not the best stadium, but rather the best venue in the world"
The Spanish capital is preparing for numerous events and experiences throughout this week
The NFL will turn Madrid into the epicenter of American football during the week leading up to the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals , which will take place on Sunday, November 8 at the Santiago Bernabéu. The league has prepared three major experiences to bring this sport closer to the fans.
The first will be the NFL House, which will open its doors on November 6 and 7 at Casa de las Alhajas, in Plaza de San Martín, from 12:00 to 20:00. Visitors will be able to see the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the 60 Super Bowl championship rings, as well as enjoy video games, interactive activities, exhibitions, and creative experiences with artificial intelligence. Admission will be free with prior registration on NFL OnePass.
There will also be the NFL Experience, set up in Plaza de España on the same days, from 10:00 to 19:00. It will feature a flag football field, skill challenges, live music, competition legends, cheerleaders, and the mascots of both franchises.
Finally, the Bernabéu will host the NFL Shop, the official store open from November 5 to 9, where jerseys, exclusive game merchandise, and special collections designed for the occasion will be available for purchase.
The importance of "partners"
Likewise, as a preview of Sunday's event, a "Media Summit" took place this Tuesday for media outlets, in which representatives of the companies involved in organizing the event took part. One of them was César Cernuda, president of NetApp, the company that will serve as the main "partner" of the game. Cernuda highlighted the importance of this alliance and the role of technology in an event of this nature.
"It is a privilege to say that we are the main partner. We are the leading company in the world of data storage and management. We operate in more than 100 countries. We have been working with the NFL for many years. When we decided to move forward with the partnership with them, it was part of the international strategy plan. A large volume of data is generated inside the stadium, and what we do is make everything more accessible," he explained.
Alex Wicks, CEO of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, also spoke, highlighting the venue’s international stature and the impact of hosting a competition like the NFL.
"The Bernabéu is not only the best stadium, but the best venue in the world. The collaboration with the NFL is a perfect example of how we can attract new audiences and make ourselves known on a global stage. We want to make sure the stadium continues to have a positive impact on the city. The economic benefit was around 70 million euros. We want to contribute even more benefit both this year and in the years to come. The audiences and interactions are not far off from when Madrid plays in a Clásico," he said.
