From a distance, Alexander Schwarz looks like cheese – or at least his head. The triangular Emmentaler hat is recognized by fans of the Green Bay Packers from the US state of Wisconsin, who play in the National Football League (NFL). Black wears the green jersey with the number 23 of cornerback Jaire Alexander, but it was the performance of quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a game six years ago that got the Frankfurt native excited about American football. The fact that the NFL is coming to Frankfurt for the first time is an absolute highlight for the member of the German Green Bay Packers fan club. “This is my home game,” says the Frankfurter as he poses next to a huge football helmet on the Roßmarkt. Between the Hauptwache and the Roßmarkt, the National Football League (NFL) is setting up an adventure world with game stations and exhibitions between the two NFL guest games this week. The fans go wild here between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – and the NFL can spread the word beyond its own national borders. Fans are currently looking forward to the New England Patriots’ second NFL match against the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday (3:30 p.m.) in the Waldstadion. The rush on the Roßmarkt during the week is still limited, but on Saturday in particular it is likely to be as turbulent as it was last weekend, when fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins as well as thousands of passers-by shaped the image of the city center have.
“This is a celebration for me”
Marco Pallus takes a few photos with his girlfriend between the giant helmets and the gallery. Since his father brought a Kaiser Chiefs cap with him after a business trip to the USA many years ago, he has remained loyal to the team from Kansas. He thinks back wistfully to his first football match. At that time, the Frankfurt Galaxy played their last game of the season in the Waldstadion. The Galaxy was the first German football club to work under professional conditions. 20,000 to 30,000 spectators regularly found their way to the Waldstadion for the first matches. However, 52,000 spectators came to the game against the Sacramento Surge on May 25, 1991, when it was a question of getting into the play-offs. A comment from Daniel Meuren Published/Updated: Recommendations: 3 Daniel Meuren, Frankfurt Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 3 Daniel Meuren Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5 Katja Sturm Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1 “That was crazy,” remembers pallus. He can hardly believe that the NFL is coming to Frankfurt – even in the week of his birthday. And as if things couldn’t get better, the Chiefs, his favorite team around quarterback Patrick Mahomes, won 21:14 against the Dolphins. “This is a celebration for me,” says Pallus. Alexander Schwarz, visitor to the NFL Experience Frankfurt. : Image: Lucas Bäuml At the Hauptwache, fans can put their throwing skills to the test in the quarterback challenge. In 20 seconds, you have to hit as many green targets as possible one after the other. The Mexicans José Carlos Morales from Boston and Miguel Rivera from Munich are also in line. Morales, a fan of the New England Patriots, scores twice – his friend comments mockingly: “That could be better.” Hopefully that’s not a bad omen for the match on Sunday. Morales and Rivera don’t have tickets, but they will be watching the game on television. NFL Experience visitors Jose Carlos Morales and Miguel Rivera. : Image: Lucas Bäuml Right next to it, all the teams’ championship rings and the “Vince Lombardi Trophy”, the NFL winner’s cup, can be seen in a gallery. Taylor Castelli and Julian Sfeir take a selfie right in front of the trophy. Castelli was born in the US state of Ohio and works with Sfeir at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. His heart beats for American football and especially for the Cincinnati Bengals. However, only his German colleague was able to get tickets for last Sunday’s match: “The ticket price for my last match in the USA was much lower, but at least the beer in Frankfurt is significantly cheaper,” laughs the 34-year-old. However, the parties around the match and the break performances can still be expanded. Hats, caps, jerseys or balls: the NFL fan shop is also located at Roßmarkt. The Swiss Nicola Boss is waiting in front of the counter. The 27-year-old from Bern is following several teams, but he is primarily interested in the Kansas City Chiefs. When asked about the first game on Sunday, he raved: “That was my first NFL match ever. And then the Chiefs win too. That was a lot of fun.” He took four days off for the trip to Frankfurt. Was it worth it? “No question,” he says in Swiss German.
2023-11-11 16:00:10
#NFL #conquering #Germany #games #Frankfurt
