The first team for the second NFL guest game in Munich has been determined: As the US professional football league announced on Thursday, the Carolina Panthers will play one of their main round games of the 2024/25 season in the Bavarian capital as part of the “NFL International Games”. . The NFL will announce the date and opponent when it publishes the game schedule in the spring.
As with the first “Munich Game”, fans can prepare for autumn. NFL Germany boss Alexander Steinforth revealed this on the sidelines of a press event. On Thursday afternoon, representatives of the city of Munich, the MVG and the NFL presented a tram in a football design. The train will roll through Munich’s streets all year long and build anticipation for the game.
Munich’s Third Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) is confident: “The enthusiasm for football is sweeping everyone away, we’ll definitely fill the stadium up again!” In return, Munich benefits economically from the partnership and also gains new fans in the United States.
The design of the NFL tram is rather subtle.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
The design of the freshly wrapped tram is rather reserved. Unlike an NFL train that has been traveling through Düsseldorf since last year, there are no players to be seen on the Munich train. This is due to the large panoramic windows, says Steinforth. “We don’t want to take away people’s eyes.” What can be seen instead: logos of the American Football League, a Wilson football and the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the trophy for the Super Bowl winner.
So now come the Carolina Panthers. After the Super Bowl winners, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, played in Frankfurt last year, the weakest team this season will play in Munich in the fall. In the main round that ended last Sunday, Carolina only won two of 17 games. “It is an honor for the Carolina Panthers to play in Munich in 2024,” said Panthers owner David Tepper: “We look forward to deepening relationships with our German fans, working with our partners and further expanding our brand worldwide. “
The game next season will be the fourth to be played in Germany and, after the German debut in autumn 2022, the second in the stadium of record champions Bayern Munich. The NFL’s first guest game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks was “an unforgettable experience,” said Andreas Jung, FC Bayern’s marketing director: “We want to build on that.”
In addition to the home team for the game in Munich, the NFL also announced the first teams for the three “International Games” in London. The Chicago Bears, the Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars will compete there, among others.