Seahawks-Bucs clash in Munich had truly absurd demand for tickets
The NFL International Series is set to break new ground in Munich, Germany this weekend, as fans flock to watch Seahawks take on the Buccaneers.
The NFL International Series is in its 15th season. Over that run, they’ve held games in London, United Kingdom. Five seasons ago, the series started to include games in Mexico. And for the first time, the NFL will host a game in Munich, Germany this Sunday between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The NFL has emphasized the need to expand internationally, and Roger Goodell has even entertained establishing a franchise overseas. Given the demands of the NFL schedule, this would prove
NFL Munich ticket for Seahawks vs Bucs was a hot commodity
While the NFL International Series games have steadily grown in popularity, few expected such high demand for the game in Munich.
According to sources, there were more than 3 million requests for tickets for Sunday. The game is being held at Allianz Arena, home of soccer team FC Bayern Munich. The stadium has a full capacity of about 75,000 seats.
This demand to attend NFL games abroad should prompt continued expansion of the International Series. From 2007 to 2012, Wembley Stadium hosted a single game each season. As requests for tickets continued to grow, the NFL added an extra game. In 2017, the expansion continued to four games. Mexico games began in 2016 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
It’s unclear where the NFL plans to strike next. So far, European demand for NFL games continues to grow, but other parts of the world likely want in on the action.
In early 2022, the NFL announced its International Home Marketing Area plan, which allocated certain countries to teams for marketing purposes.
This plan, though still new, could potentially bring NFL teams to new parts of the world. One thing is certain if other countries demonstrate the same level of interest as German fans, expect more international games in the future.