As NFL woos Europe, international fans travel to Las Vegas for Super Bowl
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — More than 56 million people across the globe are expected to watch the Super Bowl. The NFL has made no secret of wanting to make in-roads internationally, announcing on Monday the Philadelphia Eagles are opening their season in Brazil.
The Kansas City Chiefs also have ties, and fans, in Germany from playing in Frankfurt this season.
“I think it’s the coziness, you know? When you come to Germany. You go in the Biergarten, you sit down. You’re comfortable. You’re having a beer,” Jessica Maass, who is the marketing manager for Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, said of Germany’s appeal to the NFL.
Hofbrauhaus, a German restaurant, is looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday where they’ll have an all-you-can-eat and drink special for $230 plus tax and gratuity.
They say the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix, which took place last November, wasn’t too kind to them and business.
“These are our one-liter mugs, the stein as we call it,” Maass said pointing to a glass. “One liter, 34 ounces. That’s how we serve the beer.”
The NFL and Kansas City Chiefs have invested in Germany and other European countries where soccer is paramount.
“A lot of people find it complicated and be like, ‘I have to get used to that game,’ because we are very soccer heavy. Soccer there is like two halves, in football there’s four quarters,” Maass said.
Ronald Pols of the Netherlands is one of those who finds it complicated.
“For Europeans, the rules are kind of complicated in a sense. But as you know, many of the American teams are now playing in Europe as well. Like the [Jacksonville] Jaguars have been playing in London,” Pols said.
Pols watches the games from his home in the Netherlands.
Yet, he along with several of his European friends visited Allegiant Stadium to get a glimpse of where the big game is taking place.
“We’re really excited to have American football in Europe,” Pols said.
Besides the Brazil game, London and Munich will each host NFL games next season.
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