As the NFL is still working on cultivating broad overseas appeal, the Miami Dolphins will find themselves playing in one of the world’s most famous stadiums in Spain.
As an export product, American Football can’t quite catch up to baseball or basketball. There are a number of reasons why that it is, but the NFL has made a concentrated effort to showcase the game worldwide. As part of next season’s international series, the league will return to London for three games and have two new host cities. This includes the Colts traveling to Berlin – Germany has shown an appreciation for the gridiron in the past, and this marks the NFL’s first return to the Olympic Stadium since the discontinuation of NFL Europe. However, there is another planned game that has caught the attention of many.
The Miami Dolphins are scheduled as the designated home team for a regular season game in Madrid, Spain. The international project has seen NFL teams compete in all sorts of iconic stadiums, and this next one might just take the cake. The Dolphins will be playing in Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of one of the most well-recognized and lucrative soccer teams of all time; Real Madrid. That being said, the stadium is known to be near full capacity at almost every game, due to their loyal fans. A similar turnout for the Dolphins game might incentivize future events in Spain.
For comparison’s sake, the London games have traditionally drawn a large crowd in consecutive appearances. This is despite the NFL generally not sending their best across the pond or elsewhere. For Americans, the London games have usually been seen as a good excuse to sleep in on Sundays. The Jacksonville Jaguars have nearly found a second home in Wembley Stadium, to the point where some suspect they would eventually be relocated, and be the very first international team in the league.
It’s not necessarily true that under-performing teams are the only ones that get shipped out. This season saw the Super Bowl runner-up Eagles take on the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, a game that most thought would be a solid matchup. The game ended with an appealing score of 34-29 in an Eagles victory, but issues with the field saw many players slipping on themselves left and right.
This game also saw the Packers’ Quarterback Jordan Love getting injured and having to sit out his next few games. The Corinthians Arena was only able to hold to about half-capacity of other international stadiums, and one player’s comments about the country soured the home crowd.
Acknowledging these missteps should be a priority, and creating a smoother experience for the Spanish audience might make up for it. While this season for the Miami Dolphins has been a bit of a letdown, a higher-tier stadium and better PR preparation could go a long way for the Madrid game.
The Dolphins had last traveled to Frankfurt in a 14-21 loss against the defending champ Chiefs back in 2023. So for the diehard Miami fans, it wouldn’t be their first rodeo abroad – or bullfight as the case may be.
There’s an extra hour difference between London and Spain, so the time scheduling will still be a difficult task to figure out. As much as these games are done to introduce the broader world to the NFL, there’s also ample opportunity for Americans to learn to appreciate these cities and their stadiums. That is if the league has the initiative for it, of course. Beyond just sports, the exchange of cultures shouldn’t be overlooked.
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