This week, the NFL took a close look at the three German cities applying to host NFL games. ran spoke to the responsible persons immediately before their return trip to the USA.

Munich – It remains exciting in the competition between the three remaining German cities bidding to host NFL games. “It’s a neck-and-neck race,” ex-NFL pro Sebastian Vollmer, who is helping the NFL make its selection as an ambassador, told ran exclusively on Wednesday night.

An NFL travel group, led by NFL chief strategist Chris Halpin, NFL Europe boss Brett Gosper and Vollmer, visited Frankfurt on Monday, Düsseldorf on Tuesday and Munich on Wednesday to hold concrete talks with the three candidate cities and get a feel for them.

There is reportedly no favourite yet. But vice versa: apparently none of the three cities has dropped out of the race yet either. “It’s a competitive process,” Halpin assured.

Sebastian Vollmer: “A huge effort “

“There’s a lot more work to do,” the NFL’s top strategy manager added, but also let it be known that it had been very constructive discussions throughout the three days. “All three cities are experienced in hosting top sporting events.”

In any case, the NFL is not taking the decision lightly. “It’s a huge effort to bring an international NFL game to a new country,” stressed Vollmer, a two-time Super Bowl winner. Everything has to fit and be considered. Especially since it is supposed to be a “first-class fan experience” (Halpin) right from the start.

It is also important to the NFL that the German NFL game does not remain a once-a-year experience, but that a lasting development of American football in Germany results from the move. Whichever city can best convey this is likely to significantly increase its chances of hosting the German games.

NFL game to be held in Germany in 2022

The work-up for the trip to Germany will now be immediate. Vollmer: “We now have a few more weeks to get into the details.”

Nothing has changed in the basic schedule. The three cities are to submit their final bids in December at the latest, in January there is to be an internal NFL decision, which in turn is to be announced during the Super Bowl in mid-February.

And the first NFL game in Germany is still scheduled to take place in 2022 – “that’s the plan,” says Vollmer.