Around 70,000 spectators will be at the NFL Munich Game in the Allianz Arena of FC Bayern Munich on Sunday. The effort to get the stadium ready for the NFL is enormous.

The king of football was still taking over until late Wednesday evening, when the NFL was already getting ready to take over.

In a hurry.

Because there is not much time. That’s why work began shortly after FC Bayern scored the first goal in the Champions League against Benfica Lisbon. Although those responsible already know how the arena has to be converted to make it NFL-compatible.

Two years ago, it worked perfectly when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks played the first regular season game on German soil.

Munich Game: Less time than 2022

But compared to 2022, there is one day less time to get the stadium ready in time. So it will be a lot more stressful.

The good thing is that since a lot of changes were made for the first Munich Game in 2022, the effort in 2024 is a bit less.

“The effort that is being made for this game is enormous. Not as big as for a Champions League final, but gigantic,” says arena director Jürgen Muth at “beimfootball”.

Munich Game: The moves have to be just right

Because the teams want to be on the pitch as early as Saturday to familiarize themselves with the conditions, the moves have to be just right. Everyone involved is setting ambitious goals so that around 70,000 fans can enjoy the game between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants on Sunday.

Muth mentions three areas that are particularly in focus this year. “The infield is a big challenge because a football field has a different layout than a German soccer field.”

The Munich stadium pitch is 105 meters long, but the NFL requires almost 110 meters. The width has to be reduced: from 68 meters to almost 50 meters. The lines on the turf also have to be re-applied, and the goals have to be replaced by goal posts.

Muth: “We have to completely remodel the spaces behind the football goals so that they are not covered with hard flooring, but with soft flooring. We also have to install appropriate protective devices on the back wall, because then the players also have to be protected in case they run offside there.”

Munich Game: Work on the cabins

The second major measure concerns the team area. This is because an NFL team, with a 53-man squad, has significantly more players than a soccer team, not to mention coaches and support staff. So a few more showers wouldn’t go amiss. Among other things.

And the third, also significant difference to football, according to Muth, “is that central box areas have to be converted because that’s where the control rooms are for the coaches and their assistants and for the analysts, who then pass on the relevant information to the coaches.”

In comparison, cosmetic work such as banners and posters with the specially designed Munich Game logo are routine measures.

Munich Game: turf under criticism

One problem in 2022 was the stadium turf, which drew a lot of criticism from the players. “There were some really bad turf fields this year,” said wide receiver Mike Evans of the Tampa Buccaneers after the first Munich Game: “Germany was the worst I’ve ever played on. It was a great experience, but the field itself was incredibly bad and dangerous.”

This year, therefore, the game will be played on a hybrid turf. After the game, the turf will be replaced again. After all, after the Panthers play the Giants, the next Bayern game is already on the horizon.

The good news is that there is no rush this time. Due to the international break, Bayern will not play in the arena again until November 22.

When, as usual, football is king again.