The NFL has been hosting regular season games in London since 2007 and expanded to Mexico City in 2016. Now, the league is bringing American football to Germany for the first time ever with a game scheduled for November 2023. With a booming NFL fanbase in Germany, getting tickets to the first ever NFL game in the country will be highly competitive. This guide will provide key information and tips for fans looking to secure tickets when they go on sale.
Background on the NFL in Germany
American football has been growing in popularity in Germany for decades. The German Football League (GFL) was established in 1979 and NFL games have been broadcast on German TV since the 1980s. According to the NFL, Germany has the largest NFL fanbase in Europe with over 19 million fans. The NFL has made strategic efforts in recent years to engage with fans in Germany, including establishing an NFL Europe office in Frankfurt and holding fan rallies in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. This groundwork helped convince the NFL to finally bring a regular season game to Germany.
In early 2022, the NFL announced that four teams – the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers – would play in international games in 2023. It was soon revealed that one of those games would take place at FC Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. The Chiefs and Patriots are scheduled to play there in Week 10 of the 2023 season. This will be the first NFL game ever played in Germany.
When do tickets go on sale?
The NFL has not yet announced an exact on-sale date for tickets to the Chiefs vs Patriots game in Germany. However, we can make an educated guess based on past timelines for the league’s international games:
International Series in London
– Tickets for the first London game in 2007 went on sale about 5 months prior in May.
– Since then, London game tickets have typically gone on sale between 3-4 months before each game.
– For the 2022 London games, tickets went on sale in July.
Mexico City game
– Tickets for the first Mexico City game in 2016 went on sale about 4.5 months prior in July.
– For the most recent Mexico City game in 2021, tickets went on sale in August about 3.5 months before the game.
Based on these precedents, it’s likely that tickets for the 2023 Germany game will go on sale around August or September 2022. However, this is the NFL’s first ever game in Germany, so they may follow a different timeline. Fans should look out for an announcement from the NFL on the exact on-sale date over the coming months. The league will likely confirm the date 2-3 months in advance.
How much will tickets cost?
Ticket prices for the first NFL game in Germany have not been announced yet. However, we can expect pricing to be similar to other international games:
Recent International Game Ticket Prices
Year | Location | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|---|
2022 | London | $370 |
2021 | Mexico City | $200 |
2019 | London | $240 |
As the table shows, average ticket prices for recent international games have ranged from $200-$370. The Germany game prices will likely be on the higher end of that range given the special historic nature of the contest. It’s the first chance for fans to see an NFL game in their home country. With high demand, don’t be surprised if average tickets end up costing $350+ depending on the seating section. Of course, there will be lower price points available too for those on smaller budgets.
Allianz Arena Seating Capacity
Another major factor is the size of Allianz Arena. The 75,000 seat capacity stadium is larger than the typical 60,000 seat stadiums used for international games. This means there should be more ticket inventory available, which could help keep some pricing a little lower.
Overall, ticket prices will still be a premium compared to a typical NFL game. But they probably won’t reach the massive $500+ prices charged by secondary resellers for Super Bowl tickets.
How to get tickets
Once tickets go on sale, there will be a few different options for securing seats:
NFL Ticket Exchange
The NFL will sell game ticket inventory directly to fans through the NFL Ticket Exchange site (ticketexchange.nfl.com). The Ticket Exchange is the official ticket resale marketplace of the NFL. This will likely be the easiest and most reliable way for fans to get legitimate tickets. Supply will be limited, so expect tickets to sell out extremely quickly once they go on sale. Having an account set up on Ticket Exchange in advance is recommended so you can request tickets right away.
Ticketmaster
The NFL will potentially partner with Ticketmaster to handle some distribution as they have for past international games. Tickets may be available on Ticketmaster in the US and Germany. Ticketmaster Germany would be ticketmaster.de. Fans should keep an eye on both sites once tickets go on sale. Signing up for presales or alerts from Ticketmaster USA and Ticketmaster Germany may help access tickets a bit early.
Resellers like StubHub
The NFL will release official ticket allotments to teams and sponsors first. Once those tickets make their way to resale sites, prices will likely spike. StubHub was the NFL’s official ticket resale partner through 2020 and may have ticket inventory available. Viagogo is another large reseller popular in Europe that could have availability. But expect major markups over face value on high demand games.
Travel Packages
Some travel companies or tour operators will offer ticket inclusive packages for international fans traveling long distance. These can bundle flights, hotels, and planned fan experiences along with guaranteed game tickets. Packages bring peace of mind but are more expensive. Fans can search for reputable providers offering packages to the Germany game.
NFL Fan Clubs
Joining fan clubs like Chiefs Kingdom (Chiefs) or Patriots Nation (Patriots) may provide special ticket presale windows or opportunities. The NFL UK fan club could also share presale codes. So joining ahead of the public on-sale is wise.
Social Media Contests
Teams and sponsors may run ticket giveaways on social media leading up to the game. Following the Chiefs, Patriots, NFL, and sponsor accounts could help fans discover contests to enter.
Beware of scams
When trying to purchase tickets from resellers, fans need to be cautious of potential scams. Here are some tips to avoid fake or fraudulent ticket offers:
– Only buy from trusted resale sites with buyer guarantees. Sites like StubHub guarantee your tickets or give you a refund.
– Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true or tickets being sold far under face value. This is a red flag.
– Never pay with risky payment methods like bank transfers, cash apps, cryptocurrency. Use credit cards when possible.
– Verify the seller reviews and ratings. Ask for proof they actually have the tickets.
– If purchasing locally in Germany, insist on completing the exchange in person after verifying the tickets.
– Avoid sellers using pressure tactics or demanding you pay immediately.
As long as fans use caution, there are reliable ways to get legitimate tickets at reasonable prices both domestically and internationally.
Conclusion
While nothing is guaranteed before an official announcement, fans hoping to secure coveted tickets to the landmark Chiefs vs Patriots NFL game in Germany in 2023 should plan on tickets going on sale around August or September 2022. Ticket prices will likely average $350 or more depending on the section. When sales open, the fastest way to get tickets will be directly through the NFL Ticket Exchange site, but limited quantities will also likely be available through Ticketmaster, team fan clubs, authorized resellers, and special travel package deals. Fans should be vigilant about avoiding scam ticket offers leading up to the historic matchup in Munich. Regardless of where you can get seats, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to attend the first ever NFL regular season game played in Germany.