American football is likely to set up shop at Barcelona’s legendary Camp Nou stadium, with word emerging that the Kansas City Chiefs.
Led by celebrity quarterback Patrick Mahomes, it would stage a match there as the NFL launches its expansion drive internationally.
The NFL has been trying to develop the popularity of American football internationally, and Spain is a growing component of the plan.
This season, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu will be the site of the first-ever NFL game on Spanish soil when the Miami Dolphins play.
Now it’s Barcelona’s turn. Spanish newspaper SPORT writes that Camp Nou could be welcoming an NFL game once refurbishments already in progress have been completed.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been given special marketing rights in Spain, so they would be the likely ones to play there.
This would involve fans getting to see Patrick Mahomes, who is one of the biggest stars in the NFL, tossing touchdown passes in the city of Barcelona.
The two-time Super Bowl champion would bring huge publicity to the event.
Though Madrid won the bid to host Spain’s inaugural NFL game, Barcelona is keen to do the same soon after.
Delays in the reconstruction of Camp Nou, however, leave timing in doubt.
The NFL fixtures abroad are now a large business, with fixtures in London and Germany featuring enormous viewing audiences.
Including Spain on the calendar is sensible, with American football increasing in popularity across the continent.
For Barcelona, hosting the NFL would bring a lot of revenue and global exposure.
For Spanish sports fans, it would be the chance to enjoy first-class American football without leaving the country.
With Mahomes possibly visiting Camp Nou and the Dolphins hosting in Madrid, Spain seems poised to become a new hub of NFL activity in Europe.
Football (soccer) stadiums could be hosting football (American style) games on a regular basis as well.
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