The smell of freshly poured beer mingled with the roar of Detroit Lions fans clad in Honolulu Blue as Munich’s Hofbräuhaus transformed into a hub of American football enthusiasm this week. Carolyn Gammicchia, 67, flew from Shelby Township to Germany not just for the chance to watch the Lions take on the New England Patriots live but to soak in a rare gathering of global Lions supporters. “It was full of Lions fans,” she said Wednesday from Munich. “We had lunch and beer which was lovely. It was great to talk to people from all over. There are so many people not just from Detroit or Michigan, but as far as Argentina and Japan. It was amazing.”
The Lions (6-2) face the defending AFC champion Patriots (5-4) on Sunday in Munich in what is the team’s first international game since 2015, when they lost to Kansas City in London. Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (3:30 p.m. local). Beyond the game, the weekend has become a celebration of Detroit football culture in Bavaria, drawing over 22,000 fans to the Detroit Lions Fan Fest in central Munich, according to the Lions and the Sports Business Journal.
The Fan Fest features giveaways, food and beer trucks, appearances from Lions players and cheerleaders, and concerts. Detroit’s own Kevin Saunderson performed on Friday, November 13, followed by rapper Big Sean on Saturday, November 14. Katie Bromley, 33, also from Shelby Township, planned to catch Big Sean’s set after attending a pop-up shop offering exclusive Lions merchandise. She became a fan just four years ago and traveled with her husband for the game.
Heidi Ulm, 52, who grew up in Berkley, Michigan, and now lives in Kempten, southeastern Germany, arrived with her husband and twin sons eager to watch the Lions in action. “My 18-year-old boys and I are so excited to see the Lions play,” she said. She introduced her sons to American football early, and the family follows college and NFL games whenever they can watch for free on TV.
The Lions Fan Pub at Hofbräuhaus has become a gathering place for fans from around the world. Gammicchia, with more than a dozen games under her belt, said the Lions have never lost when she’s been in attendance. She hopes that streak continues Sunday. The pub’s atmosphere, mixing traditional Bavarian hospitality with American football passion, has created an unusual but fitting backdrop to the event.
The NFL’s push to engage fans globally finds expression in this weekend’s events. Gammicchia recalled meeting a young man who did not speak English but showed her a picture of himself working at Sunday’s game. “That was the coolest thing. He was so excited about the Lions playing,” she said.
Detroit players and cheerleaders participating in the Fan Fest bring a piece of home to Munich, while the packed schedule of concerts and activities draws a broad crowd of local and international fans. The presence of thousands wearing the Lions’ colors in the Bavarian capital reflects the growing global reach of NFL fandom.
The Lions’ game against the Patriots in Munich offers a rare chance for American football to be experienced in a European setting with an American team’s fanbase actively present. The combination of sport, music, and local culture has turned the city into a temporary outpost of Detroit spirit. The Lions and their supporters have brought a slice of Honolulu Blue to Munich, where the team’s first international game in over a decade is creating memories for fans on two continents.
According to Yahoo Sports.
