More than 22,000 Detroit Lions fans have flocked to Munich this weekend to cheer on their team in its first international game since 2015. The Lions face the New England Patriots on Sunday, marking a rare NFL appearance on German soil and drawing a crowd eager not only for football but also for a taste of Detroit culture abroad.
The game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local time) with the Lions holding a 6-2 record this season, going up against the Patriots, the defending AFC champions, who stand at 5-4. This matchup is the Lions’ first international outing since they lost to Kansas City in London eleven years ago.
Fan enthusiasm is running high at the Detroit Lions Fan Fest in central Munich, a two-day event featuring food trucks, beer, giveaways, and live concerts. Detroit artists Kevin Saunderson and Big Sean are headlining the musical lineup on Friday and Saturday, respectively. More than 22,000 fans registered for the fest, according to the Lions, drawing supporters from around the world.
Carolyn Gammicchia, 67, traveled from Shelby Township, Michigan, and was among those enjoying the fan pub at Hofbräuhaus, which has been transformed into a football-themed gathering spot. “It was full of Lions fans,” she said on Wednesday from Germany. “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.”
Gammicchia has attended over a dozen Lions games and said the team has never lost when she was in the stands. She hopes to continue that streak on Sunday. Alongside her are thousands of others who have made the trip or traveled from nearby, like Katie Bromley, 33, also from Shelby Township. Bromley became a Lions fan four years ago and planned to attend the fan fest pop-up before heading to the game with her husband.
“We already have our ticket to see Big Sean,” Bromley said before arriving in Europe. “We are definitely going to see that.”
Heidi Ulm, 52, a German resident from Kempten who grew up in Berkley, Michigan, is among the local fans joining the Lions’ support. She moved to Europe in 2001 and has shared her love of American football with her twin sons. “My 18-year-old boys and I are so excited to see the Lions play,” she said. “I introduced my boys to American football at an early age. We love to watch both college and NFL games whenever we can get them for free on TV.”
The NFL’s presence in Munich reflects its ongoing effort to grow its global audience. Fans like Gammicchia appreciate the international reach of the sport. “Everybody has their story,” she said. “We were on the rail yesterday and this young man, who didn’t speak English, showed us a picture that he would be working the game on Sunday. It was the coolest thing. He was so excited about the Lions playing.”
The fan fest and game have turned Munich into an unofficial home-field extension for Detroit’s team, bringing together a diverse crowd united by football and a shared experience. The event’s mix of sport, music, and culture offers a distinct weekend for Lions fans far from home.
According to Yahoo Sports.
