Happy Saturday, friends. I was in Chicago this week delivering a keynote speech at the Chicago Sports Summit about Formula 1\u2019s U.S. growth and what other sports leagues can learn from Liberty Media\u2019s success. I hope to share the video with you soon. But in the meantime, we need to discuss the NFL\u2019s first-ever regular season game in Madrid, featuring the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders.<\/p>\n
This weekend\u2019s game will take place at the iconic Santiago Bernab\u00e9u Stadium. Home to Real Madrid, the newly renovated Santiago Bernab\u00e9u is easily one of the world\u2019s best sports venues. American media members on the ground can\u2019t stop talking about how nice it is, and I believe it will be the NFL\u2019s best-ever international game. That’s because even if it ends up being a blowout, Santiago Bernab\u00e9u will provide a show.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t usually send out newsletters on the weekend, but today we\u2019ll make an exception. Rather than a 2,000-word write-up breaking down the NFL\u2019s first foray into Madrid, below are some of the most important and interesting storylines you need to know. Enjoy the game, and we\u2019ll be back to our normal schedule on Monday.<\/p>\n
The newly renovated Santiago Bernab\u00e9u features a retractable pitch that sits beneath its surface. Separated into six pieces, the fully automated system allows Real Madrid to move its entire field underground within a matter of hours. Once it’s in storage, the field is maintained in an artificial greenhouse, complete with ventilation, air conditioning, irrigation systems, LED lights, and motion cameras.<\/p>\n
The NFL had to extend Santiago Bernab\u00e9u\u2019s field by about one and a half yards on both sides. To achieve this, the NFL worked with a construction crew in Madrid to demolish field-level stands and extend the concrete flooring beneath the field.<\/p>\n
The NFL initially planned to play its first-ever game in Madrid at Metropolitano Stadium, the home of La Liga\u2019s Atl\u00e9tico Madrid. However, with Real Madrid\u2019s renovation plan now complete, the NFL chose to use Santiago Bernab\u00e9u instead.<\/p>\n
The Miami Dolphins spent this week practicing at Metropolitano Stadium (because private equity firm Ares Management has ownership stakes in both the Dolphins and Atl\u00e9tico Madrid). As a result, the Washington Commanders were sent to Real Madrid\u2019s practice facility, a massive 300-acre training complex with more than a dozen practice fields, a recovery space, and even 57 hotel rooms.<\/p>\n
Santiago Bernab\u00e9u\u2019s renovation included the installation of a 360-degree video scoreboard, making it the only stadium outside the U.S. with this technology.<\/p>\n
Unlike most American stadiums, Santiago Bernab\u00e9u only has a few hundred parking spots, all of which are located underneath the stadium. Real Madrid submitted a proposal to build two additional underground parking lots with 2,000 spaces connected to the stadium via a tunnel. However, the proposal was denied by the court, primarily because it was deemed unnecessary. Most fans pay just \u20ac1\u20132 to take the metro on game day, which drops you off directly outside the stadium.<\/p>\n
Mediaset\u2019s Cuatro channel will broadcast the game in Spain, the NFL\u2019s first-ever free-to-air broadcast in the country. And with Spain requiring nationwide channels like Cuatro to cover at least 96% of the population, virtually all of Spain\u2019s 47.8 million residents will be able to watch Sunday\u2019s game at no additional cost.<\/p>\n
The Miami Dolphins are sacrificing a home game at Hard Rock Stadium to be the home team in Madrid. Miami agreed to do this because 1) they own marketing rights in Spain, and 2) they are aiming to become the team of the Spanish-speaking world. Similar to the Jaguars, the Dolphins have expressed interest in hosting an annual game in one of the team\u2019s international marketing territories \u2014 Spain, Brazil, or Mexico. That\u2019s because 65-70% of Miami residents speak Spanish.<\/p>\n