Munich highlights and observations

[PanthersATL]

In no particular order:

If you ever have an opportunity to attend an international series game, do it. Do it. Do it.

Euuropeans seem to embrace/love NFL football and can't get enough. They all of their own favorite teams, but will support whichever is playing that week. Overheard a lot of "we like [team name] but this week we cheer for Panthers!!!"

They were amazed Americans would spend $$ to go to Europe to watch a game

Former Players (from all different teams) were everywhere and mostly accessible. Wandering around in Plazas, bar appearances, Fan Fest.... Smitty was almost as enthusiastic about meeting fans as they were meeting him

It definitely felt like a Panthers home game, considering the high level of Panthers banners etc around town, and the number of fans sporting Panthers merch

BOA stadium (and others) need more crowd singalongs. Germany loves singalongs at their stadiums

Post-game bathroom lines were stupid long. Plan accordingly

[Captroop]

1 hour ago, PanthersATL said:

BOA stadium (and others) need more crowd singalongs. Germany loves singalongs at their stadiums

This. I've been getting into EPL the last 2 years, and man, nothing matches the atmosphere of a European soccer match. Fight songs, chants, taunts. The stands are never silent. I would love to see this embraced in American football.

[Ricky Spanish]

45 minutes ago, Captroop said:

This. I've been getting into EPL the last 2 years, and man, nothing matches the atmosphere of a European soccer match. Fight songs, chants, taunts. The stands are never silent. I would love to see this embraced in American football.

I would absolutely LOVE the singalong stuff to hit football here in america, but only when our offense isn't on the field. I think that's the big reason it's not encouraged as much over here.

[PanthersATL]

3 minutes ago, Ricky Spanish said:

I would absolutely LOVE the singalong stuff to hit football here in america, but only when our offense isn't on the field. I think that's the big reason it's not encouraged as much over here.

The "country roads" fans wanted to sing to the end of the song, no matter how long it took

[Candler Cat]

55 minutes ago, Captroop said:

This. I've been getting into EPL the last 2 years, and man, nothing matches the atmosphere of a European soccer match. Fight songs, chants, taunts. The stands are never silent. I would love to see this embraced in American football.

When we were in section 548 you could hear folks chanting and singing occasionally in a section to the left of us, just couldn't hear it well enough to join in

that would have been in the south side corner

[PanthersATL]

One more observation: 

Over here, we tend to mock people who wear "wrong" jerseys to a particular game. Think of the random Chiefs jersey spotted at the Panthers training camp, or a Dallas fan showing up to a PIT-BAL game

In Europe, the fans of (whatever team) are happy to be surrounded by other NFL fans, and happy to attend any NFL game at all, no matter who's playing. We saw jerseys from pretty much every other team present around town and at the stadium

Because they have so few opportunities to cheer their own team live in person, they take every opportunity to celebrate NFL in general, even if it means wearing "the wrong" jersey for an international game. Those fans are excited just to watch football, no matter who is playing

[MickMixon'sMetaphors]

Very cool perspective, thanks for sharing.

Aside, my family and I took our first international trip last year.  Went to England and Scotland for two weeks.  We have never been out of the states (I'm 47 btw).

We came away changed in our perspective of the people here in the US.  The people in the UK were so polite, genuine, and helpful and we weren't only in tourist areas.  We were in the country quite a bit - I rented a car and drove a lot through all the isles of Scotland.  Anyway, now we're considering relocating there (if able) one day.  My oldest daughter, who is a junior at Clemson majoring in Vet Science, now wants to apply to Vet School in Edinburgh, Scotland (not to mention it's a FRACTION of the cost of US vet schools).  When I asked others, they basically said that most people in Europe are like that and the US is just...different.

There are tradeoffs living in Europe (roads, hospitals, prices, WALMART), but the people...amazing.

All that to say, yes if you can get to an international game, go for it!  I think I'll add it to my bucket list too!

[HaricotVert]

The excitement of the fans/crowd came through in the broadcast and was a HUGE part of making it a great game to watch.

[travisura]

19 hours ago, PanthersATL said:

One more observation: 

Over here, we tend to mock people who wear "wrong" jerseys to a particular game. Think of the random Chiefs jersey spotted at the Panthers training camp, or a Dallas fan showing up to a PIT-BAL game

In Europe, the fans of (whatever team) are happy to be surrounded by other NFL fans, and happy to attend any NFL game at all, no matter who's playing. We saw jerseys from pretty much every other team present around town and at the stadium

Because they have so few opportunities to cheer their own team live in person, they take every opportunity to celebrate NFL in general, even if it means wearing "the wrong" jersey for an international game. Those fans are excited just to watch football, no matter who is playing

This same dynamic occurs when European soccer teams come play in the US on their preseason tours. You'll see jerseys of almost every club and national team in the world lol.

[Brooklyn 3.0]

I wish I could put my finger on why sports in the US don't do as many chants. You see it in some fashion: Duke basketball fans at home have their own thing, the Vikings have their Viking clap, J-E-T-S, Fly Eagles Fly, college football student sections, etc. but outside of Cameron none of it is almost all game long. Euro/SouthAmr soccer simply destroys the US in terms of fan participation. Yeah they get to bring in flares and banners which adds to the hype, but still ... you just can't compare.

So ... why is it? Are they drunker over there? Less self-concious? I could never see an NBA crowd singing all game long, they are way too into "being seen" in those first few rows. Are US fans "embarrassed" to sing along? I think it may be that. Then again, MLS crowds chant.

[strato]

1 hour ago, Brooklyn 3.0 said:

I wish I could put my finger on why sports in the US don't do as many chants. You see it in some fashion: Duke basketball fans at home have their own thing, the Vikings have their Viking clap, J-E-T-S, Fly Eagles Fly, college football student sections, etc. but outside of Cameron none of it is almost all game long. Euro/SouthAmr soccer simply destroys the US in terms of fan participation. Yeah they get to bring in flares and banners which adds to the hype, but still ... you just can't compare.

So ... why is it? Are they drunker over there? Less self-concious? I could never see an NBA crowd singing all game long, they are way too into "being seen" in those first few rows. Are US fans "embarrassed" to sing along? I think it may be that. Then again, MLS crowds chant.

Europe has the group mentality. USA has always had the individual elevated to top status.  Until lately. But anyway big group chants aren’t part of the thing. Seems like we do simplistic music riffs - like that 7 nation army thing I can’t stand lol. 

[PNW_PantherMan]

1 hour ago, Brooklyn 3.0 said:

So ... why is it? Are they drunker over there?

It looked like they were still pounding those tall beers in the 4th quarter.  So probably, yes.

[NAS]

Germans particularly love Americana so I am not surprised to see them embrace american football or some of the songs. If Tepper can get David Hasselhoff to become the Panthers spokespeople in Germany we would have more fans than any other club internationally.  Because we all know “Germans love David Hasselhoff” 

[Candler Cat]

2 hours ago, Brooklyn 3.0 said:

I wish I could put my finger on why sports in the US don't do as many chants. You see it in some fashion: Duke basketball fans at home have their own thing, the Vikings have their Viking clap, J-E-T-S, Fly Eagles Fly, college football student sections, etc. but outside of Cameron none of it is almost all game long. Euro/SouthAmr soccer simply destroys the US in terms of fan participation. Yeah they get to bring in flares and banners which adds to the hype, but still ... you just can't compare.

So ... why is it? Are they drunker over there? Less self-concious? I could never see an NBA crowd singing all game long, they are way too into "being seen" in those first few rows. Are US fans "embarrassed" to sing along? I think it may be that. Then again, MLS crowds chant.

Baltimore had the C-O-L-T-S cheer back in the 70s, so loud that opposing QBs couldn't make calls at the line of scrimmage, there were no lineman signalling snaps back in this day, refs had the PA announcer warn the fans to stop in a game vs the Bills, so the next time Joe Ferguson came up to the line they did it even louder