NFL in Madrid: Burrow conquers the Bernabéu amid authorities and the memory of Urda

The next confirmed step is to prepare a new regular season game at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2027, continuing from the November 8, 2026 edition, between the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons. The collaboration between the NFL, the Community of Madrid, the City Council, and Real Madrid already has a multi-year framework: it is not just about negotiating another isolated game. However, there is no publicly confirmed schedule beyond 2027.

1. Finalize the 2027 edition

The protocol announced by the Community on February 2, 2026 contemplates a third game in 2027 and establishes Madrid as the exclusive base of the NFL in Spain during that period. The next milestone will be to specify its sporting and organizational conditions: teams, date, time, and ticket sales. Those 2027 details are not found in the consulted sources. The continuity of the Bernabéu is recorded in the municipal announcement of the agreement and in the regional government communication.

2. Fulfill sponsorship commitments

The collaboration has differentiated public funding, which should not be confused with a joint organization budget:

• Community of Madrid: authorized on May 13, 2026 a sponsorship of 1.5 million euros for the 2026 edition. That agreement alone does not prove an identical regional contribution for 2027, according to the Council of Government agreement.
• Madrid City Council: awarded on October 27 a sponsorship to NFL International Licensing for 2026 and 2027 for 3,263,020 euros excluding VAT, equivalent to 3,948,254.20 euros including VAT. Therefore, the municipal commitment already covers the next edition, as explained by Demócrata.

Monitoring should distinguish contracted promotional services from tourism impact: the latter does not equate to direct income for administrations.

3. Consolidate organization at the Bernabéu

Operationally, continuity requires coordinating stadium availability and its adaptation to NFL needs. For 2026, provisional modules and locker room expansions have been described; the experience will serve as a reference for future setups. Coordination includes turf, technical areas, team logistics, security, and mobility. These are organizational needs, not a new publicly approved investment package, according to information about stadium adaptation.

4. Maintain activity throughout the year

An explicit commitment is to expand NFL Flag, the non-contact version of American football, in Madrid schools and in collaboration with the Spanish American Football Federation. The goal is that the relationship is not limited to the professional game but has school and youth continuity. This is stated in the municipal presentation of the 2026 edition.

5. Evaluate subsequent continuity

Potential expansion after 2027 remains open, not confirmed. Evaluating attendance, international promotion, economic return, and event operation would be a reasonable basis for that negotiation, but no public renewal schedule exists. Neighborhood coexistence will also be relevant: the appeal against the 2025 noise permit challenges that specific authorization and does not prohibit future games, according to Demócrata. In short, what is settled is continuity until 2027; making Madrid a permanent venue would require new commitments.

The promotion of major sporting events (European finals, World Cups, Olympic Games, major marathons, etc.) always involves multiple levels of government. In the case of Madrid, the regional president and the mayor have distinct but complementary competencies, which are usually articulated through agreements and mixed organizing committees.

1. President of the Community of Madrid

a) Regional sports planning and policy

• Design the regional sports strategy: set priorities (high performance, sports tourism, "Region of Madrid" brand) and decide whether to pursue attracting major international events.
• Promote candidacies: authorize and lead, through the competent department, the submission of bids to international federations, the Higher Sports Council, or the central government itself.

b) Competencies over facilities and land

• Regional sports infrastructures: ownership and management of major regional facilities (high performance centers, pavilions, multi-use complexes) that can be made available for the event.
• Territorial planning and major developments: through regional territorial and urban planning, can facilitate or hinder the location of new venues, sports villages, park-and-ride lots, etc.

c) Public financing and aid

• Institutional subsidies and sponsorships: the Community can co-finance the event (fees to federations, temporary infrastructures, volunteer programs) and offer incentives to companies involved.
• Budget and guarantees: assume multi-year spending commitments, guarantee part of the operation, or ensure maintenance of facilities after the event, always within budgetary regulation limits.

d) Inter-administrative coordination and with the State

• Relationship with the central government: in matters where the State has primary competence (external security, border control, major state infrastructures, rail transport, airports), the president acts as a key political interlocutor.
• Relationship with Madrid municipalities: coordinate participation of several city councils if the event is spread across different venues within the Community.

e) External promotion and image projection

• "Community of Madrid" brand: tourism campaigns and investment attraction linked to the event (tourist packages, cultural and gastronomic routes associated).
• Sports diplomacy: participation in forums and meetings with international federations, governments of other territories, and global sponsors to support the bid.

2. Mayor of Madrid

a) Urban and city competencies

• Municipal urban planning: land reclassification, approval of projects for stadiums, fan zones, press centers, etc., and adaptation of planning for temporary uses.
• Licenses and permits: construction, activity, public space occupation, terraces, signage, public shows, and fire protection licenses that condition the operational viability of the event.

b) Public services and local logistics

• Urban mobility and transport: organization of EMT (municipal transport company), taxis, public bikes, traffic cuts, special lanes, parking, and mobility plans for large crowds.
• Cleaning, waste, and maintenance: reinforcement of street cleaning, waste collection, maintenance of green areas and urban furniture in key areas (stadiums, fan zones, tourist axes).
• Municipal security and emergencies: municipal police, local civil protection, and coordination with regional and state bodies for self-protection and evacuation plans.

c) Tourist and cultural promotion of the city

• "City of Madrid" brand: specific campaigns to attract visitors, extend stays, and reduce seasonality by leveraging the sporting event.
• Parallel programming: concerts, festivals, neighborhood activities, thematic exhibitions, and fan festivals that amplify social and economic impact.

d) Relationship with clubs, operators, and neighbors

• Interlocution with clubs and companies: negotiation of stadium use conditions, urban sponsorships, exploitation of advertising spaces, fees, and special ordinances.
• Management of neighborhood impact: plan measures against noise, crowds, and intensive use of public space, participation channels, and compensations in affected neighborhoods.

3. How the president and mayor coordinate

• Joint candidacy: they usually present the bid in a coordinated manner ("city-region" image) and share representation before federations and international organizations.
• Cost and benefit sharing: agreements detailing who pays what (venues, transport, promotion) and how the legacy is distributed in the form of infrastructures or sports programs.
• Organizing committees: creation of mixed bodies where the Community, City Council, State, federations, and sponsors sit to make key decisions.

In summary, the regional president provides the vision and resources at the regional scale (sports policy, major infrastructures, coordination with the State), while the mayor controls the urban "day-to-day" of the event (public space, mobility, services, and relationship with citizens). Effective promotion of major sporting events in Madrid depends on close cooperation and alignment of political and budgetary priorities between both figures.

Organizing an NFL game in Spain requires simultaneously complying with state, regional, and municipal regulations: there is no single "NFL" license. At the Bernabéu, the agreement with the stadium and institutional support do not replace the permits for the show, safety conditions, or environmental obligations.

1. Venue license and event authorization

It must be proven that the stadium's enabling title covers the activity and its specific configuration. If stands, facilities, accesses, or temporary structures are modified, additional permits and technical certificates may be needed. It should not be assumed that any show is authorized simply because it takes place in a stadium.

In Madrid, the Law 17/1997 on Public Shows and Recreational Activities is central: its article 6 requires safety, fire protection, healthiness, and accessibility conditions. The specific procedure will depend on the authorized use and the characteristics of the setup.

2. Capacity, accessibility, and emergencies

The capacity must correspond to the effective distribution of the venue, with sufficient exits and evacuation routes. It is necessary to keep accessible the itineraries, seats, and services intended for people with disabilities.

It is also necessary to have an implemented and operational self-protection plan, adapted to the game: risks, responsible parties, alarms, evacuation, medical assistance, and coordination with public services. Royal Decree 524/2023 repealed the previous regime, although it provided for the continuity of the Basic Self-Protection Standard until its replacement. It is not enough to keep a document without adapting means and procedures to the event.

3. Security and civil liability

The promoter must organize access controls, overcrowding prevention, authorized surveillance, and incident response, coordinating with authorities. Law 19/2007 and Royal Decree 203/2010 regulate the prevention of sports violence; their specific obligations must be determined according to their scope of application, without automatically transferring all Spanish professional football requirements to the NFL.

Civil liability insurance must be proven, with adequate coverage and capital. It is advisable to contractually delimit the responsibilities of the NFL, promoter, stadium owner, and suppliers; this allocation does not eliminate their obligations towards third parties.

4. Noise, schedules, and public space

Noise and schedule limits must be respected, including megaphony, music, and complementary activities. A sound exception requires motivated authorization: international relevance does not equate to automatic exemption.

According to Demócrata, neighbors appealed the exceptional noise permit for the 2025 game. That appeal challenges that authorization but does not by itself prohibit future games. Fan zones, traffic cuts, and street occupations also require the corresponding permits.

5. Audience, workers, and commercial exploitation

• Tickets and data: inform about prices, access restrictions, cancellations, and refunds, and comply with personal data and video surveillance obligations.
• Personnel: apply risk prevention and coordination among contractors according to Law 31/1995. For foreign players, coaches, and workers, the corresponding entry, work, and Social Security regime must be determined; a brief stay does not by itself resolve these obligations.
• Business: manage taxation, audiovisual rights, trademarks, music, and image, as well as sanitary conditions and restrictions applicable to catering, alcohol, and tobacco.

In short, the organization must close a coordinated file of permits, technical documentation, insurance, and operational plans before holding the game. In other Spanish stadiums, regional and municipal rules will change, although the corresponding state obligations will remain.