And there, on the field that has seen Real Madrid win so many times and that until now only knew a soccer ball, two goals, and 22 players, the NFL planted a giant flag of the United States next to another equally large one of Spain. A statement of intent. The great show of the American homeland is like this: immense, colossal, and mammoth, capable of transforming the Bernabéu at will to turn Chamartín into another American city for four hours and celebrate in this way the historic first NFL game in our country.
The American anthem played, sung loudly by Karina Pasian, and the Spanish one played by the Madrid Marine Infantry Group. All after an emotional tribute to the Emergency Military Unit (UME) for their work during the pandemic and in the Valencia floods, courtesy of the NFL, which before each game of its league focuses on a person or group to dedicate the show to. "The UME has always been brave and supportive," was repeated over the loudspeakers in English and Spanish to a crowd that applauded the unit for a long minute.
The stadium was packed, and the surroundings of the Bernabéu were filled, where there was everything. A part of the celebration, with several bands playing at different times and the Dolphins cheerleaders performing some shows at the stadium entrance, but also long lines to access the field. The game's security, managed by the NFL, decided to install a barrier cord that surrounded the stadium and delayed the entry of fans, who became impatient. "80,000 people come in here every week, and nothing like this ever happens," complained Manuel, a Madrid member. The extreme security measures of the American league overwhelmed most, who entered their stands just in time. "I reached my seat at 3:28 PM and spent over an hour in line," admitted a fan. Like him, many who were bothered were soon caught up in the afternoon's fun.
Perhaps due to that concern, or simply out of excitement, food and beer ran out at several of the indoor stalls at the Bernabéu. "They were not prepared for the high consumption that we Americans do," explained Jack. The audience was a mix of everything. There were fans from Washington and Miami who flew from their cities for the occasion, Americans living in Madrid who took advantage of the opportunity, Spaniards who wanted to experience it, tourists... "It looks like an American city," said Diego, a young fan.
The stadium camera broadcast on the scoreboard was the second great show of the day. Some mothers raised their baby like The Lion King while the crowd cheered, there were kisses, look-alikes, games through the screen... The classics. "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver played, two iconic songs of American culture that are heard in each and every NFL game, both domestically and internationally. And the Bernabéu was no exception.
In the days leading up, the NFL had reiterated that they wanted the Bernabéu to experience "a mini Super Bowl," and what is in a Super Bowl that captivates everyone?: a halftime show. This time they gave the opportunity to Daddy Yankee and Bizarrap, who played their latest song for a few brief minutes. There was no silence between sports and music because there is no break in the NFL. The show must always go on.
The event was so American that journalists were able to enter the teams' locker rooms, something unthinkable in the normality of the Bernabéu and football competitions. Cameras and microphones entered the Dolphins' private area while the players changed. "Excuse me," apologized the journalist. "Don't worry. You have your job, and I have mine," replied kindly Minkah Fitzpatrick, one of the Dolphins' stars, coming out of the shower in a towel. What is normal in the United States sounds like a joke at the Bernabéu.
In his locker room while changing, Jack Jones explained the key play of the game, his interception to Marcus Mariota that left the Dolphins close to victory, and the celebration he did after it. "Man, doing Cristiano Ronaldo's 'siu' at the Bernabéu has been incredible. I know the celebration from a Spanish friend, and I'm a Ronaldo fan because of video games," he admitted. "I told my teammates that my celebration was better than the interception," he joked.
In the VIP box, Florentino Pérez sat next to Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner. At some point during the four hours, the head of the American league must have repeated to the Madrid president what he had made clear to journalists a few minutes before the game, already on the stadium field: "We want to come back. To Madrid or to Spain. We will return. It is a great market for us," he explained. A few meters away, Zidane, Rüdiger, or Griezmann fulfilled their roles as star guests.
The NFL and its "mini Super Bowl" finally arrived at the Bernabéu, and it is already clear that there will be more.