On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced initial plans for the club's activations in Frankfurt for the 2023 NFL Germany Game vs. the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, November 5. Playing the franchise's first regular season game in Germany, as well as the NFL's first game in Frankfurt, the team will offer all fans a snapshot into the unique experiences of being a Chiefs fan during the multi-day celebration leading up to – and during – the game.
"With just one month to go before we play the Dolphins in Frankfurt, the excitement inside our building and throughout the fanbase couldn't be higher," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. "We believe the fans of Chiefs Kingdom are the best in the world. Their commitment to our team is relentless, and their sense of community is unmatched. We have the opportunity to share these values with the people of Frankfurt, throughout the DACH region and on the international stage next month. We look forward to welcoming all fans to experience the history and traditions of the club while sharing in the excitement, passion and joy that exists within Chiefs Kingdom."
To anchor the Chiefs appearance in Frankfurt, the club is docking a custom-wrapped, Chiefs-themed boat on the banks of the Main River in central Frankfurt, just 250 meters from the famous Eiserner Steg (Iron Footbridge). Dubbed the "ChampionShip," in honor of the club's three Super Bowl titles, the boat will serve as the central hub of activity and entertainment throughout the club's stay in Germany.
Open to the public Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4, the boat will also host private VIP events and a Season Ticket Member rally throughout the weekend, concluding with a Chiefs vs. Dolphins watch party on gameday. Fans can purchase their tickets to tour the ChampionShip during open-to-public hours and for the watch party by visiting www.chiefs.com/GermanyGame/ beginning at 7 a.m. CST on Tuesday, October 17.
The fan journey inside the ChampionShip will include multiple curated experiences designed to give all fans – no matter where they're from – the feeling of being a part of the Chiefs:
- Their Draft Moment: Hold up a Chiefs jersey for their photo.
- The Catch: Have their photo taken hauling in a jump-ball pass.
- Locker Room Ready: Check out replica lockers designed like those found at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and put on shoulder pads and helmets like they're getting ready for the game.
- Postgame Press Conference: Step up to the podium in front of a branded backdrop, just like they're taking questions from the media.
- Celebrate with the Lombardi: Just like the Chiefs did following the 2022 season, fans can get their photo taken with the club's Super Bowl LVII Lombardi Trophy, which is making the trip from Kansas City to Frankfurt for the game.
- The Skyline: Conclude the experience with a photo opportunity from the boat's rooftop featuring the Frankfurt skyline.
The Chiefs are also bringing artifacts and memorabilia to Frankfurt, setting up a mini–Chiefs Hall of Honor display inside the ChampionShip for guests to learn about the compelling stories, rich history and global reach of Chiefs Kingdom. Exhibits will include the history of the Super Bowl and the team's three Super Bowl titles, complete with two of the club's championship rings and the club's Super Bowl LVII Lombardi Trophy on display; Chiefs international game highlights; and a size comparison showing off the stature of professional American football players.
There will also be several sponsor activations featuring the club's German partners taking place on the boat throughout the days it is open to the public, providing additional engagement opportunities and fun for fans. The Chiefs Kingdom experience doesn't take place only on the boat as the club will have free activations on the dock near Eiserner Steg, including multiple merchandise shops, food trucks and more. Through a partnership with Aramark Sports and Entertainment, the merchandise shops will be stocked with traditional Chiefs gear, as well as specially designed, limited-edition Germany-inspired team merchandise that will be available for purchase in-person only.
Chiefs Hall of Fame RB Christian Okoye, and 2023 Chiefs Hall of Fame inductee WR Dante Hall are joining the Chiefs in Frankfurt to participate in fan-facing activations and share more about the history of the Chiefs and American football. Okoye was a member of the 1990 Chiefs roster that played the Los Angeles Rams in the American Bowl in Berlin on August 11, 1990. Hall played for NFL Europe's Scottish Claymores in the spring of 2001, leading the league with 26 kickoff returns for 635 yards, while adding 15 punt returns for 177 yards and finishing second in the league in combined net yards with 1,286.
During the trip, Chiefs Cheerleaders, KC Wolf and Chiefs Legends will make a community visit to RTL Kinderhaus (Children's House) and will work with the USO Kaiserslautern to visit military members and their families. Additional details around those visits, as well as details around NFL Frankfurt City Center activations will be released at a later date.
The Chiefs were originally awarded International Home Marketing Area (IHMA) rights for Germany in December 2021 as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program. In April 2023, the NFL awarded expanded International Home Marketing Area rights for Austria and Switzerland to the Chiefs.
The Chiefs and the Hunt family have been involved in numerous international initiatives over the past three decades, investing in growing the game and its fanbase globally and helping showcase the best of the sport on the international stage. In addition to regular season international contests in London (2015) and Mexico City (2019), the club has participated in four American Bowl preseason games – Berlin, West Germany (1990), Tokyo, Japan (1994 and 1998) and Monterrey, Mexico (1996).
Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt has long been a leader on the league's international efforts. Hunt sits on the NFL's International Committee and served as the committee's chairman from 2011-18. During his time as Chairman, Hunt was a strong advocate for expanding the league's international efforts and the NFL's footprint overseas. The league has now hosted 39 regular season games across the United Kingdom, Mexico and Germany, with every NFL team playing at least once internationally since 2011.
