Home Destinations USA How much do NFL fans spend to travel to international games?

How much do NFL fans spend to travel to international games?

November 8, 2026

Following an NFL team can take fans far beyond their hometowns. For some, that means a short trip across Europe. For others, it means crossing the Atlantic and turning a regular-season game into a full vacation.

As the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons prepare to meet in Madrid, supporters have traveled from across the United States and Europe to be part of the NFL’s latest international event. But the cost of following the league abroad can look pretty different depending on where fans are coming from and how they plan their trip.

For Atlanta Falcons season-ticket holders Tammy and Alvin, the Madrid game became the centerpiece of a week-long vacation. The couple, who have supported the team for approximately 20 years, arrived in Spain on Tuesday and planned to stay until Monday. Their estimated bill? Around $11,000 combined.

How much do NFL fans spend to travel to international games? — Fans traveled all the way from Atlanta to Madrid, Spain to see their team play at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That figure covered their trip as a whole, including flights, accommodation, and game tickets, according to their estimate. They also made time to explore Madrid, including a tour of the Santiago Bernabéu, which left them impressed by the stadium. For the couple, the expense was part of a larger travel experience, not simply the price of attending a football game.

“Even if you’re not supporting the team you like, you can go support another team. It’s an awesome thing,” Tammy said, explaining why she enjoys the NFL’s international schedule.

The opportunity to visit another country and experience a game in a different setting is part of the appeal. International matchups give American supporters a reason to travel somewhere they might not otherwise visit, while also allowing fans of other teams to join the atmosphere.

European fans can follow the NFL for less

The journey looks different for supporters already living in Europe. Two German NFL fans in Madrid, one supporting the Bengals and the other the Steelers, have followed the sport together for around a decade. David and Lukas’ travels have taken them to games in Germany, London, Dublin, and the United States.

For one of them, the estimated cost of the Madrid trip was around €1,000. His rough breakdown included approximately €200 for a flight, €250 for four nights of accommodation, and €150 for a game ticket. The rest of the estimate accounted for other expenses during the trip.

That is quite the different budget from the Atlanta couple’s vacation, although the two figures of course do not represent identical travel plans. The German fan was estimating the cost for one person on a shorter European trip, while the Atlanta couple’s figure covered two people traveling from the United States for nearly a week.

Still, the comparison illustrates how the NFL’s growing international schedule has created opportunities for European supporters to follow teams across borders without necessarily making an expensive transatlantic journey. For fans who have spent years watching American football from abroad, games in Europe make it easier to experience the sport in person. The German supporters’ trips to multiple countries show how international fixtures can become part of a wider travel tradition.