Athletic's first major NFL party at San Mames is a huge success

The first collaboration between Athletic Club and the NFL brought together 450 fans at San Mames for a watch party featuring two American football matches on Thanksgiving Day.

The event featured raffles, giveaways, live interviews and an enthusiastic audience devoted to the cause. With the venue at full capacity, many people were unable to get in, a level of demand that Athletic Club will take into account for the future.

Athletic Club's vice-president, Jon Ruigómez, and the NFL's general manager in Spain, Rafa de los Santos, welcomed attendees, whilst praising the collaborative efforts between both organisations.

The NFL delegation also included Gerardo Chapa, General Manager of the NFL in Spanish, and Luis Cardoso, Miami Dolphins' Country Manager. Both of whom did not want to miss out on a very special evening at San Mames.

On behalf of Athletic, first-team defender Aitor Paredes, a self-confessed NLF super fan, shared the evening with the rest of the supporters, and José Ángel Iribar, a club legend, was also present.

Javier Gómez and Julen Axpe co-presented the event, winning over the audience with their warmth and energy during the breaks. Amidst the party atmosphere, we raffled off Athletic Club gifts, along with merchandise from the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins.

The food selection added flavour to the party with a mix of typical Basque pintxos and American twists, including roast turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce, mini pulled pork burgers with cheddar cheese, and mini hot dogs with crispy potato toppings.