Historic Kick-Off

Eagles vs. Packers marks the NFL’s first game in Brazil, and a momentous fan experience.

Fly, Eagles Fly, on the road to history! The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers are set to kick off in São Paulo, Brazil, on September 6. And I’ll be there to cheer them on! 🏈🦅💚 Go Birds!!! 

This’ll be the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Brazil — or the whole South American continent, for that matter — and the first time in over 50 years that an NFL game will be played on a Friday night during the opening weekend. The last time this happened was 1970.

And despite the Packers’ overwhelming popularity in Brazil, we’re the home team! The NFL’s decision has puzzled and no doubt disappointed Brazil’s estimated 4.8 million Packers fans  —nearly the population of Wisconsin. Sorry, Cheeseheads. You’re on Eagles turf now. 🤣

But why Brazil? Why go international at all?

Though gridiron football is wildly popular here in the US, it’s not really a thing anywhere else. This means the NFL misses out on global revenue streams that sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball have profited from in recent years. Perhaps the main reason for this is economic: while other sports are easily played in parks, school yards, and anywhere kids can find a ball, football requires players to invest in expensive pads, helmets, and other equipment. By staging games in new arenas, the NFL hopes to spark new excitement and financial investments to help mitigate this barrier.

Historically, too, the NFL has only marketed to domestic audiences, which made sense in the days of network television. With the rise of streaming services, however, viewers were free to discover new teams and sports to follow, all over the world. All that traffic amounts to more exposure and, of course, ad dollars. In May 2022, the NFL created the International Home Marketing Areas program, which connects teams with special partnerships in designated cities in 19 different countries. These new international games are a part of this outreach for wider appeal and commercial opportunities.

It seems to be working. Excitement around the upcoming Eagles-Packers game is soaring, with ticket prices starting at a whopping $1,545 — that’s more than four times the average NFL ticket price this season. For those seeking the full experience, packages that include a three or four-day hotel stay and game-day transportation are available, costing around $3,500. Adding flights to these packages can increase the total to between $5,450 and $5,730, depending on departure from Philadelphia or Wisconsin.

The game’s location, the Corinthians Arena, usually seats 48,000 but can be expanded to 68,000 (as it did for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup). Even so, the Arena’s still quite small compared to most NFL venues. This, combined with the high demand from the Packers’ Brazilian fan base, contributes to the high ticket prices. For a fan like me, September’s match in São Paulo will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And for those staying local, you can catch all the action at Lincoln Field’s simulcast ($) or from the comfort of your couch via NBC10 and Peacock.

🦅🌴Brazil-Bound with the Birds🌴🦅

I’m all set this year to attend the Eagles’ first home game of the 2024–2025 season against the Green Bay Packers. Unlike the usual drive down I-95 to The Linc, this trip involves a much longer journey — I’ll be flying to São Paulo, Brazil! (Luckily, I got a direct flight, which is about 12 hours.)

I’m eager to witness Eagles’ history and explore São Paulo, particularly its food and drink culture. Known as Brazil’s “Capital da Gastronomia” (Capital of Gastronomy), there’s a thriving street food scene. The Mercado Municipal, a historic Portuguese market, is renowned for its legendary mortadella sandwiches, exotic fruits, pastéis (crispy pastries), fresh seafood, artisanal cheeses, and cured meats. On my list: coxinha (chicken croquettes), pastel (fried pastries), kibe (bulgur wheat and minced meat snacks), bolinhos de bacalhau (codfish cakes), and espetinho (grilled meat skewers).

I’ll also be sampling local beverages like the Caipirinha, 🍹 Brazil’s national cocktail made with cachaça (a sugarcane hard liquor), sugar, lime, and ice. There are also many Brazilian-themed craft beers like açai Stouts, cassava Pilsners, and more traditional stouts, IPAs, and pilsners. 🍺🍋🫐

🚫 One destination not on my list — but worth mentioning for its intriguing background — is the infamous Ilha da Queimada Grande. This lush tropic paradise about 20 miles of the São Paulo coast is notorious for having the highest concentration of venomous snakes anywhere in the world! Legend has it that the island’s name, which translates to “Island of the Great Fire,” originates from failed attempts to clear the land for banana plantations. Most people however know it as simply “Snake Island.”  🐍🐍🐍

It’s a beautiful but legendarily deadly place, where poisonous serpents are rumored to have claimed thieir share of lone fishermen and even a lighthouse keeper and his family. Adding to the island’s mystique are tales of lost treasure. According to one myth, the people of Santos supposedly moved the Treasure of the Trinity — a hoard of lost Incan gold — to the island to protect it from the English navigator Thomas Cavendish’s raids in 1591.

However, even if this treasure exists, the dangers of the island and the legal repercussions of looting make it an unwise venture. The Brazilian government strictly prohibits visiting Snake Island to protect people and preserve the unique ecosystem. In addition to all the poisonous snakes, the environment is dangerously rugged and remote with complete lack of emergency medical or rescue assistance.

It’s hard to imagine a less ideal place on earth for humans, which is good news for Snake Island’s slithery citizens, many of whom are critically endangered — and one species who doesn’t live anywhere else on the planet! The Golden Lancehead Viper, a 2 to 3-foot long snake known for its striking golden color and extremely potent venom — one of the most lethal snakes in the world.

Experts believe the snakes became trapped here when the island separated from the mainland during the last Ice Age, after which they developed extra-potent venom needed to take down sea birds, their only prey. Today, it’s estimated that up to 4,000 make their home on this tiny one-mile-long island. 😱

As much as the allure of a forbidden island filled with deadly snakes might appeal to the adventurous spirit, I’ll be sticking to the bustling streets and culinary hotspots of São Paulo. And, of course, cheering the Birds on to a “W.” 🎉👏👏👏🎉

Thoughts? Questions? My friends, I love your feedback! Please reach out in the comments below.