Detroit Lions fans turn Munich into Honolulu Blue takeover

Some Detroit Lions fans aren't content to watch their team on television Sunday morning. Instead, they flew to Munich, Germany, where they hope to witness a win against the New England Patriots and, maybe, enjoy a good German beer and a pretzel.Carolyn Gammicchia, 67, of Shelby Township, who was at the Lions Fan Pub at Hofbräuhaus, which is now a football-themed destination for fans, said she has met people from all over."It was full of Lions fans," she said Wednesday from Germany. "We had lunch and beer which was lovely. It was great to talk to people from all over. There are so many people not just from Detroit or Michigan, but as far as Argentina and Japan. It was amazing."The Lions (6-2) play the defending AFC champion Patriots (5-4) on Sunday in Munich. It is the Lions' first international game since 2015, when they lost to Kansas City in London. The game starts at 9:30 a.m. ET (3:30 p.m. in Munich).As part of the weekend, the Detroit Lions Fan Fest in Munich features a full lineup of activities celebrating the team's first international game in a decade. More than 22,000 fans registered to attend the two-day fan fest in central Munich, according to the Lions in a report from the Sports Business Journal.Activities throughout the weekend include giveaways, beer and food trucks, appearances from Lions players and cheerleaders and concerts headed by Detroit's own Kevin Saunderson (Friday, Nov. 13) and Big Sean (Saturday, Nov. 14), among other things.Gammicchia, who has been to more than a dozen games said the Lions have never lost a game with her in attendance. She hopes to carry that momentum into Sunday.READ MORE: Dan Campbell loving Germany, will be 'sick to our stomachs' if Lions loseShe will be joined by thousands rooting for the Lions this weekend in Munich and enjoying the events."We already have our ticket to see Big Sean (at the fan fest)," Katie Bromley, 33, of Shelby Township, said. "We are definitely going to see that."Bromley, who became a Lions fan four years ago, spoke before she landed in Europe on Friday. She planned to attend a local pop-up offering exclusive merchandise to fans in attendance, then head to the game Sunday with her husband.Also among the 22,000 fans is Heidi Ulm, 52, of Kempten, a city in southeastern Germany. Ulm, who grew up in Berkley, Michigan, and moved to Europe in 2001 after meeting her now-husband, said she has fond memories of watching the team at the Pontiac Silverdome.After starting a life in Munich, she, her husband and twin sons are excited to watch the Lions in action."My 18-year-old boys and I are so excited to see the Lions play," Ulm said. "I introduced my boys to American football at an early age. We love to watch both college and NFL games whenever we can get them for free on TV."The 2026 Munich Game is part of the NFL's longtime push to reach fans globally."That's the cool thing about being here," Gammicchia said. "Everybody has their story. We were on the rail yesterday and this young man, who didn't speak English, showed us a picture that he would be working the game on Sunday. It was the coolest thing. He was so excited about the Lions playing."Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions fans turn Munich into Honolulu Blue takeover