Why the Panthers are opening door to German market

But the game is growing as a whole, and Fichter noted that other than Buccaneers and former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stacking up trophies at a Bayern Munich-like pace (he has seven Super Bowl rings, approaching Bayern’s nine straight league titles), the parity of the NFL increases interest.

“The NFL, taking away the Tom Brady factor, is extremely balanced,” Fichter said. “In the Bundesliga, it isn’t at all. Bayern Munich has nine times in a row as champions, so it’s pretty boring from that standpoint.

“The fact the NFL is so balanced, and anyone can win on any given Sunday is another reason it’s so popular.”

And while the success of the Panthers in 2015 helped plant some seeds, they’ve fostered that growth with some social media outreach, as well as articles on the team website translated into German.

For the truly committed, the games that air in prime time in the Eastern United States are happening in the middle of the night in Germany, but there are still plenty of fans tuning in, even if it makes for a long Friday, Monday, or Tuesday morning.

Kuhn said there’s even a hashtag (#footballhangover) on German social media, signaling the fact someone’s been up into the wee hours watching NFL games.

But having been exposed to an entirely new culture when he landed in Raleigh, Kuhn thinks fans in Germany will latch onto players and teams — but also the customs of the locals as well. He said as he began to explore the Carolinas, he found himself reminded of home. Whether that was hiking in the Appalachian mountains (he even pronounces it correctly, with the “LATCH” sound in the middle rather than a hard long vowel sound) or learning about pig pickings, Kuhn has fond memories of the area.

“For many people, this will be their first American experience on a game day, especially with some of the food, as well as on the field and all the unique things about each team,” he said. “A Panthers tailgate is different than a New York Giants tailgate or a Patriots tailgate. Fans identify not only with the team, but also the culture, and the food. And culturally, certain areas of Germany will gravitate to certain teams.”

Kuhn laughed and pointed out that while places such as Philadelphia “might not always be as fan-friendly,” he always enjoyed a warmer welcome here.

“There is a friendliness about the crowd in the Carolinas,” Kuhn said. “The idea of Southern hospitality, and Southern charm is real and certainly exists.”

And the Panthers are hoping to extend that feeling beyond their own borders, and bring even more fans into the family.