Dean Spanos, owner of the Los Angeles Chargers, is planning to introduce the NFL to Greece’s market, according to the Chief of Staff and Counselor of the LA Chargers, Fred Maas.
Speaking at press conference in Athens Maas said that with the ultimate goal of bringing the sport’s world championship to Greece. The initiative begins with a series of youth camps and grassroots programs, set to launch immediately, aiming to cultivate a new generation of fans and players in the country.
If American football manages to win over the Greek public, then the “Spanos bet” may prove to be more than just another international expansion: a new chapter in the sports connection between Greece and the USA. “Greece is a country with a deep connection to sports since ancient times. What better way than to bring the NFL here?” said Maas.
The first major activity in Athens took place on Saturday, April 26, when the team initiated the draft process with images from Greece and the Acropolis, a television event for the USA that attracted the attention of more than 12 million viewers.
The NFT Draft in recent years has been more popular than even the NBA, Maas pointed out. This is the start of a long-term program to introduce Greeks to American football, which will include events throughout the year, marketing and promotion activities, as well as monitoring interest in the sport in the country.
The plans include organizing youth camps, which will begin in September, giving children the opportunity to get to know the sport through play and fun, while watch parties will also be organized.
In Greece, approximately 4,000 NFL fans already watch games, while at least 2 million viewers watch the Super Bowl grand finale, which is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, on their TVs.
The Spanos family, known for their contribution to Greece, especially in times of crisis and natural disasters, sees the project as a long-term bet.“It doesn’t matter how much we invest – we already have five people in Greece organizing it. It will take time, but we are fully committed to our goal. It may take 5-10 years until we see an NFL game in Greece, but we will make it happen,” Maas said.
Spanos, raised in Stockton, California, is the son of Alex Spanos and Faye Papafaklis, both of Greek ancestry.
He had served as President of the Chargers since early in 1994, the same year the team culminated its most memorable season with an appearance in Super Bowl XXIX.
Dean and father, Alex Spanos, also secured Super Bowl XXXII (1998) and Super Bowl XXXVII (2003) for their community with each event bringing an estimated windfall of more than $300 million to the local economy.
The Spanos family has a multi-generation commitment to community involvement and is recognized as one of the NFL’s most philanthropic families and one of Southern California’s most active and caring contributors to local causes.
Their financial and emotional support for youth, sports, education, and our brave men and women in uniform has been a hallmark of their team ownership and legacy.
