January 23, 2025 • 33 mins
It’s a special episode this week as we are joined by Hugo Manero, president of Dolfan Club España, to chat about the Dolphins hosting the first-ever regular-season game in Madrid as part of the 2025 International Games! We discuss fan reaction to the news, the NFL in Spain, Bernabéu Stadium, and more about Madrid!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up Dolphins. This is Juice and Big Seth. You're
listening to the Dolphin UK podcast and Juice I can't
wait to dive in. Let's go on, Jeep.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Steves take them away.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Over around circuit this year.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Hello, welcome to the Dolphin UK Podcast. This week we're
bringing you a Madrid special part as the Miami Dolphins
announced they will be hosting the first ever International Series
game in Madrid, Spain as part of the twenty twenty
five season. And we have a special guest for you
as we're going to be speaking with one of the
founder members of Dolphin Club Espania. Before we introduce our
(01:11):
special guest, Lee is here as always. How are you doing, sir?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Better been under the weather, but glad to be back
on and talk here office and with some exciting news.
So yeah, definitely something good to look forward to.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Absolutely, So, without further ado, we are delighted to welcome
to the show Hugo Manero, member of Dolphin Club is
Spania and host of the Mondo Dolphins Spanish podcast. Welcome
to the show, Hugo.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Oh, thank you very much, really exciting being here. First
of all, sorry if my English is not as good
as it should be really exciting. Nice to talk with
Simon and and Lee being here. For all the UK
Dolphins and all the Dolphins around world. Are excited about
(02:01):
the Dolphins in Madrid and great for the near future
of the Dolphins in Spain.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah, it's great to have you on the show Who
Go And obviously the reason you're on today is because
of the announcement that the Dolphins are can be playing
that home game in Madrid in Spain in the twenty
twenty five season. As we said at the top of
the show, what was your reaction when you first heard
the announcement. You must have been over the moon.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
It was really exciting.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
It was the worst secret kept in the last year.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
That's fair to Tail, but.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
Not for for all Spanish supporters fans. That's were great news.
The NFL has come to Spain to increase the love
for the football in our country. He's the first step
(03:01):
to the future. And after this last weekend I can
say to all the Spanish supporters that the Dolphins are
going or are coming to Spain to stay here in
Europe or in Spain, and that's the most exciting thing.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
We can keep it in mind.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I know Lee wants to talk to you about the
NFL in Spain in general, but just want to touch
on Dolphin Club is Spania for a moment, because I
understand that obviously you're one of the co founder members
of the club, and I believe it's fairly new. I
just wanted to ask you about the inspiration for forming
the club and how it's going so far.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
I wanted to create a club several years ago because
I've been a fan of the Dolphins since the last
Dan Marinos year, since nineteen ninety nine, and I've been
always a solitary fun I always watched the games alone
(04:12):
in my home, and my family and friends don't understand
anything about the sport and always talking to me and
saying things like what's that, what's that?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Crazy? Sport?
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Was that would be with with strange? They don't understand
anything about And I've been a lot of years watching
games alone.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And five or six years ago I.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
Started to create my social media accounts and I discovered
a lot of Spanish fans in we're growing in my
country about their.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Interest in the sport.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
I connect with other Miami Dolphins and Spanish fans, and
I thought that one day we have to create with
you our club.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And in twenty twenty one when the Dolphins were granted.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
When with the international marketing rights in my country, the
idea was.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Clear in my mind, I have to do it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Yeah, how was it received being the Dolphins that were coming?
Was that more exciting than maybe some of the other
teams that could possibly have been announced.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Here in Spain?
Speaker 5 (05:53):
We thought it was the Dolphins or the Bears, because
there are the chief teams that have the marketing rights
in our country.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
But all the war, all the.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Journalists said that this first year it was going to
be the Dolphins and this year the Bears will come
to to Barcelona. That's the feeling around our country. Within
one year seeing the Real Madrid players going to Miami
(06:30):
beneath us Jude Bellingham in the in the Miami gardens,
and all the war was expecting this, and and for me,
I think it's the it's a great partnership between these
two sports and these two franchisees. For the Dolphins is
(06:53):
the perfect door to enter the spanis right because the
Real Madrid it is the greatest soccer club in Europe,
one of the most successful. He they they've got one
hundred millions of followers in social media, and since Saturday
(07:18):
I have received a lot of calls, a lot of
phone calls, message in my in my telephone from people, Hey, Hugo,
what's that that the Dolphins are going to play in
the Bernabello? Where's that sport? Does the the freaky the
freaky sport?
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You you love? That's the team you support? What's that? Where?
Where are they?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
So in in in one day, a lot of Spanish
fans know something about the Dolphins, and that's a little
way more than several years.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
They they who have.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Done watching playing games in TV or in oother in
other social media, et cetera. So the real Madrid is
a great platform to come to Spain. Is the best
platform possible for the Spanish rise or the Spanish people.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
You mentioned the Dolphins share marketing rights in Spain alongside
the Bears, and I just want to step back a
year or two because there was a watch party held
in Spain alongside the Bears. Did the success of that
watch party give you an idea of how popular the
Dolphins and American football could be in Spain?
Speaker 5 (08:42):
Mm hmm, I I think.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I became.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
I realized how the football could could be important in
my country in the Lazzis because I feel it and
in my in my own CD, the football has ground
a lot in the in in recent years. I remember
when I started to support the Miami Dolphins in in
(09:15):
my city that c did. Where I live, it only
has one one team, one team playing local local football.
Now there are two teams and a lot of young players,
young players playing in flag football. And every time we
(09:38):
we create a watch party locally in Saragoa time Madrid,
there are more and more people coming to the watch party,
asking about the rules of the sport, about the historical
perspective of the game, about players, and in recent years,
(10:03):
every Super Bowl, every draft, we feel that in our
country has increased a lot the interest for American football.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
We mentioned the watch party, and of course you recently
attended another party in Madrid and to coincide with the announcement.
Tell us about that party, what was it like, who
was there, what the occasion was all about? Tell us
about that party, Hugo, because I've seen some pictures you've
posted on social media and it looked like a really
good event.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Right that party was one of the most wonderful experience
of experiences of my life. Two weeks before the official announced,
I was contacted by the Miami Dolphins that they are
going to host a party in Madrid. The official topic
(11:02):
of the party was they are going to announce the
next steps in our country. Obviously, I was expecting they
are going to announce the game big step, the biggest step.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Obviously.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
They told me they wanted to imbibe the Dolphin Glube
Spania and they wanted to imbine twenty thirty people, twenty
thirty followers. Because the the the hotel this isn't very
(11:46):
very large. The capacity of the hotel there isn't very
very very important. So I contacted with my partners with
the Dolphin Globe Spania. We we were there twenty five followers.
And then when we arrived in the Harrock Hotel Madrid,
(12:13):
there were several Dolphins presumade Felippe Formiga.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
There was TD, the mascot of the Dolphins, two.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Cheer leaders, and the Dolphins have invited also the Madrid Brabos,
one team of the European Football League, and they have
embedded also youth players of the oss Ribas, one young
flag football team of Madrid.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
The party was a party, a watch party.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
With music, food, drinks and the The only topic of
the party was the Dolphins want to talk to us.
They are really excited of being in Spain. Thank to
us for not being alone in our country. They they
(13:17):
wanted to thank all of the supporters for our support,
our love and our passion for the Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Did you think Madrid was the obvious place to host
the game or would you posted it somewhere else? It
is interested to know. Obviously, the Banabar had so much
work done. It looks like a fabulous new stadium. Was
that exciting Did it feel like it was for the
NFL to come to town?
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Now?
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Madrid was the natural choice, the obvious choice, and it
was always the first choice. Is the capital is one
of the most important cities in Spain. It has got
the infract structure, the connections with all the world, all
(14:12):
of the European capitals. And the only doubt or initial doubt,
was where it was going to go to be played
the game because in in at first, at the initial
moment of the of the of the process, I think
(14:39):
the NFL or the Miami Dolphins like a lot the
the one Metropolitano of the analytical Madrid, because is is
outside Madrid and outside of the studium, there is a
lot of a lot of space to create their the tailgate,
(15:05):
the fan thone and the San Diegoverna is in the
center of the capital and you have to create the
fan bases and the tailgates in other areas of the city.
And that's one thing I think the the eecutives of
the NFL or the Miami Dolphins have been thinking or
(15:29):
a lot of in this process.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But the city, I don't doubt that since the first
day it.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Was it sounds perfect. I watch a very interesting documentary
for anyone that is out there looking for one. There
is a great documentary of how they have refurbished. I
would say it probably the best way to describe the
stadium there, like the work is on top of what
was there rather than brand new. But it looks fantastic.
(15:59):
But the most important question, Hugo, is will you be
our tour guide while we're there? Will you show us
around Madrid?
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Oh? I hope we are going to create a great tailgate.
We are going to exhibit the all the personal love
and and our Mediterranean character of the Spanish fans to
(16:27):
all the European dolphans that attend the game, and we
don't know where it's going to be. We are going
waiting instructions or a perfect location for the party, but
we wanna, we wanna to host our real special tay
(16:52):
Gate for all the people coming to Spain for the
first time or the second time can come back to
their countries with a great feeling about Spain and the
passion and the character of the people.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Clearly, it's going to be a very very popular event
and world imagine the ticket demand is going to be
extraordinary for that game. But and you're going to get
fans coming from all over Europe, the UK, the US, Germany,
of France, etc. For a first time coming to Madrid.
You're going to be our tour guide. Who go Where
are you going to take me and Lee and our
(17:33):
families on tour? What are the places of interest outside
of the Bernabau that we should be looking to go
and see? Any historical places of interest that you could recommend.
Obviously the Bernabau is going to be the centerpiece of
the weekend, but hopefully we'll have some time to explore
other parts of the city. Where are you're going to
(17:55):
take us and Hugo, where should people go to look
at other elements of Madrid.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Well, Madrid is a I don't live in Madrid, okay,
but Madrid is a great city. It has a lot
of interests, cultural interests, gastronomical interests, and.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It's a very special city. I think you have.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
To go to to the if you if you have
interest in art, you have to go to the museum
Prado Museum, one of the most important museums in Spain.
You have to go to the to to Pala Palatio
Real where the family Spanish family, royal family lives.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You have to busy and Modena's Cathedral.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Span Yeah, and of course you have to eat all
the gastronomical specialities of the city, concretely three of them Calamaresa,
(19:20):
Guidos Ala, Madri Lana. When you come here, don't worry,
I will I will take you to the best places
in Maris to taste these gastronomical specialties.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
It's great there to hear Hugo's excitement over this is
what can you remember the first assignment? When the dolphins
are announced in London in two thousand, why is the year?
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Skates me two thousand and seven wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
It was an amazing feeling knowing the Dolphins were going
to come to London and I know, very much like
they're doing with Spain. They sent some representatives over in
advance the game to do all of the marketing and
the publicity, and Jason Taylor came to Wembley Stadium as well.
I was where the game was held, and I know
some members of Dolphine UK Fang Club Hugo were very
(20:12):
fortunate to go along to Wembley Stadium and meet with
Jason Taylor. And I don't know if you recall seeing
in the news, but they had this one hundred foot
model made of Jason Taylor, this robotic model that they
paraded around London. I believe in it in advance of
the game. That was their way of promoting the game,
seeing a hundred foot Jason Taylor walking around London, which
(20:34):
was amazing.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
I think if if I only think that I'm going
to be here in Madrid with Jason Taylor or Dan
Marino or Sack Thomas or even Resin players, and I'm
going to meet Jalan Phillips or a Tango by Loa,
(21:02):
its something incredible if you told me five years ago
that this moment will come someday, I will tell you
that you're crazy.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
What do you think exactly? The excitement that we're talking
about is the best, isn't it. It's gonna be such
a great period even leading up to the game as well,
like from now all the way through.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
And for me, the most incredible thing is that. And
I think, like Europeans, the most incredible thing is professional
USA team, franchise of one of the most important sports
in the USA come here to Europe and they invite
(21:48):
simple fans, simple club fans, to the events, to the actions,
to the tailgates. Because todaymbers I think it couldn't happen.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
I don't. I don't think.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
The Real Madrid or Football Clube Barcelona, if they go
to the USA, they they invite and connect with us
with American fans this way.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
That's that's the most incredible thing for me.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
If you five years ago tell me that one day
Jason Jenkins or Prison Made are going to contact with me,
that's that's incredible. That's I will tell you you're crazy.
That's impossible. I'm only a fun a Spanish fan living
(22:45):
him in a thirty hundreds of millions kilometers far from Miami.
And and that's the most important thing in last today,
in the watch party, it was a party created only
for the fans and another and other professional teams. But
(23:08):
the Dolphins could have created a party to their real
Mattary players, to to celebrities, to Spanish journalists, to to
m v p s and no, instead of that, they
created a party ah.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
To to us, to.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
The supporters, to the fans. And that's the most important
thing for me, and the most incredible thing. They count
off they come with us and in all the things
they do in in our country, in in Europe, in UK,
in in Dustland, that's incredible for me.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
You mentioned three Shoemaker Hugo, who's the chief marketing officer
of the Mummy Dolphins, to wholy been in posts a
year or two, I believe, and I know she attended
your event with you and gave a speech in Spanish,
which makes absolute sense given that she's now the chief
marketing officer and the Dolphins have global rights in Spain.
(24:19):
What was her reaction to engaging with the fans in
that party, and not only her, but the TD and
the cheerleaders as well, and what was their impressions do
you think they took away of attending that party and
engaging with fans like yourself.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
She speaks perfect Spanish.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
She's incredible kind and.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
She was exciting dancing with us, talking to all the fans,
taking pitures with all the fans.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Really really near all of as all the people in
the party.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
Answering all the questions absolutely like one mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Else like like other. She She couldn't.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
I can't describe the feeling that being in the same
place like pre and talking with him from from you
and you and with me and with all the fans,
(25:40):
with with with the smiling in her face in all
the moments all the party.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
M M.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Incredible, incredible, so kind, so friendly, so m so nice
to be here with her, and very especial, very especial
woman for for leather Ads project.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
It's going to be one amazing weekend, isn't it? Whenever
the game is actually scheduled? Lee's there anything else you
wanted to ask Hugo before we draw the episode to
a close. And I've got one more question that I
wanted to ask him. But have you got anything the.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
No, Simon, I just say I'm really happy for you
and the Spanish fans that you get to have not
only an NFL game, but the Dolphins in town. That's
just it's the greatest feeling. And like I say, me
and Simon have been lucky enough to have it in
our country and be able to just have that whole
day experience, but in England is something else, and I
(26:47):
look forward to you guys experience in Spain. We were
lucky enough. I was lucky enough last year to go
to Frankfurt a year before. Sorry to Frankfurt, you know,
another great experience. But this, yeah, I'm I'm excited for
you and I'm really happy to see you're excitement about
the game. It's just it's great and it's what helps
bring fans together, like things like this where you know,
(27:10):
we met you briefly at a London game before the
whole podcast thing like, and now we're gonna be able
to come and see see the Dolphins in Spain. It's
gonna be great.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
Oh and what makes really special is not only they
are in Spain, they are in Spain a home team.
That's really a difference because I wasn't in front for
but they are the opposite team, not the local team,
(27:45):
but they are now in my country like a home team.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
They are at home and that's agreed.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Agree, And that's a great difference when you are playing
outside your country with the fans, with the tailgate, with
all the things. We have to as a supporters, as
European Dolphins fan, we have to to create a special
(28:17):
moment in the San Diego Bernabo, giving all the all
the stadium and aqua color and supporting all the players
from minute one to.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Last minute, singing.
Speaker 5 (28:37):
Things up at Samo Dolphins in Spanish in English like
you want. But that's a really important moment because they
are the home team and they are going to we
are we want to they feel that they are at home.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Leads me into the last question quite now, nicely, Hugo,
you mentioned the Dolphins of the home team, but who
are their opponents going to be? Are there any preferred
opponents for Spanish fans who the Dolphins would like to
see coming over with them? Are there any rumors on
the ground as to who the team might be? What
have you heard? Who go? And what are you hoping for?
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Here in Spain they are talking a lot about the
Saints and the Buccaneers. I really don't matter. I really
don't matter. I've been listening also the Chargers. I think
(29:40):
this should be really an interesting game and a really
special game because of the narratives we TUA with Justin Herbert.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
This would be amazing.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
And the most crazy thing that I heard the last
days was an American journalist saying that the Dolphins could
open the season here in Madrid against the Bengals.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I don't know they here first, I don't know the source.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
If if he's very stressful or not bad. But that's
all the spectrum of possibilities that I heard in my
country in USA, and in the last weekend, that's the
(30:42):
names I heard.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Well what over the week? It's sure to be a
really great occasion, isn't it? And hopefully Lee and I
will be in Madrid to share that experience with you
and all the other Spanish fans. It's we're looking forward
to immensely, aren't we?
Speaker 4 (30:57):
Absolutely? And it's fun to speculate, is it? Who the
pogram might be?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
You go, It's great to have you on the podcast,
great to hear a lot about the growth of the
NFL in Spain. And like I said earlier, It's going
to be a great weekend if we can all celebrate
the Dolphins coming to Spain together and hopefully they can
pull out a win for us, because they've not had
(31:23):
much luck you go, with winning games in London. They've
won one and lost three. So hopefully that I'm a
better record in Spain.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
I hope so that.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
The placer was mine. I hope my English is I
saw my English. It's okay to understand the things I
want to do expressed. And I hope that in Madrid
(31:55):
the Dolphins would win the game and meet with Lee,
with Simon and with the German Dolphins, with a lot
of American fans that have wrote me in my social
media in Facebook, Twitter, in Instagram, and I think they
(32:21):
are going and are really excited about this game and
they are going to come to Spain to support our
Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Marvelous. Thanks very much again, Hugo. We'll speak to you
again nearer the time. I'm sure in the run up
to the game, we'll definitely have you on the podcast again.
If you're willing to come on.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Of course, of course you invite me, I'll be here excellent.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
In the meantime.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
From us for this episode, isn't itly anything you want
to raise Lee before we draw the episode to a close.
I know we've got our end of season review episode
coming up next week for everybody, Lee, anything you want
to as just.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
That, thank you so much for leading because I keep
coughing in the background and hopefully it's not gonna cause
us too many problems.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
In the meantime, Everybody, don't forget to check out all
the other Dolphins content on social media, including Travis Wingfield's
drive Time pod that continues throughout the off season, as
well as the fish Tank, as well as all the
other content that is out on YouTube. That's it from us,
and I have one final thing to say, and that
is vamos Dolphins.
What's up Dolphins. This is Juice and Big Seth. You're
listening to the Dolphin UK podcast and Juice I can't
wait to dive in. Let's go on, Jeep.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Steves take them away.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Over around circuit this year.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Hello, welcome to the Dolphin UK Podcast. This week we're
bringing you a Madrid special part as the Miami Dolphins
announced they will be hosting the first ever International Series
game in Madrid, Spain as part of the twenty twenty
five season. And we have a special guest for you
as we're going to be speaking with one of the
founder members of Dolphin Club Espania. Before we introduce our
(01:11):
special guest, Lee is here as always. How are you doing, sir?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Better been under the weather, but glad to be back
on and talk here office and with some exciting news.
So yeah, definitely something good to look forward to.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Absolutely, So, without further ado, we are delighted to welcome
to the show Hugo Manero, member of Dolphin Club is
Spania and host of the Mondo Dolphins Spanish podcast. Welcome
to the show, Hugo.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Oh, thank you very much, really exciting being here. First
of all, sorry if my English is not as good
as it should be really exciting. Nice to talk with
Simon and and Lee being here. For all the UK
Dolphins and all the Dolphins around world. Are excited about
(02:01):
the Dolphins in Madrid and great for the near future
of the Dolphins in Spain.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah, it's great to have you on the show Who
Go And obviously the reason you're on today is because
of the announcement that the Dolphins are can be playing
that home game in Madrid in Spain in the twenty
twenty five season. As we said at the top of
the show, what was your reaction when you first heard
the announcement. You must have been over the moon.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
It was really exciting.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
It was the worst secret kept in the last year.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
That's fair to Tail, but.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
Not for for all Spanish supporters fans. That's were great news.
The NFL has come to Spain to increase the love
for the football in our country. He's the first step
(03:01):
to the future. And after this last weekend I can
say to all the Spanish supporters that the Dolphins are
going or are coming to Spain to stay here in
Europe or in Spain, and that's the most exciting thing.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
We can keep it in mind.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I know Lee wants to talk to you about the
NFL in Spain in general, but just want to touch
on Dolphin Club is Spania for a moment, because I
understand that obviously you're one of the co founder members
of the club, and I believe it's fairly new. I
just wanted to ask you about the inspiration for forming
the club and how it's going so far.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
I wanted to create a club several years ago because
I've been a fan of the Dolphins since the last
Dan Marinos year, since nineteen ninety nine, and I've been
always a solitary fun I always watched the games alone
(04:12):
in my home, and my family and friends don't understand
anything about the sport and always talking to me and
saying things like what's that, what's that?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Crazy? Sport?
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Was that would be with with strange? They don't understand
anything about And I've been a lot of years watching
games alone.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And five or six years ago I.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
Started to create my social media accounts and I discovered
a lot of Spanish fans in we're growing in my
country about their.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Interest in the sport.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
I connect with other Miami Dolphins and Spanish fans, and
I thought that one day we have to create with
you our club.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And in twenty twenty one when the Dolphins were granted.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
When with the international marketing rights in my country, the
idea was.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Clear in my mind, I have to do it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Yeah, how was it received being the Dolphins that were coming?
Was that more exciting than maybe some of the other
teams that could possibly have been announced.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Here in Spain?
Speaker 5 (05:53):
We thought it was the Dolphins or the Bears, because
there are the chief teams that have the marketing rights
in our country.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
But all the war, all the.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Journalists said that this first year it was going to
be the Dolphins and this year the Bears will come
to to Barcelona. That's the feeling around our country. Within
one year seeing the Real Madrid players going to Miami
(06:30):
beneath us Jude Bellingham in the in the Miami gardens,
and all the war was expecting this, and and for me,
I think it's the it's a great partnership between these
two sports and these two franchisees. For the Dolphins is
(06:53):
the perfect door to enter the spanis right because the
Real Madrid it is the greatest soccer club in Europe,
one of the most successful. He they they've got one
hundred millions of followers in social media, and since Saturday
(07:18):
I have received a lot of calls, a lot of
phone calls, message in my in my telephone from people, Hey, Hugo,
what's that that the Dolphins are going to play in
the Bernabello? Where's that sport? Does the the freaky the
freaky sport?
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You you love? That's the team you support? What's that? Where?
Where are they?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
So in in in one day, a lot of Spanish
fans know something about the Dolphins, and that's a little
way more than several years.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
They they who have.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Done watching playing games in TV or in oother in
other social media, et cetera. So the real Madrid is
a great platform to come to Spain. Is the best
platform possible for the Spanish rise or the Spanish people.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
You mentioned the Dolphins share marketing rights in Spain alongside
the Bears, and I just want to step back a
year or two because there was a watch party held
in Spain alongside the Bears. Did the success of that
watch party give you an idea of how popular the
Dolphins and American football could be in Spain?
Speaker 5 (08:42):
Mm hmm, I I think.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I became.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
I realized how the football could could be important in
my country in the Lazzis because I feel it and
in my in my own CD, the football has ground
a lot in the in in recent years. I remember
when I started to support the Miami Dolphins in in
(09:15):
my city that c did. Where I live, it only
has one one team, one team playing local local football.
Now there are two teams and a lot of young players,
young players playing in flag football. And every time we
(09:38):
we create a watch party locally in Saragoa time Madrid,
there are more and more people coming to the watch party,
asking about the rules of the sport, about the historical
perspective of the game, about players, and in recent years,
(10:03):
every Super Bowl, every draft, we feel that in our
country has increased a lot the interest for American football.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
We mentioned the watch party, and of course you recently
attended another party in Madrid and to coincide with the announcement.
Tell us about that party, what was it like, who
was there, what the occasion was all about? Tell us
about that party, Hugo, because I've seen some pictures you've
posted on social media and it looked like a really
good event.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Right that party was one of the most wonderful experience
of experiences of my life. Two weeks before the official announced,
I was contacted by the Miami Dolphins that they are
going to host a party in Madrid. The official topic
(11:02):
of the party was they are going to announce the
next steps in our country. Obviously, I was expecting they
are going to announce the game big step, the biggest step.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Obviously.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
They told me they wanted to imbibe the Dolphin Glube
Spania and they wanted to imbine twenty thirty people, twenty
thirty followers. Because the the the hotel this isn't very
(11:46):
very large. The capacity of the hotel there isn't very
very very important. So I contacted with my partners with
the Dolphin Globe Spania. We we were there twenty five followers.
And then when we arrived in the Harrock Hotel Madrid,
(12:13):
there were several Dolphins presumade Felippe Formiga.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
There was TD, the mascot of the Dolphins, two.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Cheer leaders, and the Dolphins have invited also the Madrid Brabos,
one team of the European Football League, and they have
embedded also youth players of the oss Ribas, one young
flag football team of Madrid.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
The party was a party, a watch party.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
With music, food, drinks and the The only topic of
the party was the Dolphins want to talk to us.
They are really excited of being in Spain. Thank to
us for not being alone in our country. They they
(13:17):
wanted to thank all of the supporters for our support,
our love and our passion for the Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Did you think Madrid was the obvious place to host
the game or would you posted it somewhere else? It
is interested to know. Obviously, the Banabar had so much
work done. It looks like a fabulous new stadium. Was
that exciting Did it feel like it was for the
NFL to come to town?
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Now?
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Madrid was the natural choice, the obvious choice, and it
was always the first choice. Is the capital is one
of the most important cities in Spain. It has got
the infract structure, the connections with all the world, all
(14:12):
of the European capitals. And the only doubt or initial doubt,
was where it was going to go to be played
the game because in in at first, at the initial
moment of the of the of the process, I think
(14:39):
the NFL or the Miami Dolphins like a lot the
the one Metropolitano of the analytical Madrid, because is is
outside Madrid and outside of the studium, there is a
lot of a lot of space to create their the tailgate,
(15:05):
the fan thone and the San Diegoverna is in the
center of the capital and you have to create the
fan bases and the tailgates in other areas of the city.
And that's one thing I think the the eecutives of
the NFL or the Miami Dolphins have been thinking or
(15:29):
a lot of in this process.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But the city, I don't doubt that since the first
day it.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Was it sounds perfect. I watch a very interesting documentary
for anyone that is out there looking for one. There
is a great documentary of how they have refurbished. I
would say it probably the best way to describe the
stadium there, like the work is on top of what
was there rather than brand new. But it looks fantastic.
(15:59):
But the most important question, Hugo, is will you be
our tour guide while we're there? Will you show us
around Madrid?
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Oh? I hope we are going to create a great tailgate.
We are going to exhibit the all the personal love
and and our Mediterranean character of the Spanish fans to
(16:27):
all the European dolphans that attend the game, and we
don't know where it's going to be. We are going
waiting instructions or a perfect location for the party, but
we wanna, we wanna to host our real special tay
(16:52):
Gate for all the people coming to Spain for the
first time or the second time can come back to
their countries with a great feeling about Spain and the
passion and the character of the people.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Clearly, it's going to be a very very popular event
and world imagine the ticket demand is going to be
extraordinary for that game. But and you're going to get
fans coming from all over Europe, the UK, the US, Germany,
of France, etc. For a first time coming to Madrid.
You're going to be our tour guide. Who go Where
are you going to take me and Lee and our
(17:33):
families on tour? What are the places of interest outside
of the Bernabau that we should be looking to go
and see? Any historical places of interest that you could recommend.
Obviously the Bernabau is going to be the centerpiece of
the weekend, but hopefully we'll have some time to explore
other parts of the city. Where are you're going to
(17:55):
take us and Hugo, where should people go to look
at other elements of Madrid.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Well, Madrid is a I don't live in Madrid, okay,
but Madrid is a great city. It has a lot
of interests, cultural interests, gastronomical interests, and.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It's a very special city. I think you have.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
To go to to the if you if you have
interest in art, you have to go to the museum
Prado Museum, one of the most important museums in Spain.
You have to go to the to to Pala Palatio
Real where the family Spanish family, royal family lives.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You have to busy and Modena's Cathedral.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Span Yeah, and of course you have to eat all
the gastronomical specialities of the city, concretely three of them Calamaresa,
(19:20):
Guidos Ala, Madri Lana. When you come here, don't worry,
I will I will take you to the best places
in Maris to taste these gastronomical specialties.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
It's great there to hear Hugo's excitement over this is
what can you remember the first assignment? When the dolphins
are announced in London in two thousand, why is the year?
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Skates me two thousand and seven wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
It was an amazing feeling knowing the Dolphins were going
to come to London and I know, very much like
they're doing with Spain. They sent some representatives over in
advance the game to do all of the marketing and
the publicity, and Jason Taylor came to Wembley Stadium as well.
I was where the game was held, and I know
some members of Dolphine UK Fang Club Hugo were very
(20:12):
fortunate to go along to Wembley Stadium and meet with
Jason Taylor. And I don't know if you recall seeing
in the news, but they had this one hundred foot
model made of Jason Taylor, this robotic model that they
paraded around London. I believe in it in advance of
the game. That was their way of promoting the game,
seeing a hundred foot Jason Taylor walking around London, which
(20:34):
was amazing.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
I think if if I only think that I'm going
to be here in Madrid with Jason Taylor or Dan
Marino or Sack Thomas or even Resin players, and I'm
going to meet Jalan Phillips or a Tango by Loa,
(21:02):
its something incredible if you told me five years ago
that this moment will come someday, I will tell you
that you're crazy.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
What do you think exactly? The excitement that we're talking
about is the best, isn't it. It's gonna be such
a great period even leading up to the game as well,
like from now all the way through.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
And for me, the most incredible thing is that. And
I think, like Europeans, the most incredible thing is professional
USA team, franchise of one of the most important sports
in the USA come here to Europe and they invite
(21:48):
simple fans, simple club fans, to the events, to the actions,
to the tailgates. Because todaymbers I think it couldn't happen.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
I don't. I don't think.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
The Real Madrid or Football Clube Barcelona, if they go
to the USA, they they invite and connect with us
with American fans this way.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
That's that's the most incredible thing for me.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
If you five years ago tell me that one day
Jason Jenkins or Prison Made are going to contact with me,
that's that's incredible. That's I will tell you you're crazy.
That's impossible. I'm only a fun a Spanish fan living
(22:45):
him in a thirty hundreds of millions kilometers far from Miami.
And and that's the most important thing in last today,
in the watch party, it was a party created only
for the fans and another and other professional teams. But
(23:08):
the Dolphins could have created a party to their real
Mattary players, to to celebrities, to Spanish journalists, to to
m v p s and no, instead of that, they
created a party ah.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
To to us, to.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
The supporters, to the fans. And that's the most important
thing for me, and the most incredible thing. They count
off they come with us and in all the things
they do in in our country, in in Europe, in UK,
in in Dustland, that's incredible for me.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
You mentioned three Shoemaker Hugo, who's the chief marketing officer
of the Mummy Dolphins, to wholy been in posts a
year or two, I believe, and I know she attended
your event with you and gave a speech in Spanish,
which makes absolute sense given that she's now the chief
marketing officer and the Dolphins have global rights in Spain.
(24:19):
What was her reaction to engaging with the fans in
that party, and not only her, but the TD and
the cheerleaders as well, and what was their impressions do
you think they took away of attending that party and
engaging with fans like yourself.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
She speaks perfect Spanish.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
She's incredible kind and.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
She was exciting dancing with us, talking to all the fans,
taking pitures with all the fans.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Really really near all of as all the people in
the party.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
Answering all the questions absolutely like one mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Else like like other. She She couldn't.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
I can't describe the feeling that being in the same
place like pre and talking with him from from you
and you and with me and with all the fans,
(25:40):
with with with the smiling in her face in all
the moments all the party.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
M M.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Incredible, incredible, so kind, so friendly, so m so nice
to be here with her, and very especial, very especial
woman for for leather Ads project.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
It's going to be one amazing weekend, isn't it? Whenever
the game is actually scheduled? Lee's there anything else you
wanted to ask Hugo before we draw the episode to
a close. And I've got one more question that I
wanted to ask him. But have you got anything the.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
No, Simon, I just say I'm really happy for you
and the Spanish fans that you get to have not
only an NFL game, but the Dolphins in town. That's
just it's the greatest feeling. And like I say, me
and Simon have been lucky enough to have it in
our country and be able to just have that whole
day experience, but in England is something else, and I
(26:47):
look forward to you guys experience in Spain. We were
lucky enough. I was lucky enough last year to go
to Frankfurt a year before. Sorry to Frankfurt, you know,
another great experience. But this, yeah, I'm I'm excited for
you and I'm really happy to see you're excitement about
the game. It's just it's great and it's what helps
bring fans together, like things like this where you know,
(27:10):
we met you briefly at a London game before the
whole podcast thing like, and now we're gonna be able
to come and see see the Dolphins in Spain. It's
gonna be great.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
Oh and what makes really special is not only they
are in Spain, they are in Spain a home team.
That's really a difference because I wasn't in front for
but they are the opposite team, not the local team,
(27:45):
but they are now in my country like a home team.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
They are at home and that's agreed.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Agree, And that's a great difference when you are playing
outside your country with the fans, with the tailgate, with
all the things. We have to as a supporters, as
European Dolphins fan, we have to to create a special
(28:17):
moment in the San Diego Bernabo, giving all the all
the stadium and aqua color and supporting all the players
from minute one to.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Last minute, singing.
Speaker 5 (28:37):
Things up at Samo Dolphins in Spanish in English like
you want. But that's a really important moment because they
are the home team and they are going to we
are we want to they feel that they are at home.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Leads me into the last question quite now, nicely, Hugo,
you mentioned the Dolphins of the home team, but who
are their opponents going to be? Are there any preferred
opponents for Spanish fans who the Dolphins would like to
see coming over with them? Are there any rumors on
the ground as to who the team might be? What
have you heard? Who go? And what are you hoping for?
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Here in Spain they are talking a lot about the
Saints and the Buccaneers. I really don't matter. I really
don't matter. I've been listening also the Chargers. I think
(29:40):
this should be really an interesting game and a really
special game because of the narratives we TUA with Justin Herbert.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
This would be amazing.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
And the most crazy thing that I heard the last
days was an American journalist saying that the Dolphins could
open the season here in Madrid against the Bengals.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I don't know they here first, I don't know the source.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
If if he's very stressful or not bad. But that's
all the spectrum of possibilities that I heard in my
country in USA, and in the last weekend, that's the
(30:42):
names I heard.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Well what over the week? It's sure to be a
really great occasion, isn't it? And hopefully Lee and I
will be in Madrid to share that experience with you
and all the other Spanish fans. It's we're looking forward
to immensely, aren't we?
Speaker 4 (30:57):
Absolutely? And it's fun to speculate, is it? Who the
pogram might be?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
You go, It's great to have you on the podcast,
great to hear a lot about the growth of the
NFL in Spain. And like I said earlier, It's going
to be a great weekend if we can all celebrate
the Dolphins coming to Spain together and hopefully they can
pull out a win for us, because they've not had
(31:23):
much luck you go, with winning games in London. They've
won one and lost three. So hopefully that I'm a
better record in Spain.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
I hope so that.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
The placer was mine. I hope my English is I
saw my English. It's okay to understand the things I
want to do expressed. And I hope that in Madrid
(31:55):
the Dolphins would win the game and meet with Lee,
with Simon and with the German Dolphins, with a lot
of American fans that have wrote me in my social
media in Facebook, Twitter, in Instagram, and I think they
(32:21):
are going and are really excited about this game and
they are going to come to Spain to support our
Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Marvelous. Thanks very much again, Hugo. We'll speak to you
again nearer the time. I'm sure in the run up
to the game, we'll definitely have you on the podcast again.
If you're willing to come on.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Of course, of course you invite me, I'll be here excellent.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
In the meantime.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
From us for this episode, isn't itly anything you want
to raise Lee before we draw the episode to a close.
I know we've got our end of season review episode
coming up next week for everybody, Lee, anything you want
to as just.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
That, thank you so much for leading because I keep
coughing in the background and hopefully it's not gonna cause
us too many problems.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
In the meantime, Everybody, don't forget to check out all
the other Dolphins content on social media, including Travis Wingfield's
drive Time pod that continues throughout the off season, as
well as the fish Tank, as well as all the
other content that is out on YouTube. That's it from us,
and I have one final thing to say, and that
is vamos Dolphins.
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