Make a play at an American football match in Dusseldorf

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Sports fans may want to watch an unusual sporting event during a trip to Düsseldorf.

LateRooms.com Monday, March 22, 2010 -- While people who have booked accommodation in Düsseldorf may not associate the city with American football, they could be surprised if they visit during April.

Traditionally, sports fans associate Germany with things such as football, cycling and ice hockey but American football has gathered a strong following in the European nation.

On April 24th, the German national team will take on the two-time world champions Japan.

Dubbed the German-Japan Bowl, it will be the home side's final game ahead of the European championships, which are due to be held in Frankfurt in July 2010.

Anyone who fancies seeing some high-quality American football without having to leave Europe may want to purchase tickets for the sporting showcase, which start from as little as €15 (£13.60).

Commenting on the fixture, Robert Huber, president of the American Football Association of Germany, said that the players won't simply treat the match as a warm-up for the European championships.

"In playing Japan, we're coming up against the strongest team in the world after the US," he stated.

But the German team have not performed badly on the world stage. At the 2003 and 2007 tournaments the German side took third place.

Home fans will no doubt be hoping for a strong performance in the forthcoming European championship, which takes place twice a year.

Anyone who will miss this round of international American football could be pleased to learn that the respective German and Japanese associations want to make the German-Japan Bowl an annual fixture.

This year's match will be played out at the 51,500 capacity ESPRIT arena, which is easily accessible via Düsseldorf's public transport network.

Commenting on the American football fixture, Jessica Reading, head of marketing for LateRooms, said: "We strongly urge people thinking of going to German-Japan Bowl and who need hotels Düsseldorf to book early to avoid disappointment."