From Barcelona
to Annapolis
Planned visit: October 23–25, 2026 · Two visitors
We are planning our first college football trip to tell the Navy Football experience in Spanish and English from two European fans’ perspective.
Project in planning · Collaboration subject to agreement
Who is behind it
Jordi Sánchez is a web developer and American football fan from Barcelona. He created Primer Down, a newly launched independent editorial project, and is preparing this trip with another fan.
Proposed content
3 vertical videos
Preparation and travel, Annapolis, and the game-day experience.
Edited photographs
A curated photographic selection from the trip and permitted spaces.
Bilingual article
An experience report and practical guide for European visitors, in Spanish and English.
Proposal subject to agreement on scope and timing. Recording and photography will follow each space's rules and permissions; third-party reuse rights will be agreed separately.
Support requested
We’re seeking support with two game tickets and, if available, a public pregame experience.
We would also appreciate guidance on activities open to visitors or an introduction to the appropriate contact.
We are not requesting press credentials or access to restricted areas.
Published samples
05 · About the trip
The story
While documenting the trip we realised the story started much earlier, at home. American football has been played in Spain since the 1980s, and we want to bring that history together and make it accessible. Road to Annapolis is our first special series: looking at American football culture from the inside to better understand our own.
06
Why Navy?
The United States Naval Academy football program dates back to 1879: its first game, a scoreless tie against the Baltimore Athletic Club, was played on 11 December of that year. [6]
The Army-Navy Game, first played on 29 November 1890 at West Point with a 24-0 Navy win, is one of the oldest rivalries in American college sport and has been played every year since 1930. [7] [8] Together with Air Force, Navy also competes for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, created in 1972. [9]
A home game in Annapolis has its own rituals: the Brigade of Midshipmen marches onto the field before kickoff (the March-On), a military flyover follows the anthem, and after the game the team stands at attention before the Brigade while the alma mater, Navy Blue and Gold, is played. [4] The Academy's fight song, Anchors Aweigh, debuted at the 1906 Army-Navy Game. [6]
On the field, Navy has been synonymous with the running game for decades. Since 2024, under offensive coordinator Drew Cronic, the team runs a hybrid Wing-T that keeps triple-option elements. [10] [11] The head coach is Brian Newberry, in his fourth season in 2026. [12]
07
The journey
- 01
Barcelona
Origin · Catalonia, Spain
- 02
Washington
Arrival in the United States
- 03
Annapolis
Maryland · home of the Naval Academy
- 04
Navy Football
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Barcelona and Annapolis are roughly 6,445 kilometres apart as the crow flies. There is no direct flight: arrival will be through the Washington area, with three possible international airports (BWI, Dulles and Reagan National). [13] BWI, in Anne Arundel County itself, is about 30 minutes from Annapolis. [14]
Planned dates: 23 to 25 October 2026, two people. These are planning dates: travel and tickets are neither booked nor confirmed. If it takes place, we will publish the real budget, what worked and what did not, so it can help anyone wanting to do the same from Spain.
08
The game
Checked against the official Navy Athletics website. Kickoff may change for television; we will re-check in the weeks before the game.
- Game
- Navy vs North Texas
- Date
- Saturday 24 October 2026
- Kickoff
- 3:30 PM ET
- Venue
- Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis (34,000)
- Homecoming
- Yes, officially designated
- TV
- CBS Sports Network
- Conference
- American Conference (NCAA FBS)
Sources: 2026 Football Schedule · American Conference Announces 2026 Navy Football Schedule · Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium · Navy Football Kicks Off 2026 Season Saturday at Home Against Towson · American Conference Launches Modernized Brand Identity Ahead of Football Media Days
09
Chapters
- 01Published
Football in Barcelona
Where and how the game is played today around Barcelona, and why the city is one of the sport's cradles in Spain.
- 02In research
How American football arrived in Spain
The first clubs, the first games and the birth of national competitions.
- 03Planned
The teams keeping football alive in Spain
Amateur clubs, volunteers and families sustaining the sport season after season.
- 04In research
Barcelona Dragons
Rise, fall and legacy of professional football in Barcelona, from the World League to the ELF.
- 05In research
Madrid Bravos and the new European era
Two playoff seasons in the European League of Football, a Miami Dolphins partnership and a withdrawal in March 2026. What is left of professional football in Spain.
- 06In research
Why college football is different
Universities, traditions, bands and hundred-thousand-seat stadiums: a guide to understanding it from Europe.
- 07In research
Barcelona → Annapolis
Flights, budget, logistics and what we expect from the trip.
- 08Planned
Navy Football Homecoming
Game day in Annapolis, told from the inside. To be published after 24 October 2026.
- 09Planned
What Spain can learn from American football culture
Conclusions after the trip: community, tradition and what actually translates.
10
Articles
Road to AnnapolisFootball in Barcelona: where and how it is played today
Nine clubs around Barcelona, three in the top tier, Spain's most successful club and its most dominant women's team. Catalonia is where it all started, and where the game is played most.
13 September 2026 · 6 min read
- Road to Annapolis
Why we are planning a trip from Barcelona to Annapolis
An introduction to Road to Annapolis: what we are looking for in a college football game, why Navy and how we are preparing it.
12 September 2026 · 4 min read
No confirmed partners yet. We only show brands with a real agreement and clearly explain the collaboration. See media kit →
Sources
Last verified: 12 September 2026Links consulted for this piece. We record the access date because websites change.
- [5]
American Conference Launches Modernized Brand Identity Ahead of Football Media Days
American Conference (theamerican.org) · League official · 20 July 2025 · accessed 12 September 2026
- [7]
U.S. Army (army.mil) · Official document · accessed 12 September 2026
- [8]
Army-Navy Game: A Storied Rivalry
U.S. Military Academy West Point · Official document · accessed 12 September 2026
- [10]
Navy football makes progress on installing hybrid Wing-T offense
Stars and Stripes · Press · 27 March 2024 · accessed 12 September 2026
- [13]
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County · Official document · accessed 12 September 2026
- [14]
BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport · Official document · accessed 12 September 2026
Contact
jordigw@gmail.com