THE APEX TIMES
Ahead of the NFL’s 2026 international matchup in Madrid, Cincinnati says its operations team is treating the trip like a multi-stage build, from passport processing and customs manifests to electricity, field setup and a speed-focused equipment return plan.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ operations staff is building a temporary NFL-ready environment for their 2026 international game against the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, with Director of Operations Jeff Brickner leading the plan that, according to the team, has been in progress for six months.
Brickner’s group expects a large logistics window, starting with a 306-seat American Airlines aircraft carrying a 201-member traveling party on an eight-hour flight to Spain. The team says the plane’s 60 lay-flat seats, including oversized ones designed for bigger players, are meant to give players a way to stretch and recover en route.
The trip begins long before game week, the team says, including passport collection that started in May. Equipment manager Adam Knollman, who has been working the inventory side since the announcement, describes a customs-driven process that requires a detailed manifest, item-by-item, down to the origin and contents of trunks and even the dimensions and materials of clothing.
Cincinnati also says it is handling infrastructure and day-to-day support with specialized staff. The team cites IT chief Jake Kiser reviewing plug adapters and step-down voltage converters to match Spain’s electrical system, while the pre-trip behind-the-scenes lead is trainer Roberto “Berto” Cardona, who the Bengals say speaks fluent Spanish and helps translate across operations needs.
For football-specific preparation, the Bengals say they are arriving early enough for a more settled practice routine, moving into the Spanish Football Federation international practice facility, La Ciudad del Futbol, about 20 miles northwest of Madrid. They also say they have a head start from supplies shipped ahead, including shipments of water and Gatorade and IT supplies for meeting rooms.
Game-week field and facility work includes what the Bengals describe as the stadium’s hybrid natural grass, plus shoe planning. The team says each player will receive four to six pairs of shoes with a selection that includes seven studs, and it expects the nearly 80-year-old Bernabéu Stadium’s retractable roof to be closed for the game.
The Bengals’ logistical window extends to the hotel dining and postgame flow. The team says chef Ory Maxwell is expected to prepare daily Spanish-influenced meals and that a liaison documented how the Bengals were fed during a prior trip before Cincinnati departed. On the back end, the Bengals say all equipment will remain in Spain after the game to return quickly, then be routed to New Jersey on a commercial flight so it can be back at Paycor in time for a Wednesday practice.
In the team’s framing, the central goal is to remove uncertainty for players and coaches. Brickner says the staff is handling the details so the week can stay focused on football, an aim the organization reinforces with the scale of its planning and contingency equipment described for customs. The only outcome the team’s operations staff is explicitly prioritizing, Knollman says, is a win.