American Football
Features
James Fenn | NFL and Fifa show creative bravery in times of crisis
James Fenn, Strategist at Hill + Knowlton Strategies, explains what the NFL, Fifa and Marvel can show us about the ambition sport needs to come back better than ever.
Third time’s a charm? | Fan Controlled Football looks to succeed where XFL and AAF failed
Fan Controlled Football, set to debut next month, will feature a unique style of play and a more conservative business model. US Editor Eric Fisher asks if it can succeed where the second edition of XFL and the Alliance of American Football failed.
Nickelodeon, CBS Sports “Nick-ify” NFL playoff game to reach younger audience
Nickelodeon's broadcast of the NFL wild card game between the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears represents the latest – and most technically-advanced – attempt yet by the NFL and its media partners to attract younger fans.
Broadcast deals help NFL maintain UK presence despite London games cancellation
Despite the cancellation of the NFL International Series this year, the league has managed to boost its presence in the UK with the renewal of its deals with Sky Sports and the BBC and new partnerships with Channel 5 and MTV. Adam Nelson speaks to NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood.
SoFi Stadium looks to break new ground with massive videoboard
With its both unprecedented size and unique design, the videoboard at the forthcoming SoFi Stadium in Southern California seeks to break new ground in the industry technologically and redefine fan engagement
FCF strikes trio of technology partnerships
Start-up American football league continues dealmaking in advance of debut
NFL signs up OId El Paso as sponsor in UK for second year running
The National Football League has signed a new digitally-focused sponsorship deal with General Mills-owned Mexican food brand Old El Paso
FCF strikes unique sponsorship with Progressive
Insurance giant to sponsor new fifth down of play in start-up football league
European League of Football announces Barcelona as eighth franchise
The European League of Football, a new competition aiming to bring gridiron football to European audiences, has announced Barcelona as the eighth and final city to sign up as a host for the first season
Pro Football Hall of Fame looks to overcome $5m hit with “Super Bowl-like” event in 2021
Pro Football Hall of Fame president David Baker tells SportBusiness how the iconic facility in Canton, Ohio, is looking to overcome calling off Hall of Fame Game and postponing its centennial enshrinement ceremony this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Robert Weisbein, Gregory Marino, and Emily Ostreich | Has a trademark Hog muddied the Washington Football Team’s name change plans?
A trio from Foley & Lardner LLP look at the complex trademark issues surrounding the pending name change for the Washington Football Team.
Jarren Ginsburg | Rams jerseys point toward future NFL uniform ads
Jarren Ginsburg, associate and litigation lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP's sports and entertainment group, explores how the Los Angeles Rams' new uniforms are poised to help open an important new area of sports sponsorship
LA Chargers leverage huge reach with “Bolt Up Your Small Business” initiative
The National Football League's Los Angeles Chargers, by offering a free team sponsorship through a new sweepstakes, are looking to reach out in a very different way to a local business community battered by the Covid-19 pandemic
“Change is hard” – Los Angeles Rams refresh brand identity to mixed reception from fans
To coincide with their move to a new stadium, the LA Rams have unveiled a dramatic new look. Bob Williams speaks to Rams CMO Ronalee Zarate-Bayani about the process behind the redesign
Hail to the new stadium? Redskins long search for new facility taking many detours
Civic stronghold NFL team enjoyed for decades now overtaken by fandom for the crosstown Nationals and Capitals
Super Bowl LIV sees historic ticket demand, fueled in part by On Location Experiences
Eric Fisher takes a look at the ticketing market ahead of this Sunday's Super Bowl in Miami.
Ahead of Super Bowl LIV, Miami sets sights on hosting NFL showpiece again by 2030
Miami will stage the Super Bowl this week for the first time in 10 years. Bob Williams looks at the measures officials are taking to ensure the city doesn't wait so long to host the prestigious event again.
XFL confident its second act will prove a success and avoid same fate as AAF
With the revamped XFL football league kicking off in February, Bob Williams takes a look at the measures Vince McMahon's latest project is taking in order to prosper.
New Orleans uses Sugar Bowl to bring College Football Playoff title game to city
College football's showpiece event is often a loss-making venture for its hosts but the generosity of the Sugar Bowl has brought this year's game to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Jim Rooney remembers his father’s outsized NFL legacy in new book
SportBusiness' US Editor Eric Fisher speaks to the son of the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney about his legacy and the current state of the Rooney Rule and the NFL at large.
San Francisco 49ers continue concessions revolution with unlimited food and drink menu
Bob Williams looks at how the San Francisco 49ers looking to create a better game-day experience for their fans, starting with the concessions stand.
NFL stadiums are key testing ground for 5G mobile rollout in US
Expansive size and density of some of US' largest sports facilities provide a fertile environment to experiment with next-generation mobile technology. Story by Rick Snider.
Al Guido “we are struggling with the same thing” speaking at SDMS Miami
San Francisco 49ers Al Guido speaking at the Sports Decision Makers Summit in Miami on the game day experience panel
Nashville looking to utilise NFL Draft to become 2026 World Cup host venue
Music at heart of experience as tourism chiefs try to set stage for bigger events
Tennessee capital one of 17 US cities vying to make final cut for Fifa showpiece
Pittsburgh Steelers steal a march on rivals in international social media battle
The Pittsburgh Steelers have long maintained a sizeable global following. Ryan Huzjak, their vice-president of sales and marketing, tells SportBusiness how they are now using social media to engage with, grow, and monetise that audience.
Comeback or a temporary correction? NFL domestic TV audiences recover in 2018-19
After consecutive years of falling television ratings, NFL domestic television audiences increased by five per cent in the recently concluded 2018-19 season.
49ers draw on SAP partnership to improve fan experience in real time
The ‘Executive Huddle’ – the SAP-powered venue-management platform at Levi’s Stadium – has put the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers at the forefront of fan experience management and shows how far partnerships between tech companies and rights-holders can go beyond sponsorship.