In a sports market saturated by choice, the NFL has positioned itself as the leading option for young North American male consumers. The reason behind this trend is simple. The NFL has been able to market itself as America's sport while managing to bring in a new and wealthy fan base towards the sport.
Every game is important in an NFL season, hence every team only plays 16 games. Let's face it, we all want to watch games that have an impact for both teams which we don't always get in baseball, basketball and hockey. A season can be very long, even for a hardcore sport's fan who is crazy about his team. The NFL offers a shorter but more exciting product for the fan and even in the playoffs, the games are meaningful.
Less is more
Every NBA team plays 82 games and that doesn't include the playoffs, in which teams are required to win 4 games in order to advance to the next series. The elongated season and playoffs are an attempt by the NBA, MLB and NHL to make more money. The NFL, intelligently, has taken the other route and yet makes more money that any of it's competitors. How can they do this? By having giant stadiums, insane television revenue, merchandising, and advertising.
The importance of advertising
The NFL does advertising far better and more efficiently than any other sport. Just look at the hype from Super Bowl commercials and the importance that we attribute to that one television event. Instead of just selling television space to companies like the NHL or the MLB will do, the NFL sells a partnership.
The NFL partners
Companies like Old Spice, John Deer and Coors light have a long standing partnership with the NFL that in some cases runs decades long. These strong bonds are the reason why so many companies want to do business with the NFL.
Yet, there is that one most important partner that the NFL never forgets, that's the fan base.
The loyal fan base
The best reason why the NFL has become such an important sport in North America is because of the strong fan base. Football fans are loyal, even the occasional fan will spend money on tickets or merchandise.
For it's kick-off to the 2010-2011 season, the NFL decided to schedule a rematch of last year's NFC championship game. The number of people who watched the Viking visit the Saints is astonishing. According to NBC, the game drew a 16.5 rating and 28 share. That means that 28 percent of Americans on September 9th were watching an NFL game. Think about that for a second, that's on prime time hours.
Uncertain future
For all this good fortune however, the NFL might take a hit next year as contract talks for the new collective bargaining agreement will begin in the summer. Many analysts believe that a lock out is inevitable. The main issue on the table is money. The players association feels the players should get a greater piece of the pie while the owners will attempt to dissuade them by engaging in a lock out.
A lock out is not good for the NFL but the league has recovered from it in the past. Although the future is uncertain, one thing is for sure, the NFL in our current economy will make the biggest profits in it's history. All thanks to the fans.
sources:
msnbc sports. Original story from: Associated Press Sports. September, 10, 2010.
Jose Espinoza - Hello, I am a journalist who specializes in sports, travel and the arts. I have done work in the boxing venues around Quebec and ...
