The beginning of the 2012 NFL season is starting to look the more like the end of the NFL of season’s past. As Super Bowl Week becomes bigger and better, the NFL is trying to make Kickoff a multiple day event with corporate sponsors, community outreach, and parties upon parties. This year Kickoff takes place in New York as the Giants begin their title defense against the Cowboys tomorrow night.
Leading up to the game the NFL and their sponsors have several events around the New York City. The NFL is happy to promote its Play60 initiative. Play60 is the League’s campaign to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity. Play60 held the first day of a mini camp for kids today featuring former players like Courtney Hall and Chad Pennington. Under Armor and Quaker Oaks were among the sponsors.
Keeping with its health and exercise outreach, the NFL and New York Road Runners co-sponsored a 1.3 mile run in Central Park with over 3,400 participants.
Pepsi is hosting a “Football Eve” party tonight at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square with celebrities and fans in attendance.
This year Kickoff is the same week as New York’s famous Fashion Week. With the new deal between Nike and the NFL there will be several fashion specific events where models will be showing off the new gear. This deal is seen in the apparel industry as Nike reestablishing itself in sportswear.
The week in promotions and events culminates with a concert in Rockefeller Center an hour before the Giants and Cowboys kickoff. Mariah Carey and No Doubt will perform.
This is the first time New York has hosted a Kickoff since 2008. Since then the events surrounding the NFL’s opening day have grown substantially. As the league grows more and more into the financial behemoth that it is, and with more and more sponsors trying to attach themselves to the positive image the NFL has, you can expect a lot more of these types of events. No league promotes itself more effectively than the NFL, and this year’s Kickoff in the Big Apple is proof that that trend is going to continue.
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