Category Archives: NFL

Packers Fans Can Win Family Turkey Bowl Game At Lambeau

Lambeau Field (Jeramey Jannene)

This Thanksgiving, the NFL is giving one lucky fan and eleven of their family members and friends the opportunity to play the Turkey Bowl game of their dreams in one of the most iconic stadiums – Lambeau Field.

The venue was home to some of the NFL’s greatest moments of the last 100 seasons, from the Ice Bowl to the 1996 NFC Championship game. On November 26, one lucky winner and their Turkey Bowl squad will meet NFL Hall of Famer and Packers Legend Brett Favre, the host of the game.

Turkey Bowl, the seventh contest in the #NFL100 Experiences of a Lifetime series, is live now – learn more here. In addition to a visit from Favre, the experience will also include a behind-the-scenes tour and locker room access, giving the winners an opportunity to compete like the pros do – Lambeau Leap and all.

“Lambeau Field represents the best of the NFL in so many ways – from its storied traditions to the records broken by the many NFL Legends who have played there,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We love that so many fans have made football a part of their holiday traditions, and we want to reward one fan during our 100th season with the greatest Turkey Bowl experience of all time. As an annual Turkey Bowl participant, a prize like this would be a dream come true for me.”

“Lambeau Field is so special; there’s nowhere else like it in the NFL and I feel so honored to have played so many years in this legendary stadium,” said Favre. “Giving NFL fans the chance to experience their Turkey Bowl tradition on this turf will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a fan, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

To enter, post a picture or video of your Turkey Bowl squad and tag @NFL and #NFL100Contest.

The contest is live now through October 22 (11:59:59 p.m. ET). No purchase necessary. For official rules, fans should visit NFL.com/100/contests.

Packers Fan at Lambeau, c. 2003

888casino Extends Sponsorship With the New York Jets

888casino extends New York Jets partnership

888, one of the world’s most popular online gaming companies and solutions providers, has announced it has extended its sponsorship deal with the New York Jets of the National Football League, for the 2019-2020 season, following its successful inaugural partnership last year.

The deal continues to be the first and only partnership of its kind between a pure digital gaming company and an NFL team. As part of the deal, 888casino branding will be on display across the 82,000-plus capacity MetLife Stadium, including the ‘red-zone’ feature, for all eight regular season Jets home games. 888casino promotions will also be spread online across the team’s website and social channels, and broadcast over 98.7 ESPN during radio coverage of the Jets games. The deal will enable the company to utilize New York Jets branding in its different sites and apps in New Jersey. The sponsorship which will be executed throughout the 2019 New York Jets’ football season, offers additional cooperation efforts throughout the season.

“The extension of the deal between the New York Jets and 888casino for a second year in a row only reaffirms our expansion efforts and reiterates the interest in online gaming within the US sports community,” said Yaniv Sherman, Head of Group Commercial Development. “The continuation of the partnership marks another milestone for 888casino in the US, as we continue to pioneer betting operations through this sponsorship agreement, our second consecutive with an NFL team!”

“We are proud to continue this partnership with 888casino in the gaming space allowing us to further engage and provide experiences for our fans in the mobile and digital world,” said Ian Lasher, New York Jets’ Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships.

The deal is one of many exciting developments for the company in the US market, following the launch of its new online casino platform in New Jersey in July. The platform represents 888casino’s most exciting product development of recent years in which it offers players a fast, intuitive and more personalized customer experience. This marks a new era for online gaming in the United States. 888casino’s customers in New Jersey are now able to enjoy a unique portfolio of casino games, poker tournaments and sports betting markets from a single login and bankroll.

Since launching its proprietary technology in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey in 2013, 888casino has developed a growing reputation amongst customers for delivering a cutting-edge online gaming experience, and the continuation of its partnership with the New York Jets confirms 888’s guarantee of an excellent online gaming experience.

The company already has a unique position across the three regulated states for online gaming. The extension of the deal will continue to strengthen and expand the brand across the US market. This will aid their growth strategy to become a leading operator in the developing and potentially significant US online gaming market.”

FOX Sports Super 6, Free-to-Play Sports Prediction Game, Launches

FOX Sports Super 6, a free-to-play sports prediction game that offers players the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash each week, launches nationwide today.

Fans can enter multiple contests each week, with jackpot prizes up to $250,000 in cash. To play, users simply choose who they think the winning team will be and the corresponding margin of victory within predefined ranges or answer six multiple-choice questions, giving them a chance to split thousands in guaranteed cash prizes. 

FOX Sports Super 6 offers a variety of ways for football fans to play throughout the season, and will be offering two NFL games and a college football game at launch:

Super 6 NFL Sunday

To play, fans will select the outcome and margin of victory of six upcoming NFL Sunday matchups. Players who correctly select all six picks could win up to $250,000. If no player correctly selects all six picks to win the $250,000 jackpot prize, there will be smaller guaranteed cash prizes.

TNF Super 6

FOX Sports Super 6 is also offering up to $25,000 in guaranteed prizes for each TNF Super 6 game. To play, fans will answer six multiple choice prediction questions about the upcoming Thursday Night Football game, across the 13-game TNF schedule across FOX and NFL Network. The $25,000 in guaranteed cash prizes will be divided among the players who select the most correct answers.

College Football Saturday Super 6

For each Saturday of college football, fans can play by picking the winning team and by how many points (e.g. Texas by 10 to 14 points). There is a jackpot prize available each week with thousands guaranteed to be paid.

Mark Silverman, President, National Networks, FOX Sports said: “FOX Sports Super 6 brings our unique and entertaining Fox attitude and our unrivaled talent to this fun free-to-play game. The FOX Sports Super 6 app will heighten the excitement of watching live sports while simultaneously deepening our viewers’ engagement with our brand.”

FOX Sports Super 6 anticipates adding more sports, with basketball slated to start in October.

“These awesome free-to-play games will get fans closer to the sports they love, competing against FOX Sports stars to win huge prizes,” said Robin Chhabra, Chief Corporate Development Officer, The Stars Group. “The FOX Sports Super 6 app offers a quick, simple and fun experience that we think sports fans here will love, just like they do in other countries where we run them.”

The FOX Sports Super 6 app is now available for download in the App Store and the Play Store.

Report: Nearly 40 Million Americans to Wager on the NFL

Thirty-eight million American adults—15 percent of the U.S. adult population—are planning to bet on National Football League (NFL) games this season, according to a new survey by the American Gaming Association (AGA).

The rapid expansion of legal sports betting has provided increased opportunity for millions of Americans to bet safely with a licensed, regulated sportsbook. This year, 7 million Americans say they will bet legally at a casino sportsbook, 1.2 million more than last year, and tens of millions of others will place bets with friends, participate in pools or squares contests or place their bets online.

“During this centennial NFL season, more Americans than ever before can wager on football in safe, well-regulated environments,” said Bill Miller, AGA’s president and chief executive officer. “It is clear that as jurisdictions enact policies to provide a legal alternative to the dangerous illegal market, consumers follow suit and seek the protections they deserve.”

The survey, conducted by Morning Consult, also found that nearly one-in-four (24%) American adults say they would place a bet on the NFL if it was legal in their state. As legal sports betting continues to expand, fan engagement with NFL games will see an impact:

  • 39 percent of avid NFL fans plan to place a bet on the NFL this season.
  • 75 percent of NFL bettors say they are more likely to watch a game they bet on.
  • 28 percent are more likely to attend a game they have bet on.
  • 51 percent are more likely to watch pregame shows and commentary.
  • 63 percent are more likely to gather with friends or family to watch a game.

“Sports betting clearly impacts fans’ enthusiasm for engaging with the NFL. As the legal market grows, it is imperative for gaming and adjacent industries to focus on implementing and promoting legal sports betting responsibly to protect consumers and ensure the viability of legal markets to the continued detriment of illegal operators,” Miller added.

Among NFL fans, the New England Patriots are the favorite to win the Super Bowl (23 percent), followed by the Kansas City Chiefs (8 percent), Dallas Cowboys (7 percent) and New Orleans Saints (6 percent).

Background

  • Since the U.S. Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act—the failed federal ban on sports betting—in May 2018, more than $10 billion has been legally wagered on sports.
  • Thirteen states now offer legal, regulated sports betting, with five more states and the District of Columbia poised to open legal markets in the coming months.
  • Last September, an AGA study showed that the NFL stands to gain $2.3 billion annually from legalized sports betting, largely due to increased fan engagement.
  • AGA’s Sports Betting Consumer Study found sports bettors are more interested in the NFL than any other professional sports league (93 percent interested).

Investors Bank and New York Giants Expand Strategic Alliance

Flickr/Mike Lizzi

 Investors Bank and the New York Giants are expanding their strategic alliance during the 2019 football season. They began a 10-year partnership last year and are marking the second year by publicly introducing the New York Giants-branded debit card and checking account.

The New York Giants Checking Account was designed to engage and excite the football franchise’s enthusiastic fans. Investors Bank is prominently featuring the New York Giants logo on each account holder’s debit card and checks. Everyone who joins the Big Blue Checking Crew will have access to many premium features and amenities.   

Today, Investors Bank, the Official Consumer and Business Bank of the New York Giants, is publicly launching the New York Giants Checking Account during a “Signing Day” event at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. New York Giants CEO John Mara will open one of the first Giants checking accounts. Investors Bank CEO Kevin Cummings and President Domenick Cama will present Mr. Mara with a personalized New York Giants debit card. Mr. Mara and the franchise’s senior management team will present official New York Giants game jerseys to Mr. Cummings, Mr. Cama and EVP Chief Marketing & Product Officer Dorian Hansen.

In discussing the partnership, Mr. Mara said, “The Giants and Investors Bank share the belief that our fans and their clients deserve an exceptional level of service, and we are both dedicated to achieving that goal. This expanded partnership will allow both the Giants and Investors Bank to continue to serve our communities in an innovative and transformative way.”

Investors Bank and the New York Giants are also announcing a joint corporate social responsibility program. Each time Big Blue scores either a touchdown, field goal or safety this season, Investors Bank will donate $250 to the non-for-profit CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) of New Jersey. Dedicated, compassionate and highly trained CASA volunteers assist and serve some of the most vulnerable children in the region.

Reviewing the alliance, Mr. Cummings said, “Our bank continually strives to develop new and exceptional ways to serve our consumer and business clients, which is why Investors Bank is linked to the New York Giants. We are solidifying the relationship with the fabled Big Blue team by launching our checking account, which enhances the legacy of each organization. We are also grateful to be one of the only regional banks in America to partner with an internationally-known, professional football franchise.”  

New York Giants Checking Offers Many Premium Features and Amenities

Fans are invited to show their team pride by opening their New York Giants Checking Account at one of Investors Bank’s 147 branches. Fans will receive a 20 percent discount each time they use their Giants debit card to buy merchandise at www.shop.giants.com. The Giants Checking also comes with premium features such as free identify theft protection and cellphone insurance for three smartphones.

Banking with Giants Checking is convenient and rewarding. The dedicated client services team at Investors will help fans switch their account and join theBig Blue Checking Crew. Fans also have an opportunity to score big, and they may receive a cash reward by opening an account and referring their friends. For people who bank on the go, Giants Checking has a mobile wallet feature that is supported by the three major payment services, and they have access to exclusive New York Giants weekly postgame content that is presented in a mini-podcast format.

For more details about opening the New York Giants Checking Account, visit one of the Investors Bank’s local branches or visit https://www.myinvestorsbank.com/Giants.

Source Communications is the advertising agency of record for Investors Bank. Source’s President Larry Rothstein and his team played a key role in creating the marketing campaign to launch and build positive awareness about the New York Giants Checking Account.

Zebra Technologies Extends NFL Analytics Contract

Tom Brady (Keith Allison)

Zebra Technologies Corporation, an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced the renewal of its partnership with the NFL, extending Zebra’s role as the League’s Official On-Field Player-Tracking Provider through the 2021 season. This extension builds on the past five seasons during which Zebra has worked with the NFL to successfully implement a best-in-class player and ball tracking system, helping to launch a new era of football data and analytics known as Next Gen Stats.

Zebra captures data for the NFL by attaching RFID tags in player equipment and the football, transmitting real-time location data to receivers positioned around the stadium. The Zebra MotionWorks™ Sport tracking system captures metrics such as player speed, distance traveled, orientation and proximity, and acceleration/deceleration. This information is then utilized by the NFL to calculate vast amounts of information about every player for every play.

The Next Gen Stats data is used to enhance the fan experience both at home as well as in-stadium. The data helps to convey unique, engaging details about individual and team performances, as well as season-long trends, allowing fans to understand the game in a whole new way. Used by everyone from the casual viewer to the fantasy football fanatic, these insights provide fans, media, and teams with helpful and interesting information for every game, every week, throughout the entire season.

“We are pleased to extend our relationship with Zebra to further develop and share cutting-edge insights into the game of football,” said Matt Swensson, Vice President of Emerging Products & Technology, National Football League. “We’re excited to build on our partnership, and collectively advance the League’s commitment to innovation. In the coming seasons, we plan to further develop the Next Gen Stats platform, allowing coaches, players, and fans to understand the game in ways never possible before.”

NFL Club personnel use Next Gen Stats data to inform a variety of decisions, from play design to player workload, and to formulate specific practice plans.

“We are very excited to continue our work with the NFL, and we are committed to ongoing innovation to provide the League, teams and fans with real-time tracking data and insights for years to come,” said John Pollard, Vice President of Zebra Sports Business Development, Zebra Technologies. “Based on our collaborative approach, this extension validates the value of our real-time locationing technology in football to give those on the front line a performance edge.”

Earlier this year, Gartner, Inc. recognized Zebra as a Visionary in the Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services, Global for the second consecutive year. Part of Zebra’s market leading locationing portfolio, the MotionWorks Sport solution is powered by Zebra’s Savanna data platform which transforms information into insights to help teams make the best possible decisions.

Pro sports teams speak out against New York’s sports gambling efforts

Several NFL football teams have signed a letter written by the NFL that was sent to New York gambling regulators over the state’s sports gambling efforts. The teams are concerned about the future of the industry and wanted to make sure that their opinions were heard. However, only one of the teams is actually from the state – the others are in New Jersey.

The New York Giants, the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills may be linked to New York, but the Jets and the Giants play in New Jersey. Their field is MetLife Stadium, which happens to be a part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, home to the FanDuel Sportsbook. Given that the sportsbook is the most successful in the state, it seems a little strange that the teams would come out against sports gambling.

The letter is designed to, once again, try to show why the sports leagues deserve an integrity fee on sports wagers. This, despite the fact that “integrity” has always been a main component of all sports leagues’ policies. The letter reads, in part, “There is no greater priority for the NFL than protecting the integrity of our sport and the welfare of our players. Fans, players, coaches and personnel deserve to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure no improper influences affect how our games are played and that we are taking all appropriate steps to ensure that their participation in our games is not subjected to unfair and unwarranted allegations relating to sports betting.”

The NFL wants to try to convince New York to add “four core standards” to its sports gambling legislation. The first, stronger consumer protection, is understandable, as is the desire to eliminate “the illegal sports betting marketplace.” However, the other two will certainly cause some critics to surface.

NFL’s ‘Great Dane’ and Better Collective ambassador Morten Andersen to speak at Betting on Sports America

Morten Andersen, who holds the all-time record for most games played in the NFL, will be delivering a keynote speech at this month’s Betting on Sports America conference, held from 23-25 April at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey.

Andersen is attending #bosamerica as an ambassador for the Denmark-based igaming affiliate Better Collective – a key sponsor of the event whose US-facing brands include Betoclock.com, the us-bookies.com hub and a fast-growing bet-state network already featuring bet-nj.com, bet-wv.com and bet-pa.com.

The ‘Great Dane’ will be talking about the NFL’s unique ability to connect with its fan base – and particularly those with an affinity for sports betting – as part of the ‘Sports and Betting’ track on Thursday 25 April, the second full day of the conference.

At the age of 17, Andersen did an exchange in the USA from his native Denmark. As there was no European football available at his school, he applied his skills to American football.

Alliance of America Football doesn’t make it half a season

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) has set a record. After less than one season and only eight weeks of games, the league has already been dismantled. What was meant to give football fans something to do in the NFL off-season has fallen flatter than 40-year-old pigskin.

The owner of the league, Tom Dundon, has suspended all operations, according to a statement by the AAF’s co-founder, Bill Polian. In confirming the suspension with ESPN, he explained, “I am extremely disappointed to learn Tom Dundon has decided to suspend all football operations of the Alliance of American Football. When Mr. Dundon took over, it was the belief of my co-founder, Charlie Ebersol, and myself that we would finish the season, pay our creditors, and make the necessary adjustments to move forward in a manner that made economic sense for all.

“The momentum generated by our players, coaches and football staff had us well positioned for future success. Regrettably, we will not have that opportunity.”

From even before the first kickoff, there had been rumblings of issues behind the scenes, including rumors of contractors and employees not being paid. Dundon, who is also the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL, promised to make an investment of $250 million in the AAF to help straighten out the issues, but it later surfaced that he may have had ulterior motives.

Bet Construct Announces Relationship with Pro Football Hall of Fame

Credit:
Coemgenus of English Wikipedia

Bet Construct, in partnership with Atlantis Gaming Corporation, has entered into a relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The three entities have agreed in concept on the launch of a premium fantasy sports experience in the United Statesmarket.

Bet Construct, through a deep understanding of the players’ needs, developed a fully customizable fantasy sports software with reliable fantasy data and marketing guidance to 40-plus partners around the world.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, as one of the most recognized organizations in sports, is examining how the use of its brand can bring an instant fan base to jumpstart the new Fantasy Sports Platform.

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is pleased to be exploring how a partnership in the gaming industry can support its important mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values and Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE,” commented Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker.

“We are thrilled to provide our fantasy sports technology for this exciting venture with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Tribal Gaming Network. Through Bet Construct’s world-class fantasy sports platform, the leverage of the Tribal Gaming Network, and the trusted brand of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this partnership will deliver a truly exceptional fantasy sports experience to players,” saidBet Construct Head of US Operations, Jonathan Aiwazian.

“Atlantis Gaming is proud to introduce this exciting Daily Fantasy Sports product nationwide in states that offer legal Daily Fantasy Sports via our Tribal Gaming Network,” states Atlantis Gaming Corporation, President & CEO, Donald L. Bailey 

A formal announcement is expected soon by the Hall of Fame with Bet Construct and Atlantis Gaming.

PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME