Ever since I can remember I have watched hockey. The Vancouver Canucks are my team, and I hate to miss a game. However, during the most recent lock out of the NHL, I allocated my free time to watching the NFL. Now I hate to miss any NFL game, including my Seattle Seahawks.
The NFL has been able to create an entire experience for fans both watching games at the stadiums or on the TV. The entertainment value of these games is not even close to that of the NHL, MLB, or any other major league sport in North America. I would never have thought that I would rather sit down with some friends to watch a football game instead of watching my beloved Canucks.
The NFL and its corporate partners have been able to develop this experience to the extent that fans are engaged both before, during, after the games have been played. Through fan promotions, and fantasy football, fans are literally addicted to the game. I can honestly say, that I have been converted. Not to say that I don’t enjoy my Canucks, but I value an NFL game more than an NHL game.
In terms of fan statistics, 60.2% of NFL fans are male, but NFL marketers have strove to increase female viewership. The NFL has targeted women through adding pink colours to their product lines, and partnering with Nike and Victoria Secret. Marketers from other leagues can learn a lot from the development of the NFL. They have stolen me as a fan, and I can just imagine how many other fans they have converted.