There is no doubt that the National Football League known as the NFL attracts many people all over the world with around 16.7 million people tuning into the 2022/23 season. In fact, in the past several years, the NFL has experienced a huge expansion in terms of revenue and viewership. With so many industries gaining popularity on a global scale, it is worth taking a look at which industries the NFL has become successful in.
Firstly, one of the industries that the NFL had infiltrated is the gambling sector. Not only are people placing bets on the NFL, but betting firms are also launching more imaginative partnerships with football clubs and players. There is also plenty to wager on with the NFL also including betting on the money line, total points, and spread markets.
The Spread
Nowadays, more people than ever are also participating in fantasy football which is an online game where players gather points based on the performance of real-life footballers every week. Not only does this create opportunities for people to make profit, but it also makes the experience way more fun. In the years to come, there are many possibilities for the NFL when it comes to gambling including partnering with more established casinos and starting up more avenues to gamble on sports online.
Furthermore, the NFL has also made its way into the mainstream media via TV and streaming. As football is the most popular televised sport in the US, millions of people tune in to not only watch football matches but to receive updates and headlines relating to football. During the season, NFL games are broadcast live in the United States on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays thus spiking the viewings which has been revolutionary for the entertainment industry.
This has paved the way for the NFL to make deals with media outlets and streaming services all over the world. The NFL currently has TV deals in place with Amazon, CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, and NBC running through the2033 season. Not only will this generate more revenue, but it should also lead to higher levels of satisfaction from NFL fans.
Moreover, the NFL has also managed to manifest success in the hospitality industry through the popularization of football in restaurants, bars and loungers. Nowadays, many people flock to sports bars to get a glimpse of their favorite teams on the big screen especially if they do not have access to watch the matches in person or if they are travelling. In fact, for many, going to a sports bar that has the necessary satellite feed to carry the game is the determining factor when deciding which bar to go to.
Going to a sports bar is also far more appealing for many NFL fans as they can order drinks and food without having to take their eyes from the game. The NFL has further cemented its name in the hospitality industry with its influence on hotels, bed and breakfasts and other types of accommodation. When the NFL season begins, there is a huge surge in a volume of people booking to stay away so that they can watch the matches in person and join in on the celebrations.
Exposure is key
The NFL has pervaded the marketing sector in a major way as American football relies heavily on marketing strategies to excite and intrigue fans. These marketing strategies include using social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram to engender more buzz around the league thus also affecting the social media market. Another strand of marketing is implicating sponsors which work alongside the league to get their name linked to a football club or team. By these brands and companies paying for sponsorship, in return they receive promotions to football fans. Not only does this boost the league's revenue but it also helps to reach a wider demographic that would normally be reached just by word of mouth.
On top of this, another industry that is impacted by the NFL is the publishing sector. When the NFL season starts, there is typically a huge spike in interest in learning about American football and a heightened interest in professional football players. This trend has sparked more and more people to seek out knowledge in the form of books to absorb knowledge on the topic of football thus urging more people into bookshops both in person and online and therefore boosting their sales.
Overall, with the viewership and the interest in the NFL reaching new heights, it appears that there are a variety of industries that the NFL has expanded into. From the betting industry to mainstream media, it appears there are no limits to the NFL's sphere of influence. In the future, as technology evolves more, we should witness the NFL infiltrate more industries.
