How the NFL Has Marketed Itself as a Year Round Sport

The NFL has become a year round sport through some of the most clever marketing in the sports industry. As soon as the NFL closes the curtain on the Super Bowl in February, all fans of the other 31 teams have already began focusing on their teams potential NFL Draft picks come April.

The NFL off season may be even busier for sports analysts and reporters than the regular season. As soon as an NFL team's season ends, the speculation on next years roster begins. Who will leave via free agency? What area can the team improve on for next year? What aging veteran will be let go before an impending bonus is due?

2010 NFL off season has been the most active in recent memory.
The 2010 NFL off season has had the most activity in recent memory. A top ten quarterback, Donovan McNabb is traded from Philadelphia to division rival Washington and future NFL Hall of Fame running back, LaDanian Tomlinson is given his outright release from Super Bowl contender San Diego.

Those are just two of the more intriguing story lines of this NFL off season. The NFL Combine in Indianapolis was exhaustively covered by ESPN and the NFL Network. The ratings were through the roof on both outlets, to watch college athletes basically run training drills and agility drills. The NFL Combine would be the most boring television ever, if not for the constant analysis and NFL Draft talk that is spewed by the expert analysts throughout the broadcast.

The average NFL fan can't get enough of the NFL 365 days a year.
The average fan's thirst for knowledge is insatiable. The NFL still rates in the top ten of the Yahoo Sports Buzz 365 days a year. The NFL Draft has become a three day affair with the first round of the draft being held in prime time on Thursday nights. Fans still watch late into the last day of the NFL Draft to see who the late picks are just in case a Tom Brady like 6th round draft pick ends up on their team.

Once the NFL Draft ends, then the NFL Draft is analyzed for the next month and a half until teams begin to report to voluntary training. Then more stories are generated daily on injuries and hold outs. Free agents are testing the market as training camp looms. Some players will try to time their signing to avoid some, if not all of training camp.

Training Camp has become another huge money maker for the NFL teams.
The NFL teams began to notice several thousand people showing up at their training camps and of course some went overboard exploiting it. NFL Training Camp was once a nice two or three day getaway for a family Summer vacation. Everyone could watch for free and there were no extra charges for parking or to watch a scrimmage.

Daniel Schneider was the first NFL owner to exploit his Washington Redskins fans. Schneider created a fan experience, charging for parking and related games for the kids. Of course this outraged long time Redskin fans and now there is a club called Redskins Premium Membership Club. The club features year round events and gives access for those that have the money to pay. It is a further testament to Redskin fanaticism.

sources:
www.nfl.com
NFL Network
Washington Redskins website Reskins Premium Membership Club Benefits.