It would be easy to assume that the National Football League (NFL) has dodged the full force of the pandemic thanks to the simple good fortune of its traditional autumn start, but the reality is that the world’s most lucrative sports property has been as disrupted as any major sports property by the events of 2020.
Even for a stubbornly immovable US$16 billion juggernaut, the impact of Covid-19 has been seismic. While the decision to press ahead with April’s first-ever fully virtual Draft turned out to be an unexpected success, there has been no escaping the fallout: pay cuts for top-earning executives, including commissioner Roger Goodell; widespread staff furloughs; teams forced to train virtually; a full pre-season and overseas trips to London and Mexico City scrapped altogether.
Nevertheless, for all the disruption of recent months the NFL has remained laser-focused on kicking off its 2020 regular season as planned on 10th September, when last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Patrick Mahomes-inspired Kansas City Chiefs, host the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. Contingency plans have been meticulously drawn up and extensive precautions put in place, all of which are recognition of the fact that so much remains beyond the league’s control.
Business-wise, at least, there has been little to worry about for Goodell and co. A new ten-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was formally ratified, albeit narrowly, by the league’s union in March, ensuring welcome labour peace until at least 2030. Coming after a year in which central revenue distributions rose to US$296 million per team, the new deal included some significant gains for both sides of the negotiating table, including an expanded postseason and increases to minimum player salaries.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, pictured above, was an outspoken critic of the new CBA
On the media side, too, it has been business as usual amid continued interest in NFL programming among domestic and international broadcasters. A Thursday night football streaming deal with Amazon, signed on increased terms in April, was soon followed by a five-year renewal with Sky Sports in the UK that sees the launch of a dedicated NFL channel in one of the league’s most important overseas markets. And with NFL games commanding 73 of the top 100 most-watched US broadcasts in 2019, industry analysts project that the value of the league’s domestic broadcast contracts, which are currently worth some US$6.5 billion on average per year, will nearly double during an impending round of rights sales.
That formidable rise, coupled with relaxed team ownership and debt rules, has fuelled an increase in NFL franchise valuations in recent years. According to figures recently released by Sportico, the average team is now worth more than US$3 billion, with the Dallas Cowboys, said to be the planet’s most valuable sports team, leading the way at some US$6.1 billion.
But for all the gains that have been made in recent times, the 2020 season brings with it a dark cloud of uncertainty. Despite an early surge in ticket sales, matchday revenues are set to take a substantial hit this year – possibly as much as US$7 billion across the league. While a handful of teams plan to stage games in front of reduced crowds, at least 21 will not allow spectators from the start of the season, and several have already begun issuing refunds to concerned season ticket holders.
Needless to say, then, preparations for the coming campaign have been unlike any that have gone before, but perhaps the most turbulent offseason has been endured by the league’s Washington franchise.
First, there was the controversy over the team’s former moniker, which was finally scrapped after years of public protestations and growing dissent from increasingly twitchy sponsors. Then, amid reports that minority shareholders were pressuring majority owner Dan Snyder to sell the franchise, came an independent investigation into claims of workplace misconduct and sexual harassment allegations within the organisation.
With a wholesale rebranding effort now underway, the fact that the franchise has installed former running back Jason Wright as the NFL’s first black – and youngest ever – team president suggests a genuine commitment to change in Washington. Still, there remains much work to be done if the team’s culture, and the spectre of scandal that shadows the NFL generally, is to be truly overhauled.
Not that the league itself is not trying. Washington’s travails have notably come to light amid broader efforts within the NFL to combat systemic racism and discrimination of all kinds. In June, the league overturned its ban on players kneeling during pre-game national anthems and publicly backed the Black Lives Matter movement, before creating a new fund that will donate US$250 million over ten years to social justice causes in the US. That followed an earlier reform that would compel NFL teams to interview more female and ethnic minority candidates for executive positions as part of changes to the league’s Rooney Rule diversity statutes.
Such moves are sure signs of progress in a league that is still reckoning with its messy handling of the national anthem protests first instigated by Colin Kaepernick four years ago. Yet the threat of further controversy remains. With athletes in other major leagues recently staging boycotts in protest at police brutality and racial injustice, there is every chance NFL players will use their platforms similarly this season; if that happens, the notoriously anti-NFL President Trump is almost guaranteed to weaponise any controversy ahead of November’s election.
In any case, the NFL knows it can no longer sit on the sidelines when it comes to social issues. Goodell himself has shown contrition over the Kaepernick affair, and in this era of rising athlete activism, any attempts at silencing the collective player voice will only do more harm than good.
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020
NFL broadcast contracts
US
AFC package (includes Thanksgiving, most AFC playoff games): CBS, US$1 billion a year
NFC package (includes Super Bowl LIV, Thanksgiving, most NFC playoff games): Fox, US$1.1 billion a year; Fox Deportes (Spanish)
SNF (includes kick-off game): NBC, US$950 million a year; NBC Universo (Spanish)
MNF (includes one wild-card playoff game): ESPN, US$1.75 billion a year; ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
TNF: NFL Network (also airs at least one Saturday game); Fox (11 games), US$660 million a year; Amazon Prime Video/Twitch (11 games, streaming, renewed 2020, original deal worth US$65 million a year)
Note: Amazon’s renewal also includes rights to live stream one Saturday regular-season game per year globally via Prime Video and Twitch
Sunday Ticket (out-of-market regular season): AT&T (DirecTV), US$1.5billion per year
International
TNF: Amazon Prime Video
Australia
ESPN (pay-TV), Seven, 7mate (free-to-air)
Brazil
ESPN Brasil
Canada
DAZN (distributes NFL Game Pass)
France
BeIN Sports (pay-TV), L’Equipe (FTA)
Germany, Switzerland
DAZN (pay-TV), ProSieben (FTA)
Italy
DAZN (pay-TV)
India
FanCode (pay-TV)
Japan
Nippon TV, NHK (both FTA), DAZN (pay-TV)
Latin America
MNF, SNF, NFL playoffs, NFL RedZone: ESPN
Sunday afternoon games, TNF, NFL playoffs: Fox
Mexico
Overall linear package: Televisa, TV Azteca
Sunday Ticket: Sky Mexico
MENA
BeIN Sports
Netherlands
Fox Sports
New Zealand
Sky Sport, ESPN (pay-TV), TVNZ (FTA)
South Korea
MBC Sports
Spain, Andorra
Movistar+ (pay-TV)
UK
Main package (includes Super Bowl): Sky Sports (pay-TV)
Super Bowl: BBC (FTA)
Official league partners (by category)
Affinity card/rewards programme: Barclays
Alcoholic-beverages (beer, wine, hard seltzer): Anheuser-Busch InBev
Apparel: Nike
Automotive tires: Bridgestone
Auto, home, life insurance: Nationwide
Auto, home, life insurance, military appreciation: USAA
B2B marketing rights: Aramark
Casino: Caesars
Chocolate/non-chocolate confectionary: Mars Snackfoods (Snickers/Skittles/M&M’s)
Cloud infrastructure, cloud platform, machine learning, AI: Amazon Web Services
Daily fantasy partner: DraftKings
Dairy products (milk/yoghurt/cheese): Dairy Management
Financial services: Intuit
Home theatre system, headsets, headphones: Bose
Home improvement: Lowe’s
Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott
Hot cereal, granola bars: Quaker Oats (PepsiCo)
Luxury automotive: Genesis
Mattresses, sleep tracking, bedding, sleep/wellness: Sleep Number
Mortgage: Rocket Mortgage
Motor oil: Castrol
On-demand food delivery: Postmates
Over the counter (OTC) grooming, fabric/air care, household needs, OTC remedies: Procter & Gamble (Febreze, Secret, Vicks, Head & Shoulders, Gillette, Secret, Old Spice, Tide)
Package delivery services, office supply retailer: FedEx
Payment systems services: Visa
Pizza carry-out, delivery, frozen: Pizza Hut
Real time location solutions, on-field player tracking: Zebra Technologies
Salted snacks/popcorn/peanuts/dips/salsa: Frito-Lay (PepsiCo)
Soft drink: Pepsi
Soup: Campbell’s Soup
Sports nutrition: Gatorade (PepsiCo)
Super Bowl Fantasy Sports Insight (FSI): News America
Tablets, laptops, operating systems: Microsoft (Surface, Windows, Teams)
Trucks: Ford
Visors: Oakley
Volumetric image/video capture: Intel
Wi-Fi analytics, network solutions: Extreme Networks
Wireless, local long distance telecom services; smart communities services, digital media video services (non-exclusive): Verizon
Yoghurt/yoghurt-based smoothies: Dannon
Additional partners: Fanatics, Sportradar, Snapchat, EA Sports, Reddit, Roc Nation, SiriusXM, Ticketmaster, TikTok, Under Armour
The teams
AFC
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Principal owner: Terry and Kim Pegula
Home venue: Bills Stadium (71,600)
Arena operator: Pegula Sports and Entertainment
Stadium naming rights partner: N/A
Other key partners: Dunn Tire; PepsiCo; Toyota; M&T Bank; Toshiba; Seneca Resorts and Casinos; Tim Hortons; Visa; Procter & Gamble
Local broadcasters: WIVB-TV (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate in Buffalo); WUTV (Fox TV affiliate in Buffalo); WGRZ (NBC TV affiliate in Buffalo); WKBW-TV (pre-season TV in Buffalo); MSG Western New York (pre-season TV in Western New York); WJET-TV (pre-season TV in Erie); WROC-TV (pre-season TV in Rochester); WSYR-TV (pre-season TV in Syracuse); WUTR (pre-season TV in Utica); WETM-TV (pre-season TV in Elmira); WIVT (pre-season TV in Binghamton)
Miami Dolphins
Principal owner: Stephen Ross
Home venue: Hard Rock Stadium (65,326)
Arena operator: Franchise owned and operated
Stadium naming rights partner: Hard Rock, US$14 million per season, signed 2016, expires 2034
Other key partners: Baptist Heath, Dade County Federal Credit Union, Litecoin Foundation, Monkey Knife Fight, RoofClaim.com, Swish Beverages, Tryp Rides Uber, University of Miami Health System
Local broadcasters: WFOR (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate in Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WSVN (Fox TV affiliate in Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WTVJ (NBC TV affiliate in Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WSFL-TV (ESPN/ABC TV affiliate in Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WTVX (pre-season TV in West Palm Beach/Fort Pierce); WBBH (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate in Fort Myers); WRDQ (pre-season TV in Orlando); WQAM, WKIS (English radio in Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WNMA (Spanish radio in Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WEFL (Spanish radio in West Palm Beach)
New England Patriots
Principal owner: Robert Kraft
Home venue: Gillette Stadium (65,878)
Arena operator: The Kraft Group
Stadium naming rights partner: Gillette, extended 2010, expires 2031, original 15-year deal in 2005 valued at US$105 million
Other key partners: Bank of America, Fanatics, Gulf Oil, PepsiCo, Putnam Investments, Raytheon, Verizon, WBZ-FM 98.5, Zudy
Local broadcasters: WBZ-TV (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate); WFXT-TV (Fox TV); WBTS-CD (NBC TV affiliate); WCVB-TV (ESPN/ABC affiliate); WBZ-FM (English radio)
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Principal owner: Steve Bisciotti
Home venue: M&T Bank Stadium (71,000)
Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of Maryland Stadium Authority
Stadium naming rights partner: M&T Bank, deal worth US$6 million a year, signed 2017, expires 2027
Other key partners: Anheuser-Busch InBev; Caesars Entertainment; the Coca-Cola Company; Ford; Maryland Lottery; Maryland Transportation Authority; Molson Miller Brewing; Xfinity; 97.9 FM Rock Baltimore
Local broadcasters: WIYY, WBAL (English radio); WJZ-TV (CBS TV affiliate); WBFF-TV (Fox TV affiliate); WBAL-TV (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate)
Cincinnati Bengals
Principal owner: Mike Brown
Home venue: Paul Brown Stadium (65,500)
Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of Hamilton County, Ohio
Stadium naming rights partner: N/A
Other key partners: Aramark; Ball Park Franks; Fifth Third Bank; Kimberly-Clark; Mike’s Car Wash; Papa Johns; WCKY-AM ESPN 1530; WEBN 102.7 FM; WLW-AM 700; WKRC-TV CBS 12
Local broadcasters: 700 WLW, 102.7 WEBN, ESPN 1530 (all iHeartMedia Cincinnati English radio); WKRC-TV (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate); WXIX-TV (Fox TV affiliate); WLWT-TV (NBC TV affiliate)
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Joe Burrow first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, with the quarterback learning the news from his home in Ohio
Cleveland Browns
Principal owner: Jimmy Haslam
Home venue: FirstEnergy Stadium (67,900)
Arena operator: In-house franchise operation on behalf of the City of Cleveland
Stadium naming rights partner: FirstEnergy, deal worth US$6 million a year, signed 2013, expires 2029
Other key partners: Anheuser-Busch InBev; Electronic Merchant System; FanDuel; Fifth Third Bank; Keurig Dr Pepper; Lake Erie College Osteopathic Medicine; Medical Mutual; PepsiCo; Sherwin-Williams Company
Local broadcasters: WKNR-AM, WKRK-FM, and WNCX-FM (English radio); WKYC-TV (pre-season, NBC and ESPN TV affiliate); WOIO (CBS TV affiliate); WJW (Fox TV affiliate); SportsTime Ohio (local cable TV partner for non-live programming)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Principal owner: Rooney family
Home venue: Heinz Field (68,400)
Arena operator: Dual tenant operation with the University of Pittsburgh on behalf of Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Stadium naming rights partner: Heinz, US$57 million, signed 2001, expires 2021
Other key partners: Daktronics, FanDuel, Guardian Protective Services, Hyundai, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut, PNC Bank, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, US Steel, XFinity
Local broadcasters: KDKA-TV (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate); WPGH-TV (Fox TV affiliate); WPXI (NBC TV affiliate); WTAE-TV (ESPN/ABC TV affiliate); WDVE, WBGG (English radio); Steelers en Español (Spanish radio)
AFC South
Houston Texans
Principal owner: Janice McNair
Home venue: NRG Stadium
Arena operator: ASM Global
Stadium naming rights partner: NRG, US$300 million, signed 2000, expires 2032
Other key partners: Xfinity, BMW, Chevron, Hyundai Motor Company, DelFrisco’s, Mattress Firm, Microsoft, Verizon, Waste Management
Local broadcasters: KTRK-TV (pre-season and ABC affiliate in Houston); KHOU (CBS affiliate in Houston); KRIV (Fox affiliate in Houston); KPRC-TV (NBC affiliate in Houston); KILT (English radio); KLOL (Spanish radio)
Indianapolis Colts
Principal owner: James Irsay
Home venue: Lucas Oil Stadium (67,000)
Arena operator: Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana
Stadium naming rights partner: Lucas Oil Products, US$122 million, signed 2006, expires 2028
Other key partners: Allegiant Air, American Family Insurance, Caesars Entertainment, Coca-Cola, Fanatics, FanDuel, Kerauno, Oliver Winery & Vineyards, Vivid Seats, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance
Local broadcasters: WXIN (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Indianapolis); WTTV (CBS TV affiliate in Indianapolis); WTHR (NBC TV affiliate in Indianapolis); WFNI and WLHK (English radio)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Principal owner: Shahid Khan
Home venue: TIAA Bank Field (67,164)
Arena operator: ASM Global
Stadium naming rights partner: TIAA Bank, value unreported, signed 2018, expires 2024,
Other key partners: Anheurser-Busch InBev, Axalta, Baptist Health, Daily’s, Dream Finders Homes, Fields Auto Group, LycaMobile, Publix, US Assure
Local broadcasters: WJAX-TV (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate); WFOX-TV (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate); WTLV (NBC TV affiliate); WYKB, WSOS-FM, WGNE-FM (English radio)
The Jacksonville Jaguars will not make their annual pilgrimage to London this year
Tennessee Titans
Principal owner: Amy Adams Strunk
Home venue: Nissan Stadium (69,143)
Arena operator: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Stadium naming rights partner: Nissan, US$5 million to US$6.5 million per season, signed 2015, expires 2035
Other key partners: Ascension’s Saint Thomas Health, Ashton Rea/Max Advantage, Black Tie Moving, Celero Commerce, Genesis Diamonds, Kroger, Lyft, Miller Brewing Company, Ole Smoky, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Local broadcasters: WTVF (CBS TV affiliate); WZTV (Fox TV affiliate); WNBJ-LD (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); WKRN-TV (ABC/ESPN TV affiliate) WGFX (English radio)
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Principal owner: Pat Bowlen
Home venue: Empower Field at Mile High (76,125)
Arena operator: Stadium Management Company
Stadium naming rights partner: Empower Retirement, US$5 million per season, signed 2019, expires 2039
Other key partners: Children’s Hospital Colorado, Lazydays RV, King Soopers, OtterBox, PDC Energy, Gatorade, UCHealth, United Airlines, 24 Hour Fitness
Local broadcasters: KTVD (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate); KCNC-TV (CBS TV affiliate); KUSA (NBC TV affiliate); KOA and KRFX (English radio); KNRV (Spanish radio)
Kansas City Chiefs
Principal owner: Hunt family
Home venue: Arrowhead Stadium (72,936)
Arena operator: In house franchise operation on behalf of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority
Stadium naming rights partner: N/A
Other key partners: Bridgestone, Caesars Entertainment, The Coca-Cola Company, DirecTV, EA Sports, Frito-Lay, Kansas Lottery, Sleep Number, State Farm, USAA, the University of Kansas Health System
Local broadcasters: KCTV (CBS TV affiliate); WDAF-TV (Fox TV affiliate); KSHB-TV (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); WDAF-FM (English radio); KCTO (Spanish radio)
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Las Vegas Raiders
Principal owner: Mark and Carol Davis
Home venue: Allegiant Stadium (65,000)
Arena operator: ASM Global
Stadium naming rights partner: Allegiant Air, US$20 million to US$25 million per season, signed 2019, expires 2030
Other key partners: America First Credit Union, Caesars Entertainment, Coors Light, Cox Communications, Credit One Bank, Ford, Homie, Intermountain Healthcare, MGM Resorts International, Modelo, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, San Manuel Casino, Twitch
Local broadcasters: KVVU-TV (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Las Vegas); KLAS (CBS TV affiliate in Las Vegas); KSNV (Sinclair-owned NBC TV affiliate in Las Vegas); KTVU-TV (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in the Bay Area); KPIX (CBS TV affiliate in the Bay Area); KNTV (NBC TV affiliate in Las Vegas); KOMP, KRLV (English radio in Las Vegas); KCBS, KGMZ, KFRC (English radio in the Bay Area); KVMX (Spanish radio in the Bay Area)
Los Angeles Chargers
Principal owner: Dean Spanos
Home venue: SoFi Stadium (70,000)
Arena operator: StadCo LA
Stadium naming rights partner: Social Finance, US$30 million per season, signed 2019, expires 2040
Other key partners: Albertsons, Anheuser-Busch InBev, American Airlines, Marsh & McLennan Agency, Monkey Knife Fight, Pacifico, San Manuel Casino, Tender Greens, Vons and Pavilions
Local broadcasters: KCBS-TV (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate in Los Angeles); KTTV (Fox affiliate in Los Angeles); KNBC (NBC affiliate in Los Angeles); KAZA-TV (Spanish-language TV in Los Angeles); KFMB-TV (CBS, ABC/ESPN TV Affiliate in San Diego); KMSB (Fox TV affiliate in San Diego) KNSD-TV (NBC TV affiliate in San Diego); KFI and KLAC (English radio in Los Angeles); KBUE (Spanish radio in Los Angeles); KGB-FM, KLSD (English radio in San Diego); XEXX-AM (Spanish radio in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico)
NFC
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Principal owner: Jerry Jones
Home venue: AT&T Stadium (80,000)
Arena operator: In house franchise operation on behalf of City of Arlington
Stadium naming rights partner: AT&T, US$17 million to US$19 million per season, signed 2013, length unreported
Other key partners: Allstate, American Airlines, Chevron Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Geico, Jim Beam, Keurig Dr Pepper, Mastercard, Nike, PepsiCo
Local broadcasters: KDFW (Fox TV affiliate in Dallas/Fort Worth); KTVT (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate in Dallas/Fort Worth); KXAS-TV (NBC TV affiliate in Dallas/Fort Worth); KRLD-FM (English radio); KXTX (Spanish-language TV in Dallas/Fort Worth); KMVK (Spanish radio)
Philadelphia Eagles
Principal owner: Jeffrey Lurie
Home venue: Lincoln Financial Field (69,796)
Arena operator: In house franchise operation on behalf of the City of Philadelphia
Stadium naming rights partner: Lincoln Financial Group, US$139.6 million, signed 2002, expires 2022
Other key partners: Rothman Orthopaedics at Jefferson Health, American Airlines, American Automotive Association, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Coca-Cola, EA Sports, Independence Blue Cross, Microsoft, Toyota, Xfinity
Local broadcasters: KYW-TV (CBS TV affiliate); WTXF-TV (Fox TV affiliate); WCAU (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); NBC Sports Philadelphia (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); WIP-FM (English radio); WEMG (Spanish radio)
New York Giants
Principal owner: John Mara
Home venue: MetLife Stadium (82,500)
Arena operator: MetLife Stadium Company
Stadium naming rights partner: MetLife, US$16 million per season, signed 2011, expires 2036
Other key partners: Anheurser-Busch InBev, Dell Technologies, Ernst & Young, PepsiCo, Quest Diagnostics, SAP, Toyota Motor Corporation, United Rentals, Verizon
Local broadcasters: WNYW (Fox TV affiliate in New York); WCBS-TV (CBS TV affiliate in New York); WNBC (NBC TV affiliate in New York); WPIX-TV, WABC-TV (ESPN/ABC TV affiliate); WEPN-FM (English radio); WADO AM (Spanish radio)
Washington Football Team
Principal owner: Daniel Snyder
Home venue: FedEx Field (82,00)
Arena operator: Franchise owned and operated
Stadium naming rights partner: FedEx, US$205 million, signed 1999, expires 2025
Other key partners: Inova Health System, Acronis, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bank of America, Fanatics, Medliminal, PepsiCo, Recycle Track Systems, Safeway, Swish Beverages
Local broadcasters: WUSA (CBS TV affiliate); WTTG (Fox TV affiliate); WRC-TV (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); NBC Sports Washington (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); WTEM, WSBN, and WMAL-FM (English radio)
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Principal owner: Virginia Halas McCaskey
Home venue: Soldier Field (61,500)
Arena operator: ASM Global
Stadium naming rights partner: N/A
Other key partners: Advocate Health Care; Aramark Corp; Berggar’s Pizza; Keurig Dr Pepper; Molson Coors; Motorola; Proven IT; PNC Bank; Under Armour; United Airlines; Xfinity
Local broadcasters: WBBM, WCFS-FM (English radio); WRTO, WVIV-FM (Spanish radio); WFLD (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Chicago); WBBM-TV (CBS TV affiliate in Chicago); WMAQ-TV (NBC TV affiliate in Chicago); KFXA (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Cedar Rapids); WCCU (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Champaign-Urbana); KLJB (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Quad Cities); WQRF (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Rockford); WRSP-TV (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate in Springfield); WMBD-TV (pre-season and CBS TV in Peoria); WIFR (pre-season and CBS TV in Rockford); WSBT-TV (pre-season and CBS TV in South Bend)
Detroit Lions
Principal owner: Sheila Ford Hamp
Home venue: Ford Field (65,000)
Arena operator: In house franchise operation on behalf of Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority
Stadium naming rights partner: Ford Motor Company, US$40 million, signed 1996, expires 2022
Other key partners: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan, Comerica, Kroger, Meijer, Miller Brewing, PepsiCo, Quicken Loans, Bet MGM
Local broadcasters: WJBK (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate); WWJ-TV (CBS TV affiliate); WDIV-TV (NBC TV affiliate); WJR (English radio)
Green Bay Packers
Principal owner: Publicly held nonprofit corporation
Home venue: Lambeau Field (81,441)
Arena operator: In house franchise operation on behalf of the City of Green Bay and Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District
Stadium naming rights partner: N/A
Other key partners: American Family Insurance, Ariens Company, Associated Bank, Bellin Health, the Coca-Cola Company, Johnsonville, Miller Brewing, Old Wisconsin, Oneida Nation, US Cellular
Local broadcasters: WTMJ-TV (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate in Milwaukee); WGBA-TV (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate in Green Bay); WFRV-TV (CBS TV affiliate in Green Bay); WLUK-TV (Fox TV affiliate in Green Bay); WTMJ (English radio in Milwaukee); WTAQ and WIXX (English radio in Green Bay)
Minnesota Vikings
Principal owner: Wilf Family
Home venue: US Bank Stadium (73,000)
Arena operator: ASM Global
Stadium naming rights partner: US Bank, US$8.8 million per season, signed 2015, expires 2040
Other key partners: BWW, Centurylink, Delta, Hyundai, HyVee, Land O’Lakes, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Polaris, Verizon
Local broadcasters: KMSP-TV (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate); WCCO (CBS TV affiliate); KARE (NBC TV affiliate); KFXN-FM (English radio)
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NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Principal owner: Arthur Blank (AMB Sports and Entertainment Group)
Home venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (75,000)
Arena operator: AMB Sports and Entertainment Group
Stadium naming rights partner: Mercedes-Benz, deal worth US$32.4 million a year, signed 2017, expires 2044
Other key partners: AT&T, American Family Insurance, the Coca-Cola Company, Equifax, Georgia Power, the Home Depot, IBM, Novelis, SCANA Energy, SunTrust
Local broadcasters: 92.9 The Game (English radio); WUPA (pre-season TV); WAGA-TV (Fox TV affiliate); WGCL-TV (CBS TV affiliate); WXIA (NBC TV affiliate)
Carolina Panthers
Principal owner: David Tepper
Home venue: Bank of America Stadium (75,500)
Arena operator: Panthers Stadium LLC
Stadium naming rights partner: Bank of America, deal worth US$7 million a year, signed 2004, expires 2024
Other key partners: Atrium Health; Belk; Bojangles; Caesar’s Entertainment; the Coca-Cola Company; Delaware North; Fanatics; Lowe’s; WBT-AM 1110 and WBT-FM 99.3
Local broadcasters: WBT (English radio; WGSP-FM (Spanish radio); WJZY (Fox TV affiliate); WBTV (CBS TV affiliate); WSOC-TV (pre-season and ESPN TV affiliate); WCNC-TV (NBC TV affiliate)
Fans will be limited at New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome this season
New Orleans Saints
Principal owner: Gayle Benson
Home venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome (74,295)
Arena operator: ASM Global
Stadium naming rights partner: Mercedes-Benz, US$5.5 million per season, signed 2011, expires 2021
Other key partners: Cox Communications, Anheurser-Busch InBev, Chevron Corporation, Coca-Cola, Caesar’s Entertainment Corporation, Dixie Brewing; Sanderson Farms; Oschner Health; Peoples Health; Primesport; Hancock Whitney; Community Coffee; SeatGeek, Verizon, Microsoft, Bose, Procter & Gamble, Shell Oil
Local broadcasters: WVUE-TV (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate); WWL-TV (CBS TV affiliate); WDSU (NBC TV affiliate); WWL, WWL-FM (English radio); KGLA, WFNO (Spanish radio)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Principal owner: Glazer family
Home venue: Raymond James Stadium (65,618)
Arena operator: Tampa Sports Authority
Stadium naming rights partner: Raymond James, value unreported, signed 2016, expires 2027
Other key partners: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Century Link, Coca-Cola, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Miller Brewing Company, Publix, Verizon
Local broadcasters: WTSP (CBS TV affiliate); WTVT (Fox TV affiliate); WFLA-TV (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); WXTB (English radio); WTMP-FM, WMGG (Spanish radio)
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Principal owner: Michael Bidwill
Home venue: State Farm Stadium (75,000)
Arena operator: ASM Global
Stadium naming rights partner: State Farm, value unreported, signed 2018, expires 2036
Other key partners: Anheuser-Busch InBev; Cigna; Cisco; Cox Communications; Dignity Health; Gala River Hotels & Casinos; Geico; Hyundai; SeatGeek
Local broadcasters: KMVP-FM (English radio); KQMR, KHOV-FM (Spanish radio); KPNX (pre-season and NBC TV affiliate); KSAZ-TV (Fox TV affiliate); KPHO-TV (CBS TV affiliate)
Los Angeles Rams
Principal owner: Stan Kroenke
Home venue: SoFi Stadium (70,000)
Arena operator: StadCo LA, LLC
Stadium naming rights partner: SoFi, US$30 million per season, signed 2019, expires 2040
Other key partners: American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch InBev, AT&T, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Legends Global Partnerships, PepsiCo, Toyota Motor Corporation, Hino Trucks, Unify Financial Credit Union, Wells Fargo
Local broadcasters: KTTV (Fox TV affiliate); KNBC (NBC TV affiliate); KCBS-TV (pre-season and CBS affiliate); KSPN, KCBS-FM (English radio); KFTR (Spanish-language TV); KWKW (Spanish radio)
The LA Rams begin life at their new SoFi Stadium home this season
San Francisco 49ers
Principal owner: Denise DeBartolo York
Home venue: Levi’s Stadium (68,500)
Arena operator: Santa Clara Stadium Authority
Stadium naming rights partner: Levi’s, US$220.3 million, signed 2013, expires 2033
Other key partners: SAP, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Citrix, Dignity Health, Foxconn Industrial Internet, Intel, PepsiCo, Toyota, United Airlines, Visa, Yahoo
Local broadcasters: KPIX-TV (pre-season and CBS TV affiliate); KTVU (Fox TV affiliate); KNTV (NBC TV affiliate); KSAN-FM (English radio); KNBR (English radio)
Seattle Seahawks
Principal owner: Jody Allen
Home venue: CenturyLink Field (68,740)
Arena operator: First & Goal Inc
Stadium naming rights partner: CenturyLink, US$162.7 million, signed 2019, expires 2033
Other key partners: American Family Insurance, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Boeing, Delta, Nike, Safeway, Toyota, Verizon, Virginia Mason
Local broadcasters: KIRO-TV (CBS TV affiliate); KCPQ (pre-season and Fox TV affiliate); KING-TV (NBC TV affiliate); KIRO (English radio)
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