NFL and Nickelodeon team up for co-branded collection

The NFL and Nickelodeon are set to launch the NFL x Nickelodeon collection ahead of CBS Sports and Nickelodeon’s special slime-filled presentation of the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend game on Sunday, Jan. 16, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). The collection celebrates both NFL and Nickelodeon fans and provides an opportunity for kids and families to showcase their fandom in a fun and elevated way.

The collection will feature designs and logos of NFL teams with a mix of ‘90s fan-favorite Nickelodeon characters from hit series such as Rugrats and Hey Arnold!, as well as pieces with the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants and Nickelodeon Slime. The NFL x Nickelodeon collection will include t-shirts from Junk Food, socks from Rock ‘Em Socks, water bottles from Tervis, and bobbleheads* from FOCO (*pre-sale only).

The collection will be available on NFLshop.com/Nick beginning Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 10 a.m. (ET). Products will also be available at JunkfoodClothing.com and Tervis.com, as well as FOCO.com and RockEmSocks.com, which will offer expanded assortments.

Poetic scores with NFL at Missguided

In its latest collaboration with leading online ladies wear retailer Missguided, Poetic Brands has created a range of NFL apparel targeted at young women.

The new range encompasses a wide offering of products based around some of the key teams in the NFL, including the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers, combined with Missguided branding. Products include varsity jackets, sweatshirts, shorts, leggings, mini dresses, crop tops, T-shirts, co-ord sets, jumper dresses and cardigans.

The new collection follows on from Poetic’s recent NFL collection of menswear for high street retailer Primark, and builds on the apparel specialist’s partnership with the brand.

Over the past 100 years, NFL has become a key part of US culture and has established itself as the most popular spectator sport in the United States. The popularity of American Football has spread worldwide, providing a huge fanbase throughout the UK, so much so that international games are now played each year in leading London venues.

Elliot Matthews, managing director at Poetic Brands, commented: “We’re really thrilled with the NFL x Missguided collection as it’s perfect for the target audience, with relaxed yet stylish options to suit all tastes. NFL is a great brand to work with as its diverse branding and individual team graphics mean it can be applied to designs for a wide variety of consumers and work brilliantly across each one.”

Poetic Brands debuts NFL collection at Primark

A range of men’s T-shirts and sweatshirts from Poetic Brands, based on the American football league, NFL, will launch in Primark this month. The initial collection will be followed up with a larger offering to coincide with the Super Bowl event in February 2022.

Drawing on the rich history of American Football, the collection will feature the instantly recognisable logo of the NFL, as well as the branding of the popular teams that make up the league.

Founded in 1920, the NFL has become a key part of US heritage and culture and is celebrated throughout all states, having become the most popular spectator sport in the United States.

The popularity of American Football has spread worldwide, providing an extensive fanbase throughout the UK, so much so that international games are now played each year in leading London venues. The NFL London Games returned in 2021 and are being planned again for 2022.

Elliott Matthews, Director of Poetic Brands, says: “We’re really excited to launch the first range with Primark. NFL is an iconic brand, and with excitement gearing for the next Super Bowl early in 2022 and the London Games to follow, we’re sure the collection will be a bit hit with fans.”

 

Nickelodeon teams with the NFL and King Saladeen for SpongeBob SquarePants Junk Food clothing range

ViacomCBS Consumer Products has struck up a new partnership with the NFL and Junk Food Clothing to launch an NFL x SpongeBob SquarePants Junk Food Collection by King Saladeen. The collection will feature apparel designed by the popular Philadelphia artist, King Saladeen.

Launching today, the collection of styles includes short sleeve t-shirts and hooded fleeces for adults and children by King Saladeen, inspired by the popular animated duo, SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star with designs and logos of the NFL and its clubs.

The launch arrives in support of the special slime-filled presentation of the NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon, airing Sunday, January 10th.

“We are thrilled to produce a collection of apparel in partnership with Nickelodeon, Junk Food Clothing and King Saladeen,” said Rhiannon Madden, VP of consumer products, NFL. “The collection showcases a unique combination of styles and inspirations that will surely excite fans of all ages ahead of the NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon.”

Jose Castro, senior vice president, licensing collaborations and specialty retail, ViacomCBS, added: “The partnership between the NFL, SpongeBob SquarePants, Junk Food and King Saladeen represents the best in fan culture.

“The collection channels the fun, frenetic and fantastical feelings when art, sports and pop culture collide.”

King Saladeen, said: “This collaboration is the perfect mix of Art & Sports to start a brand-new fan in both worlds. They both teach patience and Teamwork while having fun; Every kid needs to experience that. Hopefully this sparks a new level of creativity for the next generation.”

The collection is now available at NFLShop.com, SpongeBobShop.com, Fanatics.com, JunkfoodClothing.com, participating Lid’s stores, and King Saladeen’s online store.

NFL stars to appear as playable characters in hit mobile game Subway Surfers

Stars of the National Football League are to appear as playable characters in the hit mobile game Subway Surfers in a first of its kind partnership for SYBO Games, the NFL Players Association, and OneTeam Partners.

The endless runner mobile game crossed three billion downloads worldwide in August and was the number one most downloaded mobile game in the US on the App store for both games and apps this past July. The new deal was brokered by OneTeam, the NFLPA’s group licensing representative in the video game category.

For three weeks, beginning September 10th, Subway Surfers gamers can unlock and play as some of the world’s most famous runners. Six NFL players along with their names, numbers, images, and likenesses will be unlockable and playable as Subway Surfers in an American football-themed game event.

Tom Brady (Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Lamar Jackson (Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens), Patrick Mahomes (Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs), Odell Beckham Jr. (Wide receiver, Cleveland Browns), Dak Prescott (Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys) and Saquon Barkley (Running back, New York Giants), will each feature in the game for the limited time.

In addition, in-game hoverboards based on the six NFL player characters will be unlockable prizes.

“The partnership with the NFLPA and OneTeam marks yet another amazing milestone for us,” said Naz Amarchi-Cuevas, SYBO Games’ chief commercial officer. “Coming just after we crossed three billion downloads, this collaboration is yet another first for Subway Surfers. The integration of the NFL stars, combined with our premium gaming experience and overall digital content will galvanize gaming and sports fans alike.”

Steve Scebelo, interim president, NFL PLayers Inc, the marketing and licensing arm of the NFLPA, added: “The endless runner’s storyline, the game’s monthly visit to different cities and its all-around hip and diverse attributes, make Subway Surfers such a natural playing field for the NFLPA.

“We’re excited to offer both mobile gamers and football fans alike a truly one-of-a-kind experience by personifying NFL players in the world’s most downloaded endless runner game.”

In August, Subway Surfers crossed three billion downloads globally and is currently leading the download charts in the United States as the most downloaded free game and free app on iOs, as per industry analyst Sensor Tower. It was named the most downloaded game of the decade in late 2019 by App Annie.

Originally conceived as an animation property in 2009, creators Sylvester Rishøj Jensen and Bodie Jahn-Mulliner won first prize for best animation movie about a cool character that hangs out at an old subway station, avoiding a grumpy inspector and his dog. Their short film gave birth to Subway Surfers, the mobile game in 2012.

Channel 5’s NFL broadcasting partnership will ‘bring excitement of NFL season in the US to British homes’

National Football League will be touching down on UK television thanks to a new partnership struck between the NFL and ViacomCBS Networks International’s Channel 5. The three-year partnership will bring Monday Night Football to the channel, as well as a Sunday morning NFL magazine show.

The partnership aims to ‘take all the excitement of the NFL season in the US into British homes.’ It also covers ‘new and unique NFL content across MTV International’s digital platforms in the UK.’

“We are very proud to have agreed a new partnership with ViacomCBS and Channel 5,” said Sameer Pabari, NFL managing director, international media. “The range of content available across different time slots and platforms means there is something for everyone – from established fans to those new to the sport.”

James Tatam, VP portfolio operations, ViacomCBS Networks UK, added: “We’re looking forward to bringing high-quality entertainment from the NFL to a free-to-air audience in the U.K. The content has a broad, cross-generational appeal that will not only serve an existing NFL fanbase in the UK, but will also attract new viewers to the sport.”

Monday Night Football, one of America’s most iconic TV sports series, will be broadcast from a studio in Los Angeles, with host Kirsten Watson joined by former All-Pro Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew and other special guests.

The Sunday morning show, called NFL End Zone, will be presented by actress and singer Cory Yarckin and “will delve deeper into the culture behind America’s greatest sport,” ViacomCBS said. It will air at 11:30 a.m. U.K. time on Channel 5, which was previously an NFL broadcaster from 1998 to 2009.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, season coverage kicks off on Sunday, with Monday Night Football launching in the UK on Monday from MetLife Stadium as the New York Giants host the Pittsburgh Steelers on the opening weekend of the season.

Bit Fry Game Studios scores NFL Players Association partnership for its latest video game push

Bit Fry Game Studios has struck up an agreement with OneTeam Partners and the NFL Players Association to bring an officially-licensed football game to the studios’ growing line-up of sports videogames.

The games developer already incorporates select NFL players into its existing arcade action NHL-licensed hockey game Ultimate Rivals: The Rink, and its upcoming NBA-licensed basketball game, Ultimate Rivals: The Court. With the NFLPA license, Bit Fry will enable users to play on the virtual gridiron with superstar athletes from across hockey, basketball, baseball, and soccer, alongside a select roster of NFL players.

The agreement grants Bit Fry the right to feature the names, numbers, images, and likenesses of nearly 2,000 current NFL players in an arcade action football game. OneTeam, the NFLPA’s group licensing representative, facilitated the deal.

“Bit Fry is the leading studio in the arcade-action sports segment and is thrilled to be bringing the NFL players into the Ultimate Rivals universe with another play-book shredding, category defining title that gives football a video-game treatment unlike any seen before it,” said Ben Freidlin, CEO and founder of Bit Fry Game Studios and the creator of the Ultimate Rivals franchise.

“Fans of the franchise can expect the studio to remain dedicated to an exceptionally high quality experience, including all of the standard baseline ingredients of a Bit Fry game, such as 60fps framerates minimum, an unprecedented balance of approachable gameplay and high skill-cap depth, and industry standard-setting visuals and auditory aesthetics.”

Steve Scebelo, interim president, NFL Players Inc, added: “Bit Fry’s games continue to impress, providing opportunities for fans to create virtual team mashups while including the likes of Alex Morgan, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mike Trout and Skylar Diggins-Smith.

“As we look for new ways to connect with sports gamers, especially in today’s climate, this is an exciting development for fans and the future of gaming.”

“We are constantly exploring ways to innovate how athletes interact with fans across the ever-evolving games landscape, and this partnership with the NFLPA and Bit Fry Game Studios illustrates the creative potential that exists,” said Ahmad Nassar, CEO, OneTeam Partners.

Ultimate Rivals: The Rink is available now exclusively on Apple Arcade and will be followed by Ultimate Rivals: The Court. Bit Fry’s football game is scheduled for release in 2021, with platforms to be announced at a later date.