Latest news with #NFLFlag
ABC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
America's National Football League invests heavily in Australian sporting market
It is billed as a game of ferocious hits and blistering speed, with strategies as technical as in a game of chess. Flag Football is to American Football what Oztag is to rugby league — non-contact — and will have a place in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Its popularity is surging across the Australia. NFL Flag is the non-contact version of American Football where teams of five face-off wearing flag belts to replace the tackling, much like attacking team gets four attempts to advance the ball over the halfway line either by throwing the ball to a receiver or handing it off to a runner in a bid to reset the down (tag) count while the opposition to do so results in a turnover but if successful the attacking team will then have three more attempts to score by crossing the touch down line similar to scoring a try in rugby. Source: NFL Flag Year 9 students Jorja Knobloch and Maddie Simpson from Suncoast Christian College never imagined they would play the American sport. "We heard about it at school and heard they were having tryouts, so we thought we would go and see," Maddie said. "We loved it." "My mum told me that I should trial because why not?" Georgia said. "We went to the trials and lots of boys were there but we kept trying and have played Oztag before so that helped. "You've got to be good at switching ways fast, zigzagging and being able to catch the ball." Hundreds of Australian schools are now taking part and it has the US league, the NFL, bullish on the market here. Earlier this year, it was announced the sport would host its first regular season match in Australia at the MCG next year. NFL Australia and New Zealand (NFLAUNZ) general manager Charlotte Offord said the sport's growth had been exponential since its launch three years ago. "It's one of the world's fastest-growing sports, there are over 20 million players across the world now, and it is doubling its numbers in every market we are investing in. "The inclusion in LA28 was a really big moment for the sport and really uplifted the uptake, and we are very ambitious in our quest to try and get Flag Football into Brisbane 2032. It is a big punt on Australia if the NFL believes flag can hold its own against the country's most popular sports. For adults, athletics, cycling and swimming dominate, with millions participating across Australia. For under 15s, it would have to match or top the popularity of soccer, basketball, gymnastics and dancing to make it on the podium. But there is a base. Seven estimates 2.6 million people saw part of its NFL Super Bowl broadcast in February, when the Philadelphia Eagles took on the Kansas City Chiefs. In a statement, it said its TV coverage was watched by 892,000, up 11 per cent on the year before. Seven said its coverage of the entire NFL season reached 4.7 million people. The under-15s NFL Flag Football South State Championships were held on Queensland's Sunshine Coast last week, with the winning school Benowa State High to compete at the national championships on the Gold Coast later this month. The winner of that tournament will then fly to Canton in Ohio to compete against schools from around the world — with all expenses paid by the NFL. "Our quest is about how we can grow and globalise this game as we've been investing in international markets for about 20 years now," Ms Offord said. "We started two years ago with 5.7 million fans in Australia and we're now at 7.5 million. "We can see the potential for this market, and a Melbourne game next year will be the icing on the cake." That investment is paving the way for Australian athletes who once considered playing in the NFL to be a pipedream. Year 8 Varsity College student Kane Buchanan started playing three years ago and is already turning heads with his throwing ability. He said his dream was to become the first Australian quarterback drafted into the NFL. "Madden [an NFL video game] was a big help. "My first goal is playing high school football, then going onto college division 1, and then going to the NFL."
Canada Standard
21-05-2025
- Business
- Canada Standard
Bengals Join NFL's Global Markets Program in Canada
The Cincinnati Bengals have been granted international marketing rights in Canada as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program. This allows the Bengals to build brand awareness and fandom in Canada through engagement, marketing, digital and social media content, and NFL Flag development. "Canada has a great history and passion for football, and we are excited to join the Global Markets Program to further engage with and grow our strong Canadian fanbase," said Bengals Director of Strategy and Engagement Elizabeth Blackburn. "Growing the game globally is an important priority for the NFL. We are excited to be part of the Global Markets Program's expansion to include all 32 teams and look forward to broadening the reach of Who Dey Nation in Canada." Canada is considered a priority market for the NFL. The Bengals selected Canada as a way to grow the team's brand in a country where an authentic connection already exists. Bengals players Chase Brown and Tanner McLachlan both are Canadian, which has led to content and marketing opportunities with NFL Canada. Brown, along with Ja'Marr Chase, visited Montreal last year to support the Montreal Flag Regional and tour the Montreal Canadiens NHL facilities. The team's 2023 International Fan of the Year John Di Girolamo is part of a passionate fanbase in Canada. Di Girolamo lives in Toronto and travels to Cincinnati for Bengals games as a Season Ticket Member. "The Bengals' fanbase in Canada is growing," said Di Girolamo. "This will be a great opportunity to help connect Bengals fans across the country and continue to build an international fanbase for the team." With the addition of the Bengals and two other teams, all 32 clubs will now officially participate in the Global Markets Program across 21 international markets as the NFL continues to prioritize global growth. "We're thrilled to have all 32 clubs a part of the Global Markets Program in 2025," said NFL Executive Vice President Club Business, Major Events & International Peter O'Reilly. "League-wide club participation in the program underlines the strategic priority both the NFL and its teams share, to invest in global growth. We continue to see strong momentum worldwide and look forward to bringing fans internationally closer to our game, together." NFL clubs can apply for rights to international markets by submitting proposals to the International Committee for review each spring. Clubs are awarded rights for a five-year term through the program and during this period can pursue activities that are consistent with what they can do in their home domestic market, in their awarded international markets. For more information on the Global Markets Program, visit:
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Horicon golf course closes after tornado causes widespread damage
HORICON, Wis. (WFRV) – Horicon Hills Golf Club is closed through the weekend after sustaining significant damage from a tornado that struck during Thursday's severe storms. In a social media post, the course's owners confirmed the tornado caused extensive damage, uprooting or damaging more than 100 trees, damaging the building, and tossing golf carts across the property. NFL Flag teams from across U.S. compete at Lambeau Field Super Regional 'Everyone is safe, the rest is stuff,' the club shared online. Cleanup is now underway, but the course will remain closed to golfers for the time being. Those hoping to play a round will need to make alternate plans this weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
23-04-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
NFL shines spotlight on flag football as the draft takes over Green Bay
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While the NFL draft takes over Titletown and Lambeau Field, the league is leveraging the excitement surrounding its premier offseason event to promote flag football. Former NFL players Bobby Taylor and Mike Daniels led a flag football training clinic for students on Tuesday. Draft prospects along with more former players participated in another flag football skills clinic that included 75 Special Olympics athletes on Wednesday. Six high school girls' flag football players will also be backstage Thursday night to hand off hats to the prospects who are drafted. On Saturday, girls flag players from Oneida Nation High School will announce one of the draft picks on stage thanks to Packers quarterback Jordan Love and Toyota. 'Having the NFL draft here in Green Bay, and obviously, flag football, especially girls flag football, it's a growing sport,' Love said. 'So we're giving a girls flag football team in the area of Green Bay the opportunity to come out, get on stage during Day 3 of the NFL draft, actually go up there and announce a draft pick. We are empowering them and hopefully giving them an opportunity to visualize what a future in football looks like and making it to that pinnacle of the top.' Love has also teamed up with Toyota, presenting sponsor of NFL Flag League Play, to increase opportunities for flag football players. They're covering registration fees for all NFL Flag teams within a 25-mile radius of the Green Bay area. The NFL's goals of expanding flag football starts with Commissioner Roger Goodell. The league played a major role in getting flag football included in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 'Flag football has been growing dramatically here in the states as well as internationally,' Goodell said earlier this month. 'It's brought young women into the sport and it's given them a chance to play, which I think is incredibly valuable to our future and rewarding. So now to put it on that Olympic stage is really putting a seal of approval. And frankly it's going to be a stage where a lot of athletes are going to want to participate in, including former and current players, so we'll to have to work through it. I think it's a great opportunity for the athletes, a great opportunity for the NFL and I think it'll be a great opportunity for people to understand football and what it brings to the world.' ___
Fox Sports
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
NFL shines spotlight on flag football as the draft takes over Green Bay
Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While the NFL draft takes over Titletown and Lambeau Field, the league is leveraging the excitement surrounding its premier offseason event to promote flag football. Former NFL players Bobby Taylor and Mike Daniels led a flag football training clinic for students on Tuesday. Draft prospects along with more former players participated in another flag football skills clinic that included 75 Special Olympics athletes on Wednesday. Six high school girls' flag football players will also be backstage Thursday night to hand off hats to the prospects who are drafted. On Saturday, girls flag players from Oneida Nation High School will announce one of the draft picks on stage thanks to Packers quarterback Jordan Love and Toyota. 'Having the NFL draft here in Green Bay, and obviously, flag football, especially girls flag football, it's a growing sport,' Love said. 'So we're giving a girls flag football team in the area of Green Bay the opportunity to come out, get on stage during Day 3 of the NFL draft, actually go up there and announce a draft pick. We are empowering them and hopefully giving them an opportunity to visualize what a future in football looks like and making it to that pinnacle of the top.' Love has also teamed up with Toyota, presenting sponsor of NFL Flag League Play, to increase opportunities for flag football players. They're covering registration fees for all NFL Flag teams within a 25-mile radius of the Green Bay area. The NFL's goals of expanding flag football starts with Commissioner Roger Goodell. The league played a major role in getting flag football included in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 'Flag football has been growing dramatically here in the states as well as internationally,' Goodell said earlier this month. 'It's brought young women into the sport and it's given them a chance to play, which I think is incredibly valuable to our future and rewarding. So now to put it on that Olympic stage is really putting a seal of approval. And frankly it's going to be a stage where a lot of athletes are going to want to participate in, including former and current players, so we'll to have to work through it. I think it's a great opportunity for the athletes, a great opportunity for the NFL and I think it'll be a great opportunity for people to understand football and what it brings to the world.' Many NFL star players have already said they'd like to play flag football in the Olympics. But the league and the players' union still have to figure out if that's possible. ___ AP NFL: recommended in this topic
