New York City-based interactive agency THINK
New Ideas Inc. has teamed with Players Inc., the licensing and marketing
subsidiary of the National Football
League Players Association (NFLPA) to cybercast four days of the Super Bowl
1999 NFL Players Party.
The www.nflplayers.com site was created
by
THINK in partnership with Players Inc. with the goal of strengthening fan
loyalty, players’ presence on and off the gridiron, and the Players Inc.
brand.
The Super Bowl party at the site will feature live audio and video including
footage of NFL players performing on stage, live chat with NFL stars,
participate in polls and contests. Players scheduled to participate in the
festivities include Miami Dolphins Trace Armstrong and Zach Thomas, the
Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis and the Denver Broncos’ Shannon Sharpe.
Other highlights of the four-day cybercast will include live entertainment
from Naughty By Nature, chats with NFL standouts Tim Brown (Oakland), Emmitt
Smith (Dallas), Jerome Bettis (Pittsburgh) and Kevin Greene (Carolina), a live
halftime chat with NFL Hall of Famer Jack Ham and daily reports.
“Working with THINK provides us with the technological and interactive
marketing capabilities needed to host a virtual party for millions of football
fans around the world,” said Pat Allen, executive vice president and COO of
Players Inc. “Our partnership with THINK continues to enhance our online
presence as we market our players–both as personalities and professional
athletes–during Super Bowl week and beyond.”
Coming later in 1999, THINK said the nflplayers.com will be enhanced with the
creation of a network of individual Web sites for over 1,800 active and 200
retired NFL players, utilizing THINK’s proprietary WebMechanic technology,
providing NFL players with the ability to edit, create and refresh content
from any location in a user-friendly, non-technical process. In addition, the
network will provide a platform for players to communicate directly with their
fans.
Players Inc. develops marketing opportunities for current and former NFL
players. The company was founded by the NFL Players Association in 1994. It is
involved in licensed merchandise programs, corporate sponsorships and
promotions, special events, music and video recordings, as well as television,
radio and publishing projects.
