Paul Revered: NFL’s Plans For Weeklong Gala In Boston Emerge

The NFL as part of its inaugural NFL Opening Kickoff is launching an “all-out media and marketing blitz that includes a week's worth of activities in Boston” before opening the season with Colts-Patriots on September 9, according to Greg Gatlin of the BOSTON HERALD. Plans include this weekend’s free NFL Kickoff Football Festival held on South Boston's Fan Pier with “autograph signing, field-goal kicking, football throwing and other drills. The festival mimics the NFL Experience.” Two America’s Cup sailboats, one with Patriots logos and the other with Colts logos, will race in Boston Harbor on Saturday. A Boston cinema will screen football movies “for special guests,” and a kickoff dinner is planned for the Park Plaza Hotel Wednesday, September 8. The NFL to promote the season-opener “will run ads with a value of more than $20[M]” that will air 85 times on ABC and ESPN. The league will also run radio, online and print ads in “major football publications and newspapers.” NFL sponsors Visa and Coors “will show new creative content during the game.” NFL Marketing Dir Ty Stewart: “Opening night has the potential to be an unofficial American holiday as well. We look at it as a platform to rival the Super Bowl” (BOSTON HERALD, 9/1).