Contact:
Mary Griswold 212/450-2068
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFLE 11/5/97
NFL.COM
ATTRACTS RECORD TRAFFIC;
FANS TURN TO SITE FOR ENHANCED GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE
New York, NY - - As the race for an NFL playoff berth heats up, so has the action in cyberspace as NFL.com, the NFL’s official web site, has seen a record number of users visit the site since its relaunch in late August.
NFL.com traffic has more than doubled from last season. So far this season on NFL.com:
A recent poll on the site revealed that more and more football fans are using the computer to enhance their NFL gameday experience on Sundays.
"Fans are seeing that NFL.com is a great resource before, during and after the games and a complement to the television broadcasts of NFL games," said Ann Kirschner, vice president, NFL Interactive. "With our enhanced live gameday features, fans can go online and virtually follow in real-time all the games in progress as well as up-to-the minute stats on their favorite players. It’s a great way for fans to follow out-of-market games as well."
In its third season, NFL.com, created by NFL Interactive and ESPN Internet Ventures, features new programming elements, including enhanced live gameday coverage, NFL Films video highlights, "Player Tracker" real-time stats, live polling and trivia, a "Play Football" kids area, as well as redesigned individual team areas.
Live GameDay coverage features live graphical representation of the action on the field for all games in progress. Fan can watch ball movement on field and follow live play-by-play, including drive charts and statistics updated with every play.
Player Tracker enables fans to follow, in real-time, the performance of their favorite players, by instantaneously updating individual player stats. More than 10,000 users have registered to use Player Tracker since its introduction in October.
Play Football Online is one of the most popular destinations on the site. Created in conjunction with Theatrix/Sanctuary Woods and designed specifically for kids, Play Football has received more than 1 million impressions/pages viewed per month. The highlight of the area is the Game Zone with a variety of fun and educational games.
Throughout the week, NFL.com provides daily programming highlights for fans. Sunday: GameDay Live - -live scoreboard and stats. Monday: GameDay Review - - game recaps, photos and stats. Tuesday: NFL Films video highlights; Cyberspace Showdown(live chats with NFL stars.) Wednesday: Player Spotlight - - feature story. Thursday: Weekly Matchups including video highlights Friday: Total Football - - trivia and history Saturday: Play Football - - the NFL just for kids.
The following feedback is from a recent survey on NFL.com asking fans about their gameday experiences:
"When I am experiencing the NFL on Sundays, I usually log into the Internet and go the JAVA gameday scoreboard. Then I tune into the game that effects my home team most on the TV. I try to keep an eye on both the computer and TV screen and it gives me the big picture of where all of the games are. "
"I have my TV set next to my computer so can see both without getting a twitch in my neck. Then I log into NFL.COM and go to this week’s scoreboard and stay there. I will flip through the games on the TV and I stay updated on NFL.COM. The continuous updates allow me to track how all the teams are doing."
"I keep my Netscape open on NFL.COM tracking the games I can't get on TV. I have two computers so one is set on tracking the players live on player tracker and the other is set to live scoreboard. I am thinking of adding a third computer running Win 95 just so I can run Java live updates. I need to get a life."
"On Gameday when I wake up I go online and review my favorite sites for NFL news and notes, that may give me additional insight into the days games before they start.. Once the games start I'm planted in front of the TV with the computer next to me, and the Java scoreboard on. This I feel is the best way to experience all the games at once."
"I wake up and make some coffee then I go upstairs and turn the computer on and hook up into the Internet. Since I moved to North Carolina from Rhode Island, the Internet allows me to gain access to my two favorite teams-- the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. I like to read the commentaries on the games of the day. After I have finished with the Internet, I sit down in front of the television and I watch my two teams play thanks to the help of my satellite dish. When the games are done, I return to the Internet and read the game results."