CONTACT:
Brian McCarthy, NFL, 212-450-2069
Ariane Romano, NFL, 212-450-2075 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, JULY 17 – Playing flag football with friends in the park just got a bit more competitive as kids ages 6-17 get a chance to play with their local NFL heroes in the NFL Starter Play Football Craze contest this fall.

A grand prize winner from each participating market along with 19 friends and two NFL players will play in the ultimate game of flag football.

Kids can register to win through entry forms available at one exclusive Starter retailer in nine markets. The retailers are: MVP Sports (New England); Garts (Denver); Oshmans (Dallas); Imperial (Detroit); Garts (San Francisco); Garts (Chicago); Dicks (Pittsburgh); Modells (New York Jets) and TBD (Kansas City). The promotion will run in stores from August 24-September 22. The games will take place on Tuesdays in October and November at a local site.

NFL stars lining up to take the field include, Edgar Bennett (Chicago); Emmit Smith (Dallas); Chris Slade (New England); Glenn Foley (New York Jets) and Jerome Bettis (Pittsburgh).

The program will be supported at retail with a player appearance in each market. In addition, each retailer will receive customized stand-alone entry boxes, posters and racktoppers. Print and radio advertising will call-out the promotion and encourage participation.

The NFL Starter Play Football Craze is part of the NFL’s Play Football initiative, which encourages even more children to play, watch, attend and experience the game of football.