NFL LICENSES AN ARRAY OF SUPER BOWL XXXVI MERCHANDISE

Fans Incorporate Apparel, Party Products to At-Home Viewing Plans

Only two teams will play in Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans on February 3, 2002, but 39 companies from 21 U.S. states will help millions of fans around the world create a Super Bowl atmosphere in their homes with an array of officially licensed Super Bowl merchandise.

The NFL anticipates retailers selling $100 million in Super Bowl XXXVI products, comparable to last year’s sales figures. The all-time Super Bowl merchandise sales record was set in 1997 during Super Bowl XXXI, the last time New Orleans hosted the NFL’s championship game. The Green Bay Packers topped the New England Patriots that day and spurred sales of $130 million.

Super Bowl XXXVI products can be found at NFL Shop on NFL.com, the NFL Shop on HSN on Feb. 3 (5-6 p.m. ET and for two hours post-game), and at retail stores in the two Super Bowl teams’ cities. In New Orleans, items may be found at Sports Avenue stores, the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, better New Orleans hotels, and other retail stores. In addition, the world’s largest Foot Locker store (30,000 square feet) will be housed within the Coca-Cola and America Online Present the NFL Experience at Super Bowl XXXVI, the league’s exciting and acclaimed football theme park. NFL Experience will be open Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

According to Hallmark, the Super Bowl is now America’s top party occasion, surpassing New Year’s Eve. More than 130 million Americans watched last year’s Super Bowl on television with an estimated global television audience of 800 million. Nine of the 10 most-watched television programs of all-time are Super Bowls. In addition, the American Institute of Food Distribution states that Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest day of food consumption behind only Thanksgiving.

Super Bowl XXXVI merchandise includes a full line of apparel for men, women and children encompassing caps, sweaters, knit and woven shirts, bottoms, sleepwear, outerwear, special Super Bowl XXXVI football jerseys, and more. The Super Bowl product roster includes throws, blankets, watches, chip bowls, flags, home party products, golf products, computer accessories, and crystal collectible footballs among other goods.

One Super Bowl XXXVI licensee, Superior Merchandise Company/Eton, is based in the game’s host city of New Orleans. The company is an official supplier of Super Bowl XXXVI-themed Mardi Gras beads.

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