It’s the biggest sport in the US with an estimated 140 million fans. Worldwide, the picture is even more impressive with around 410 million people who engage with American football. It also features one of the world’s most-watched single sporting events in the shape of the Super Bowl.
But, like all sports, the last thing it can do is rest on its laurels. If the NFL wants to continue to grow its appeal it needs to look to the future and the changes that it might bring.
The league is acutely conscious of this fact and has even set up its own NFL Forward program whose aim is to gather the opinions of fans and relevant businesses about what could create improvements in the sport in the future.
There are certainly a number of key areas that are likely to see these changes including the following four.
Technology
In recent times technology has started to play an increasingly important role in all sports and continues to do so. A good example of this is the recent news that even that most traditional of events, the Wimbledon tennis tournament, is to replace human line judges with electronic alternatives.
In the case of football the fast-moving nature of the game means that changes in strategy are frequently needed and the technology to analyze the action as it happens is sure to be enhanced.
Already the league is working with Microsoft on something called the Sideline Viewing System. This is accessed via Microsoft tablet devices which coaches can use to annotate plays and devise potentially winning strategies. As the seasons progress, the features are set to become ever more sophisticated to provide a greater depth of knowledge as well as insight into which tactics are likely to make the biggest difference to a team’s success.
Fan engagement
Exciting as the action may be on the field of play, it’s the satisfaction of fans that really drives on the success of the sport. So keeping them happy and engaged is the sure way to secure the future of football. This can range from delivering easier ways for them to check out the latest NFL odds to making the queues for food at the concession stands faster moving.
It’s also a question of making the stadiums in which the games are played increasingly comfortable places to be. So considerable investment is expected to be made, especially in ones that are starting to show their age a little.
It’s also going to be important to maximize the numbers of ways that fans can watch games remotely. So we can expect to see more deals starting to be made with online streaming services to complement the ones already in place with the major networks.
Injury prevention and player care
Player injuries have been increasingly in the spotlight in recent times, particularly with a focus on the longer-term dangers of concussion.
There is also the on-going debate about just how much protection helmets provide or whether they encourage a feeling of invulnerability among players, possibly leading to greater injuries.
So we can expect to see many further advances in the quality and effectiveness of the protective equipment worn by players. So there’s set to be far greater use of wearable tech that can give medics and team physios a clearer picture of individual players’ health and risk of injury.
Advances in medicine are also likely to become increasingly important in helping players return from lay-offs more quickly. A good example of this that’s already being implemented is the use of artificial ligaments used to repair the all-too-common ACL injuries that are sustained by many players in the course of the season.
Going Global
Despite already having 410 million followers worldwide already, the NFL is also pursuing an active strategy to increase this number. So we can expect to see more matches being played in other countries around the world, just as the currently are in the UK every season.
There’s also likely to be an increase in the number of programs designed to identify potential players from around the world who can then be funnelled into the system through sports scholarships to selected US colleges.
Of the countries that are set to be a real focus, the huge populations of both the Indian sub-continent and China make them obvious candidates for global development.
So, as you can see, there is plenty that is going to be happening to help the NFL not just face the future but to embrace it. The combination of improvements for players, fans and franchises will work together to help it reach previously unimagined heights. And for anyone connected with the game in any capacity, that has to be very good news indeed.
