The NFL 2017 season is upon us. And you know what that means; lots of money made from players, tickets, merchandise, sponsorships, etc. It’s no surprise that the NFL is one of the most profitable leagues in the world.
But one thing that’s really baffling is how much does the NFL make in 2016? I decided to investigate and found some pretty eye-opening figures.
Apparently, the 2016 NFL regular season alone generated a record-breaking $14 billion in revenue. That’s an increase of five percent over 2015. Wow! The NFL also enjoyed a huge growth in viewership, with the television audience increasing by 11 percent since last year.
In addition to television revenue, the NFL also made mega bucks from ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorships. It also sold around $700 million in advertising during the 2016 season. The biggest advertisers that year included Pizza Hut, DirecTV, Pepsi, Bud Light, and Ford.
To say that the NFL scored big in 2016 is an understatement. Unsurprisingly, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made sure that his compensation package reflected all these amazing accomplishments. He earned a whopping $34.1 million in salary, bonuses and other benefits in 2016.
But despite the money made and the lucrative payouts, the NFL still faces questions about its concussion protocol and CTE issues. Recently, former NFL players have taken the league to court, alleging that the NFL failed to protect them adequately from concussions and long-term brain injuries.
These ongoing controversial issues remain a source of strife for the NFL. But ultimately, 2016 was still a very profitable year for the National Football League.
Moving forward, the NFL enjoys a strong network of content around the world, and looks set to enjoy even more success in the future. Despite cases of CTE topics, the NFL saw an increase in viewership from 2016 to 2017, and looks to have a bright future ahead.
That’s not to say wins and losses won’t determine the success of the teams. Professional sports remain very competitive, and the NFL is no exception. Players have to work tirelessly to build their skills and reputation in order to get the most commercial appeal.
So while the NFL is very much on the rise, it’s clear that money is not the only factor driving the league. With ever increasing sophistication to the game, it remains a great spectator sport to watch day-in and day-out.
What’s more, the NFL continues to be a great source of entertainment for millions of viewers, so it looks like the league will remain a profitable business for many years to come.
Another factor to consider when looking at the success of the NFL is the partnerships that the league has created with other sports organizations. For example, the gelation between the NFL and the NCAA is especially strong. The two leagues collaborate in order to ensure that the best players go to the best teams. This helps create the best teams in the NFL.
The NFL’s partnership with the NCAA is only one of many. The league also has several other partnerships, including partnerships with international sports organizations. These partnerships help to ensure the success of the NFL by giving the league more exposure and influence in various markets.
Not to mention, legislation aimed at keeping sports stadiums safe, as well as those that grant subsidies to keep sports teams in certain locales, have also been beneficial to the NFL’s bottom line.
Finally, the NFL’s overall success is also largely a result of its strong fan base, which continues to grow year after year. From the youth sports leagues to the professional gamers to the diehard football fans, there is no shortage of audiences looking to watch the National Football League.
That said, the NFL could do more to build relationships with their fans and involve them in the game. For example, they could offer fans the opportunity to vote on certain aspects of the game, such as how to improve the replay system. This will help to build a closer relationship between the league and its fans.
At the end of the day, the NFL is an incredibly profitable business. Through smart management, partnerships, legislation, and fan engagement, the NFL looks to continue its success in the future.