NBC/NFL Network special on Sept. 9, 7:30-8:30 p.m. ET
precedes the 2010 NFL Kickoff game: Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints
It's time to get Back To Football as the NFL begins its 91st season with a celebration in its special pregame show, "NFL Opening Kickoff 2010 Presented by EA Sports" -- 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 9. Dave Matthews Band and Taylor Swift are scheduled to perform.
There will be simulcast coverage of the 60-minute pregame show which will air from 7:30-8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network. The live pregame broadcast will also be available via NFL Mobile only from Verizon.
The performances are part of the celebration to kick off the 2010 season and to honor the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and the city of New Orleans.
The NBC show will feature performances by Grammy Award-winning artists Taylor Swift and Dave Matthews Band, and will be broadcast live from Jackson Square. More concert details including information on how the public can have a chance to join the live audience at Jackson Square will be announced shortly.
This is the seventh consecutive year the NFL has saluted the Super Bowl champions with the opening game in their stadium on a Thursday in primetime.
NFL Opening Kickoff 2010 will be executive produced by Ricky Kirschner, one of the producers of the Super Bowl pregame and halftime shows and directed by Gregg Gelfand.
In addition to presenting sponsor EA Sports, top tier sponsors for the NFL's Kickoff platform include Coors Light, GMC, Pepsi, Snickers, Verizon, and Visa and associate sponsor Gatorade.
To celebrate the Kickoff of the 2010 season, the NFL will host The Krewe of NFL Kickoff Parade on Thursday September 9 in the home of the Super Bowl XLIV Champion New Orleans Saints. The parade travels through the heart of the French Quarter, stepping off at 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Esplanade Ave. and North Peters, heading downtown on Decatur and North Peters crossing Canal St. to Tchoupitoulas and ending at Julia Street. See map here. (PDF attached)
The Krewe of NFL Kickoff Parade will feature Blaine Kern Studios signature floats including a Play 60-inspired float, Vince Lombardi and New Orleans themed floats. NFL sponsors EA SPORTS, VISA, Snickers and Pepsi also will have floats that will make their way downtown, accompanied by the area’s finest marching bands, local residents and chefs, former greats from around the league & special Krewe of NFL Kickoff throws (beads).
Starting today, fans who wish to be in Jackson Square during the show may register at www.1iota.com to have a chance to be a part of the casted audience or the general public audience.
The casted audience will be comprised of select group of Super Fans of Dave Matthews Band, Taylor Swift and the NFL. Casted audience members must be at least 18 years old and will be placed in special audience viewing areas near the stage and may be featured on national television. Super Fans selected to be a part of the casted audience will receive a 1iota e-ticket with all relevant information about the event.
The general public viewing area will be located inside Jackson Square. Free tickets will be given out on 1iota.com in a first-come, first-served basis. Fans selected for the general public area will receive a 1iota e-ticket with all relevant information about the event.
Details about entry times and locations into Jackson Square will be communicated to selected fans through 1iota.
Visit the NFL Kickoff Fan Zone September 7th through the 9th, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The NFL Kickoff Fan Zone will give fans an opportunity to interact with a number of exciting football-themed attractions provided by the NFL's partners. This year's 3-day event - located in Jax Brewery Lot on Decatur Street - will feature player appearances, sponsor promotions and giveaways. Highlights include: GMC vehicle displays, Pepsi Max product sampling, Verizon's Rule the Air interactive display, and more. Several of the partner activation areas will feature player appearances, including Coors Light's, which will host Saints great Bobby Hebert as well as Ron "Jaws" Jaworski on Thursday, September 9th.
FAQs:
What is the parade route?
THE KREWE OF NFL KICKOFFPARADE travels through the heart of the French Quarter, stepping off at 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Esplanade Ave. and North Peters, heading downtown on Decatur and North Peters crossing Canal St. to Tchoupitoulas and ending at Julia Street. See map here (PDF attached)
Where can I purchase merchandise to commemorate the Krewe of NFL Kickoff Parade?
Merchandise kiosks will be available inside Jackson Square Park and a mobile truck will be making stops along the parade route. Also, The NFL Shop for Women, a boutique filled with all things black and gold, will be located at 3932 Magazine Street from August 21-September 18. The grand opening of the boutique will take place on Saturday, August 21 from 11 AM – 8 PM with live music, an appearance by the Saintsations, and a free mini Super Bowl XLIV helmet for the first 200 visitors” with “Store hours are Mon – Sat 11am – 8pm and Sun 12pm – 4 pm. As part of the Kickoff festivities, the Shop will host a public “Shopping Party” every Tuesday from August 24 - September 14 from 6 – 8 PM, which will include special promotions, raffles, and door prizes.
There will also be a mobile NFL Shop making stops in New Orleans to sell Kickoff merchandise. The truck will be parked at the intersection of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas on Tuesday and Wednesday. And on Thursday, it will be parked at 10:00 am at the intersection of Esplanade Ave & N. Peters Street, 11:30 am at the intersection of Decatur and Conti and 1:00pm at the intersection of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas.
In the past the NFL has hosted a concert for Kickoff. Is the parade replacing the concert?
Grammy Award winning artists Dave Matthews Band and Taylor Swift are scheduled to perform at Jackson Square as part of NFL Opening Kickoff 2010. More concert details including information on how the public can have a chance to join the live audience at Jackson Square will be announced shortly.
I have tickets to the game. Will I be able to attend both the parade and the game?
There are some areas along the route that would allow people to catch the parade and get to the game relatively quickly. The Parade is a great alternative for the people who are not lucky enough to have tickets to the game.