It's time to get Back To Football as the NFL begins its 92nd season with an unprecedented celebration in its special pregame show, "NFL Kickoff 2011 presented by EA Sports" -- 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 8. Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum and Maroon 5 are scheduled to perform.
There will be simulcast coverage of the 60-minute pregame show from Lambeau Field which will air from 7:30-8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network. The live pregame broadcast also will be available via NFL Mobile only from Verizon.
The musical performances are part of the celebration to kick off the 2011 season and to honor the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. This is the 10th consecutive Kickoff celebration to start the season and the eighth consecutive year the NFL has saluted the Super Bowl champions with the opening game in their stadium on a Thursday in primetime.
As part of the pregame celebration, 32 legendary NFL alumni, one representing each team, will be on the field holding their team's flag. More details about the pregame celebration, including the National Anthem, will be announced shortly.
The NBC show will feature performances by award-winning artists Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum and Maroon 5 from a stage adjacent to Lambeau Field. More information on how fans can watch the free concert can be found here.
In addition to the concert and game, the festivities to kick off Week 1 of the NFL season include youth clinics and a Gameday Village in Green Bay that week.
NFL Kickoff 2011 will be executive produced by Ricky Kirshner, the Executive Producer 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 Bud Light, GMC, Pepsi, Snickers, Verizon and Visa and associate sponsors include Castrol, Gatorade and Papa John's.
Media may visit www.nflmedia.com to apply for credentials to cover "NFL Kickoff 2011." The credential deadline is Thursday, Sept. 1.