Brief:
This was a brief I wrote for myself: How can I engage the UK in American Football?
Solution:
After conducting some research on the issue, there were some recurring comments on the game: it was too complicated, too boring and too commercial.
To tackle these issues and make the sport more engaging, I devised a couple of solutions that directly respond to them.
1. A "Famzone" (Fanzone).
2. A Coach Link to help viewers follow the game.
3. A BBC sport campaign showing NFL games without advertising breaks.
The FAMZONE
The idea behind the Famzone is to recreate the electric atmosphere of a game of American Football. American Football is a family friendly sport which is a juxtaposition to traditional football. With that in mind I wanted to create a family day out, where the family can go and watch the game and experience that atmosphere, as well as a range of other activities and concessions.
American Football games are three hours long so it was important for me that the Famzone offered more than just the game on the big screen.
Coach Link
The Coach Link is inspired by the Ref Link used in rugby, where viewers can listen to the referee during a live game via headphones and can follow the game more easily.
Coach Link is an app in which viewers can select a level of commentary that is best suited to their understanding of the game, allowing newcomers to the sport to follow the game with ease.
I also created a headset that referenced the headsets worn by American Football coaches that would be available to rent at the Famzone.
BBC Sports Campaign
To tackle the problem of excessive advertising I decided to show games on the BBC, which famously don't have ad breaks, meaning you'll never miss a moment.
