Visa Kicks Off NFL Season With Introduction of Targeted Offers Program to Enhance NFL Fan Experience

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), a proud sponsor of the NFL since 1995, marked the kickoff of the 2012-2013 NFL season with the introduction of Visa NFL Fan Offers, a new program that uses real-time communications to give enrolled Visa cardholders a chance to win exclusive NFL-related experiences as well as receive valuable merchant offers. The program is a central component of Visa’s new NFL marketing campaign, Make it Epic, in support of its NFL sponsorship which includes national television and digital advertising, social media engagement, issuer activation programs and NFL team relationships.

“From the casual fan to the football fanatic, Visa is making the NFL fan’s season an epic one across channels and platforms”

Visa NFL Fan Offers was specifically designed to enhance the NFL experience for fans, bringing them closer to the action through a series of epic giveaways. In the Visa NFL Fan Offers Sweepstakes, enrolled cardholders have a chance to win epic experiences ranging from rare access to John Madden’s viewing studio or an NFL coach’s gameday speech, to trips to the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLVIII (2014). The program will also deliver timely merchant offers to NFL fans to fuel their passion for the game with discounts on pizza, NFL gear and EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 13, for example. With Visa NFL Fan Offers, Visa can customize NFL fans’ experience based on their favorite team and enrolled card usage.

“From the casual fan to the football fanatic, Visa is making the NFL fan’s season an epic one across channels and platforms,” said Alex Craddock, Head of North America Marketing, Visa Inc. “With Visa NFL Fan Offers, we’re delivering exclusive and unique opportunities that put fans front and center of NFL football in ways that no other brand can. By providing a tangible benefit, we are able to strengthen our relationship with cardholders as well our merchant and issuer partners.”

Making it Epic

On Sept. 9, 2012, Visa introduced the first of three national television commercials that bring to life the epic experiences that NFL fans can win through the Visa NFL Fan Offers program. “Interview” features Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis as he participates in post-game interviews that would be altogether routine if not for a surprising, pint-sized addition, along with her doting dad, to the reporter pool. “Interview” highlights the first experience available for fans to win via Visa NFL Fan Offers Sweepstakes: the opportunity to interview an NFL player.

In the coming months, Visa will debut spots featuring other once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will be available for fans to win via Visa NFL Fan Offers Sweepstakes: sitting in on an NFL coach’s gameday speech, featuring San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, and watching an NFL game on a Sunday with Hall of Fame coach John Madden in his infamous viewing studio. The latter highlights the offer of not only a chance to win an epic experience but also the availability of a compelling discount of 20 percent off EA SPORTS Madden NFL 13. No purchase or enrollment is necessary to enter or win the Visa NFL Fan Offers Sweepstakes. For complete details see the Official Rules here.

Visa’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/Visa), YouTube (www.youtube.com/Visabrand) and Twitter (@TeamVisa, #MakeItEpic) channels will also play a powerful role in enhancing the fan experience, delivering exclusive content and chances for epic opportunities throughout the season.

Visa NFL Fan Offers

To enroll in Visa NFL Fan Offers, Visa account holders can visit www.visa.com/MakeItEpic to input an eligible Visa account number, mobile phone number and email address. Fans will also select an NFL team affiliation to receive an initial welcome offer followed by a limited number of email and mobile text messages each week containing offers from official NFL sponsors and NFL-related merchants. Participating merchants include NFLShop.com, Papa John’s, 24 Hour Fitness, DIRECTV, Sports Illustrated, LIDS, and EA SPORTS. Messages will also offer fans chances to win tickets to NFL games or other unique NFL experiences.

Visa NFL Fan Offers is an optional program that allows cardholders to easily manage their enrolled cards to add, delete, and change Visa cards enrolled in the program or unenroll at any time, and is backed by Visa security and privacy protections. Complete information on how Visa collects, uses and shares information is available in the Visa Offers Privacy Policy available at https://nfl.visa.com/privacy.jsp.

Client Activation

Visa’s NFL league and team sponsorships provide a wide range of opportunities for financial institution clients and merchant partners to connect with Visa cardholders –– including access to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl, the NFL Playoffs and the NFL Draft –– and drive value for their businesses and shareholders.

This year’s NFL campaign will include participation by more than 200 clients that issue or accept Visa cards. Visa’s marketing support for clients includes participation in the national promotion, access to Visa Signature’s unique NFL experiences, and other customized promotional opportunities such as a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl XLVII (2013) and on-field access during the pre-game warm-up.

Team Marketing Programs

Visa is the exclusive payment services sponsor of the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers.

As the proud sponsor of 10 NFL teams, Visa is the preferred card for ticket sales, concessions and merchandise and will have point-of-sale branding online and at all team payment terminals within the stadiums, including concession areas and team shops.

About Visa Inc.

Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced processing networks--VisaNet--that is capable of handling more than 20,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.

EA SPORTS is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc.

Editors Note:

To learn more about Visa's NFL marketing campaign, Make It Epic, or to view and download videos, images, and assets, visit www.visa.com/nflmediakit.