Developments in Excitement: Introducing Flag Football in Saudi Arabia from Fanatics & Companions
The world of sports is set to witness an exciting event as the National Football League (NFL) and its players union, along with long-time partner Fanatics, join forces to co-produce a flag football game. This event, known as the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, will take place in the Saudi capital on March 21, as part of Riyadh Season.
Fanatics, a leading sports merchandise company, will be co-producing the event alongside OBB Media, the studio co-founded by Michael and Scott Ratner. The flag football game will be televised by Fox Sports, with Kevin Hart hosting the broadcast.
NFL stars such as Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, and Tom Brady are expected to participate in the event. Brady's creative studio, Shadow Lion, is also partnering in the flag football game.
The NFL has been advocating for flag football as an accessible way for more people to play the sport, and five-on-five flag football secured inclusion in the 2028 Olympics. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is a step towards popularising the sport and preparing for the Olympic event.
Fanatics' partnership with Saudi Arabia is not new. The company has previously signed a five-year deal with the Kingdom's sovereign wealth fund and is opening an office in Doha. Saudi Arabia is investing billions to attract sporting events and celebrities to the Kingdom, and Fanatics' revenue reflects this trend. In 2024, the company's revenue was $8.1 billion, with the apparel and merchandise business being the biggest of its three main units. The company is projecting $12 billion in revenue in 2026.
Besides Fanatics and partners like Tom Brady, OBB Media, and Shadow Lion, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is involved in investing in the broader sports market, including flag football events. Qatar's sovereign wealth fund is also an investor in Fanatics, supporting its ventures such as those in the Middle East.
This isn't the first time Fanatics has made headlines in the sports world. In 2021, the company bought streetwear brand Mitchell & Ness for $250 million, with Kevin Hart and David Beckham investing alongside the company. Many current and former NFL stars have deeper ties with Fanatics, including attending Fanatics' events such as the annual white party, where last year a beach football game featuring Brady and Beckham was filmed and posted on Instagram by Rubin.
With the WWE's Royal Rumble scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2026, and WrestleMania following in 2027, the Kingdom is set to host a series of high-profile sporting events. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting sports season in Saudi Arabia.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
