Blogs

NFL shifts doubleheader kickoff times; Packers home games in Weeks 1, 4 affected

The NFL announced on Thursday that the kickoff times for late-afternoon doubleheader games on FOX and CBS will be moved back 10 minutes, from 3:15 p.m. CT to 3:25 p.m. CT, to avoid potential overlap with the endings of noon CT games.

That will affect two games on the Packers’ 2012 schedule, both at home. The season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9 and the Week 4 contest against the New Orleans Saints will now both start at 3:25 p.m. CT. The Packers have several games subject to the league’s flex scheduling late in the season that could end up getting the 3:25 p.m. CT slot as well.

Games slated for 3:05 p.m. CT kickoffs will not be affected. The Packers have no games currently slated for a 3:05 p.m. kickoff.

According to a league press release, the NFL studied games from the past three seasons and found that 44 games required part of the audience to be switched to a mandatory doubleheader game kickoff before a noon game kickoff had ended. With the 10-minute shift, the instances would have been reduced by two-thirds.

Design team flag and you could win a trip to NFL Kickoff

The NFL and all 32 clubs are asking fans to help inspire the design of the team flag that will represent them at the Kickoff ceremonies and Kickoff activities in New York to start the 2012 season. If your flag concept is chosen you will be flown to New York to represent your favorite team and participate in the NFL Kickoff activities.

How the NFL Fan Flag Challenge Works

Help inspire the design of your favorite NFL team’s new flag. Your vision is up to you. It can have elements representative of the city, the community, team traditions, the team’s fans, etc. For example, if your team is from New York, your colors may be predominantly red and blue, have the city skyline as well as Championship trophies they have won. You will be required to describe your vision in essay format.

Additionally, you have the option to upload an image depicting your design concept of your favorite NFL Team’s flag. Your image may be created in any fashion (i.e.: hand drawn, painted, digitally drawn, etc.). The image will only be used if your flag is a winning concept in order to assist our designers in carrying out your vision. The image will not be judged and therefore will not impact winner selection.

32 Grand Prizes – 1 per NFL Team

Each Grand Prize includes the following:

• Winner’s inspirational design concept will be used as a guideline to make the team’s actual flag.
• A 3 day/2 night trip for winner and 1 guest to NY to attend the 2012 NFL Kickoff activities taking place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ and an opportunity for the winner to participate in the NFL Kickoff activities. (Trip includes round trip air transportation, hotel accommodations, 2 tickets to the activities and the opportunity for the winner to participate in the NFL Kickoff activities.)

Click here for more information on the NFL Fan Flag Challenge.