In the article, The NFL Has an “L” of a Problem from the Wall Street Journal talks about the league embracing Super Bowl 2016 that follows the awkward numerical “L.” This will mark fifty years, the Super Bowl as gifted our presence, but the Roman Numerical “L” year for the Super Bowl could out shine the rest of the forty-nine years it’s been around. The league has already planned to have thousands of T-shirts made with the logo “L” on them. The league has made comments about partnering up with Nike for their official manufacturer of the league’s appeal. NFL spokesperson Brain McCarthy said, “The Roman numerals are part of the mystique of the Super Bowl.” The article expresses how deeply panned the Roman Numerical importance is to the Super Bowl, through its competitive edge of making each numeral better than the last.

“The NFL Has an “L” of a problem,” expresses the importance in marketing such an event that will be beyond successful than other Super Bowls, because this Super Bowl contains a unique Roman Numerical. The article cited Roman Numerical “L” could stand for “learning” or “love,” but it will be the main topic for years to come when the 50th Super Bowl arrives. The article goes in depth with the significance of the Roman Numerical and how it plays within the league and the business aspect of it. This could mean the roman numerical of the Super Bowl saga can be bad marketing or good marketing, it depends on the audience. For example, the article cited in 2003 the Supreme Court upheld the Children’s Internet Protection Act, which enforced a law that requires schools and libraries to censor parts of the web, because librarians found sexual content website filters that was led by a pop-up website that was supposedly used for promotion of Super Bowl XXX (but for sexual display content). However, this wouldn’t be of any interest for Super Bowl L, said reporter Ben Cohen.

In my opinion, I feel that it wouldn’t be the Super Bowl if it didn’t prepare for the future. The significance of the article, “The NFL has an “L” of a problem,” to marketing displays through a promotional mix from the league itself. Promoting the Roman Numerical “L” is a benefit for tomorrow that’s made for today. The promotional mix introduces an increased level of heterogeneity among members of the marketplace, the emergence of new technology, and the need to improve the effectiveness of any form of marketing communications. I believe the league should market Super Bowl L with a sense of urgency in order to become the number one top rated TV sports broadcast in the future for the NFL. Marketing the Super Bowl L in the year 2012 displays a good effort in tying all ties with product, promotion, price, and distribution. However, smartcompany.com states that some experts believe that the further you are away from the actual event the less relevant you become. If the NFL league follows through with the marketing mix, and marketing efforts that suits today’s generation, then Super Bowl L will be an unforgettable event yet to come.

Preparing for Super Bowl 2016 will be stupendous in the terms of marketing such a huge event. The Super Bowl isn’t just the biggest annual sporting event in the U.S., but also the biggest rostrum for companies and advertisers to tap into their creativity and vision for their nonsports product; plus to display their company’s image to the entire world. According to smartcompany.com, there are five big trends from Super Bowl marketing that includes starting early by releasing advertisements via social media up to two weeks before the game. Second, measuring success by determining if an advertiser or company wants to sale a product, gain brand recognition, or have an ad go viral. Third, connect everything to social media by selecting polls for users to engage in, and to distribute selective marketing to consumers to choose what ad is best for a company to cover. Fourth, get competitive by thinking bigger than the next company. Look for a different perspective within your company or product to target those consumers that you haven’t reached yet. Lastly, make it mobile by approaching other streams of marketing, which mobile marketing is important in today’s marketplace. Tapping into apps in mobile phones by either sponsoring or creating them will put any company at an advantage, because a company’s campaign is within palms reach of the viewer’s hand.

One theme that comes to mind while reviewing the article, “The NFL has an “L” of a problem,” would be mainstream strategies. Mainstream strategies are defined as the use of traditional marketing strategies that incorporate a sports theme into the marketing program for nonsports products. In the article it suggests in respect of Super Bowl 2016 there could be a possibility of putting “L” on hundreds of thousands of souvenirs, and other appeal. Say that is the case, if so it will generate a major marketing tool for a successful 50th Super Bowl event. However, for the NFL it seems as if their target market is going towards advertisers and companies, because the Super Bowl 2016 is expecting to be unlike any other Super Bowl event, and that tactic information will get more and more companies and advertisers to participate in this historic event, which could possibly grant the NFL an number one top rated TV broadcasting for the Super Bowl. It will be resourceful to start marketing for Super Bowl “L” now, but this time marketing efforts will be put heavily on companies and advertisers to take part in this historic event.