That’s a Wrap on the NFLPA Rookie Premiere
The 29th annual event hosted the largest group of players to date
The 29th annual NFLPA Rookie Premiere hosted over 40 players fresh off the NFL Draft and was the largest group to date. The action took place in Los Angeles where partners and rookies gathered for the three-day event to meet, collaborate and build relationships.
The signature Rookie Premiere is one of the first major business trip for the season’s top trend-setting rookies, and also a marquee event in the sports industry. Renowned brands flock to the event for early access to the influential emerging players and to engage in novel approaches for campaign content creation, marketing activations and unique player-identified products, resulting in various business opportunities for partners and players alike.
More than 25 NFLPA partners participated this year in a variety of innovative ways including content capture, gifting, autograph signings and servicing player needs post-event. Panini America was the presenting sponsor of this year’s Rookie Premiere, joined by Fanatics, EA Sports, Pepsi, DraftKings, and Proctor & Gamble along with many others.
Here are some of the top highlights:
Welcome Reception at Funko presented by Panini:
At Funko Hollywood, the company’s headquarters, players put their creativity to work to design their own original Funko Pops during a “Pop! Yourself” experience. They were also able to interact with the extensive list of Funko products stocking the shelves and enjoy some light-hearted games – all part of the Welcome Reception presented by Panini.
Jersey Reveal presented by Fanatics:
In a pinch-yourself moment, rookies got to see their name and number on their new team jersey for the first time at the Jersey Reveal presented by Fanatics. It was a dream come true for the players to see all their hard work and sacrifice come to fruition.
Special gifting and experiences:
The players were treated to some special gifts during Rookie Premiere to acknowledge their hard work and success. Kay Jewelers presented players with a True Fans Fine Jewelry Team Diamond Necklace and Juiced Bikes let players select a custom E-Bike. Early access to Sleep Number 360 smart beds was extended to the players via redemption certificates, and HyperIce set up a recovery zone for the players at the stadium. Other gifting partners included Rock ‘Em Socks, FedEx, OneTeam Partners, On The Mark, Pro Standard, Outerstuff, 500 Level, Homage, Fathead, iSlide, Keyscaper, Pets First, and Sporticulture.
Learning from other NFL Players:
The NFLPA always offers players unique opportunities to make connections and build relationships. During Player Orientation, veteran players Michael Vick, Cam Jordan and Adrian Colbert sat with the rookies to impart wisdom from their respective careers – balancing life as a professional player while also capitalizing on off-the-field opportunities.
The Official 2023 Rookie Premiere Class photo:
To cap off the event, players gathered on the field of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for additional content capture opportunities and trading card photoshoots--and to take the official class photo in uniform for the first time, memorializing the moment for the 29th annual Rookie Premiere class.
Check out more behind-the-scenes footage from the NFLPA Rookie Premiere here.