IFA & NFL Launch Partnership, Announce NFL Franchising Bootcamp

By BEN HEINEMANN The International Franchise Association today announced a new strategic partnership with the National Football League, the first result of which will be the first-ever NFL Franchising Boot Camp, a program during which NFL players and their spouses can learn more about the opportunities in the franchising community as they prepare for their lives after their football career. “Owning a franchise would allow players to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves,” said IFA President and CEO Steve Caldeira during a media conference call. “We are truly thrilled to partner with the NFL in this capacity.” “We too are excited about this partnership with the IFA, and they couldn’t be a better partner,” added Troy Vincent, the NFL’s Vice President of Player Engagement and former NFL player. “We’ve seen a lot of interest thus far and we are looking forward to a great, long-term relationship.” The NFL Franchising Boot Camp will take place on April 26-29, 2013. Held at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, the boot camp will be keynoted by Carolina Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, who himself was a franchisee with Hardee’s. Caldeira noted that many NFL players, including Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Colt McCoy, have been successful as franchisees and that the franchising offers an opportunity for NFL players to get into business for themselves in an industry that is “solid and sustainable.” “Growth in the franchise sector has continued to outpace growth in other industries despite the tough economy,” Caldeira added. The NFL Franchising Boot Camp is the latest NFL Player Engagement initiative offered to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. For more information on the partnership, click here.