Millions of Americans ring in each New Year by watching the ball drop in New York City’s fabled Times Square. On Thursday, September 5, a different shaped ball will drop with Bon Jovi leading the celebration and the countdown to the NFL’s 2002 season in Times Square, New York City and the NFL announced today.
NEW YORK CITY AND THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESENT ‘NFL KICKOFF LIVE FROM TIMES SQUARE’ is slated for Times Square with an unprecedented day of music and football-themed festivities leading to the first-ever NFL season kickoff on a Thursday as the San Francisco 49ers play the New York Giants at Giants Stadium (ESPN, 8:30 P.M. ET)
Bon Jovi, one of America’s preeminent bands, will headline the event and perform at halftime of the game. The event and game coincide with Bon Jovi’s upcoming October album release of ‘Bounce’ At the Times Square event and during halftime at Giants Stadium, Bon Jovi will perform their new single ‘Everyday’ for the first time in front of a live audience.
Other artists will be announced at a later date. Portions of the event will be televised live or by tape by CBS, MTV, VH-1 and ESPN as the NFL gets ready to kick off its 83rd season. Radio coverage and promotions will be provided nationally by Westwood One and Clear Channel Entertainment.
The day will include recognition and support of New York City’s September 11 memorial events.
Fans will get a look at the newest in NFL fashions with a show featuring jerseys and clothing from the new NFL Equipment line created by Reebok.
Bon Jovi will headline the day with a performance prior to an official ‘Countdown to Kickoff’ ceremony leading up to the Giants-49ers game. A giant NFL football will drop from the traditional site of the New Year’s ball.
The NFL has developed a comprehensive plan for the national television and radio coverage of ‘NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square’:
– CBS will tape the event and air an exclusive prime-time one-hour show the following night, Friday, Sept. 6.
– VH-1 will televise Bon Jovi’s performance live from 7-8 PM ET on Thursday. VH-1 will also re-air the performance in prime-time Saturday, Sept. 7.
– ESPN will do frequent live shots from a satellite set in Times Square during its ‘NFL Countdown’ show from 6:30-8:30 PM.
– MTV will televise some portions of its 90-minute show, beginning at 3:30 PM ET, from the NFL stage in Times Square.
– Westwood One (NYSE:WON), the exclusive home of the NFL on network radio since 1987, will produce and distribute the radio broadcast of the event to radio stations nationwide.
– Clear Channel radio affiliates will promote the event on its nationwide affliates.
The four presenting sponsors are Coors, Reebok, PlayStation and Verizon Communications.
For further information please contact:
BRIAN McCARTHY, NFL, 212-450-2069
EDWARD SKYLER, Mayor’s Office, 212-788-2958