A recent report from NJ.com claims that 14 NFL teams have received cash from the government for salutes to the military and other advertising. The Falcons, for example, reportedly received more than $1 million over a four-year period.
VFalcons owner Arthur Blank has now written a letter to fans explaining the situation.
“Our marketing and sponsorship agreement with the National Guard is designed to fulfill their objectives of increasing awareness and aiding in recruiting efforts, which has become more important in an all-volunteer service environment,” Blank wrote. “This is no different than any other sponsorship agreement in that it is structured to fit a business need.
“Our agreement with the National Guard during the 2014 season included advertising on the Falcons website and in the Atlanta Falcons Playbook, which is distributed to fans on game day; signage in the Georgia Dome; LED and backlit messaging on Falcons game days; activation at Falcons Landing on game days; and participation in a number of other game program activities.”
Blank’s position is that the Falcons weren’t paid to honor the military, but that the Falcons were paid to advertise in connection with military recruiting efforts. The letter also explains various things the Falcons do to support the military, unrelated to a paid advertising arrangement.
“It is regretful that the good works of our NFL league office and teams were overlooked in the news stories of the last few days, and I hope this letter aids in painting a more accurate portrayal,” Blank wrote. “We remain steadfast in our desire to be good citizens and proud supporters of our community, including our support of the important work of our Armed Forces.”
None of this changes the fact that the Falcons received more than $1 million from the government over a four-year period to advertise on behalf of the military. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Plenty of private companies make plenty of money from the overall effort to protect the nation’s interests at home and abroad. In an all-volunteer military, advertising dollars become important to the recruiting effort.
So the Falcons get paid to advertise for the military, but not to engage in any in-game salutes to the military. Given the advertising arrangement, those salutes arguably constitute sponsor relations.