Amazon is showcasing its dominance in the retail arena by introducing the inaugural Black Friday NFL game, intensifying the battle for control over consumer spending during the highly lucrative year-end holidays. This groundbreaking game, featuring the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins at 3pm ET, is poised to divert football enthusiasts from traditional in-store shopping experiences.
The game, accessible for free on Amazon Prime Video, is available to both Prime and non-Prime members in its first year, albeit requiring an Amazon account. Amazon strategically aims to capture the attention of multitasking consumers, particularly its existing sports fan base, who may engage in online shopping while watching the game, according to Kristin McGrath, a shopping expert at RetailMeNot.
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By aligning with the widely observed “Super Bowl” of shopping, Amazon anticipates an increase in online shopping during Black Friday, leveraging QR codes displayed during the broadcast to drive digital transactions. Jay Marine, Amazon’s global head of sports, envisions the game influencing viewer behavior, potentially deterring some from traditional in-store Black Friday shopping or prompting shorter shopping trips to ensure they catch the game.
The collaboration between the NFL and Ama envisions the Black Friday game evolving into an annual tradition, akin to the three Thanksgiving Day games. While Amazon’s Black Friday sale began on November 17, extending into Cyber Monday deals on November 25, the Black Friday game is anticipated to serve as a mid-day break, with dedicated shoppers prioritizing early morning deals.
Despite the potential for the game to reshape Black Friday traditions, some experts like Bruce Clark, a marketing professor at Northeastern University, suggest that committed Black Friday shoppers will persist in seeking morning deals, viewing the mid-day game as a pause rather than a deterrent. As the Black Friday game unfolds, it remains to be seen whether it will solidify its place as a new annual shopping tradition.