In the wake of the DAZN streaming debacle in Canada, the league is now turning to another platform in order to reach the masses. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the NFL has reached a deal with Canadian movie theater chain Cineplex to show Sunday Night Football and the Super Bowl in theaters across the country.
The deal will begin next Sunday, November 12, with the New England Patriots taking on Denver. At first, just 15 theaters will show SNF, but that number will expand to 50 theaters for Super Bowl LII on February 4.
The cost for tickets will be $5, and they can be reserved ahead of time. And for those who attend movie theaters with VIP seating, patrons will be served burgers and chicken wings while sitting in luxury recliners.
Cineplex hopes that the deal will bring more people to its theaters on Sunday nights (normally a slow night in theater business) while also opening up a new revenue stream for the company. Cineplex says it’s “always looking for new and innovative ways to entertain Canadians and these events will drive incremental attendance to our theaters and provide fans with a viewing experience on the big screen.”
NFL Canada said it was hoping the deal would introduce the sport to new fans by bringing in “the next generation of NFL fans by offering them unique, engaging and dynamic experiences.”
Overall, ratings for the NFL on CTV and TSN are up 10 percent over last year. Cineplex will utilize the Canadian TV feeds for the games which will include all ads, meaning theater viewership will count in the country’s television ratings.
