In 2010, the company signed an agreement to be the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL and Super Bowls XLV, XLVI and XLVII. That deal was the largest in Papa John’s history and includes category exclusivity among delivery and carryout pizza brands.
The official sponsorship with the NFL in Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom is effective immediately and includes providing Papa John’s category exclusivity and rights to use NFL and team logos and trademarks in marketing and advertising. Papa John’s also will be the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL’s International Series game played annually during the regular season in the United Kingdom.
“The National Football League is growing in these markets, and so is Papa John’s, and that makes this deal a win-win-win: for the NFL, Papa John’s and our customers,” said Andrew Varga, Papa John’s chief marketing officer. “Papa John’s, our franchises and our customers in the US have benefitted greatly from our sponsorship of the NFL, and we’re confident that expanding our official sponsor status to include Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom will score big for our brand and customers in those countries.”
Papa John’s franchises 53 restaurants throughout Canada, and 49 throughout Mexico, including 18 in Mexico City. Papa John’s and its franchisees currently operate 167 Papa John’s restaurants in the United Kingdom.
The NFL has steadily grown its fan base in Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom, including playing regular season games in each country.
In addition to being the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL in the US, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom, Papa John’s is the Official Pizza Sponsor of the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins.
Louisville, Ky.-based Papa John’s International Inc. is the world’s third-largest pizza company.
