NFL BUSINESS CONNECT
NFL Business Connect is the National Football League’s Special Event Supplier Diversity initiative. The Business Connect team works proactively to identify and connect certified, diverse, and qualified businesses to compete for contracting opportunities related to NFL signature events, including Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, and NFL Draft. Business Connect provides networking and business development workshops to ensure local, diverse businesses have the capacity to compete for contracts and are prepared to compete for future contract opportunities in their home markets.
In each event market, our goal is to curate a list of experienced, premiere, event-ready businesses with capabilities that match the most frequently requested business disciplines utilized by NFL event producers. Vetted and accepted businesses are designated 'approved vendors' and added to the NFL Business Connect Resource Guide of certified businesses ready to compete for contracting opportunities. The Guide is the primary sourcing tool for NFL primary vendors.
The goal of the NFL Business Connect Program is to increase procurement opportunities for minority-, women-, LGBTQ+- and veteran-owned enterprises and to enrich these companies through original networking and professional development programming. Business Connect events are designed to prepare participants for the NFL procurement process and position them to be stronger businesses with increased capacity to secure contracts in their local market.
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Businesses approved for inclusion in the Business Connect Resource Guide must meet six key criteria:
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Business Connect suppliers must be MBE, WBE, DVBE or LGBTBE certified
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The company must be 51% minority, woman, LGBTQ+, veteran-owned or NFL Legend-owned
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The business must be local within the established geographic area of the designated event
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Supplier goods and services must match the approved business disciplines and match the scope and capability requirements as outlined by individual NFL vendors
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Business Connect suppliers must be the direct source of the goods and services they provide and are contracted to perform
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Business must have been in operation in the designated market for three years or more
NFL Business Connect Objectives Exclusive to Super Bowl Host Cities include:
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Maximize contracting opportunities for minority-, women-, LGBT- and disabled veteran-owned businesses related to the activation of NFL events including Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, and Draft. Business Connect uses federal guidelines when defining minority suppliers.
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Host professional development workshops that increase the capacity of local business owners to grow their businesses and position suppliers to be more competitive when bidding on future large-scale events in their home market
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Offer networking events that provide access to industry leaders for the purposes of developing relationships that lead to ongoing business opportunities within the local community
For additional questions regarding the NFL Business Connect Program please contact us here.
Disclaimer
NFL Business Connect program is a partnership between the National Football League and the Host City to link diverse area suppliers to contracting opportunities related to NFL special events such as Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and Draft. Suppliers participating in the Business Connect program are not guaranteed to be awarded work with the NFL, it’s host programs - Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, and Draft, or Host City partners, however, all participants will be given opportunity to compete for contracts.
Business Connect participants at Super Bowl will also have full access is to networking, educational and other business development opportunities, to encourage greater business success for each participant.