Superbowl Commercial

[toasty]

Seemed an appropriate time to ask this question -- there's obviously a "tradition" that the MVP of the Superbowl announces immediately after the game that he's going to Disneyworld and then does exactly that. While there is part of me that would love to think that this is a good-natured thing that these guys do to keep the "tradition" alive, the fact of the matter is that these players are providing an extremely valuable endorsement under circumstances where it's not really feasible to sit down and hammer out the details of what they'll get paid.

Soooo, does anyone know how this works? Does the NFLPA have some sort of standing deal with Disney where all of the players on the field agree in advance that whomever the MVP turns out to be is duty-bound to participate in this by providing his on-field soundbite and doing the parade the next day for some previously agreed-upon amount? Can't imagine it working any other way, but who knows.

 

[Master Yoda]

I would imagine that is the case. The deal must be fairly sweet for the MVP as I can't recall a single one that has had even the slightest problem with it. If anything, it might be a perk for the award. Say 3 words and sit in a convertible for 45 minutes and for that you get a first class, all expense paid trip to WDW and a fat check.

 

[Figgy1]

I'm sure the league has a contract with Disney spelling out all the terms. Theese are 2 organizations that get everything in writing with a team of lawyers in advance of such occaisions.

 

[Hedwig's Keeper]

Yes, the NFL and Disney go way back, in fact, several Super Bowl halftime shows have been hosted by Disney including,

Super Bowl XI

• Date: Jan. 9, 1977
• Location: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
• Theme: It's a Small World
• Performer(s): Los Angeles Unified All-City Band & Audience card stunt
• Producer: The Walt Disney Company

This one is probably my favorite (they actually had Disney characters on the field!),

Super Bowl XXI

• Date: Jan. 25, 1987
• Location: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
• Theme: Salute to Hollywood's 100th Anniversary - The World of Make Believe
• Performer(s): George Burns, Mickey Rooney, Grambling State University Marching Bands, Disney characters, Southern California-area high school drill teams and dancers
• Producer: The Walt Disney Company
• Setlist:[20]
  • "Ghost Riders in the Sky"
  • Theme songs from Bonanza, Indiana Jones, and Footloose
  • Hoedown song
  • "Cheek to Cheek"
  • "What a Feeling" (Theme from Flashdance)
  • "That's Entertainment"
  • "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
  • "When You Wish Upon a Star"

 

[stalkingmickey]

The contract is made with the player directly. and it matters to disney who the player may potential be. They were passing on Ray Lewis a few years ago if his team won. They talked a lot about it this year during the coverage leading up to the game.

 

[Disney_Dad88]

If I'm not mistaken this commercial is on ESPN. Since ESPN is owned by Disney, what better way to promote the park by having the Super Bowl winning MVP say he is going to Disney World.

 

[toasty]

If I'm not mistaken this commercial is on ESPN. Since ESPN is owned by Disney, what better way to promote the park by having the Super Bowl winning MVP say he is going to Disney World.

Actually, they may show it on ESPN after the fact, but the first time it's aired, it airs on whatever channel is showing the Superbowl that year, immediately following the game.

 

[jw24]

Here's something that's worth reading: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/08/how-the-im-going-to-disney-land-saying-got-started/

 

[Disney_Dad88]

Actually, they may show it on ESPN after the fact, but the first time it's aired, it airs on whatever channel is showing the Superbowl that year, immediately following the game.

Every time Ive searched it on youtube it has been on ESPN. Unless the superbowl is on ABC I don't think it comes on until it goes to ESPN.

 

[toasty]

Every time Ive searched it on youtube it has been on ESPN. Unless the superbowl is on ABC I don't think it comes on until it goes to ESPN.

I don't doubt that it airs on ESPN -- probably extensively -- because of the relationship between Disney and ESPN, but I have definitely seen it ON Superbowl Sunday following the game, including after this most recent Superbowl (this article confirms this, by the way) and since ESPN has never aired the Superbowl and ABC hasn't had the game for several years, I have to conclude that it's being shown on whatever network is showing the game. Frankly, given the iconic nature of the ad and the enormous captive audience for the game, I can't believe that Disney would be so cheap as to refrain from taking advantage of the opportunity to broadcast it to as wide a swath of people as possible in favor of its own network. It's not like the only ads you ever see for Disney parks are on ESPN or ABC...

By the way, that article I cited above indicates that the players get $30K (plus a free trip to Disney) to do the ad, so we at least have an answer to that question.

 

[PUSH]

I know it doesn't sound like much to do the ad as a Super Bowl MVP, but it's more than it sounds like. When Aaron Rodgers won MVP, he said he was there for a long time after the game saying "I'm going to Disney World!" over and over because they couldn't get the sound right and things like that. He said he missed celebrating with the team directly after the game because he needed to shoot the commercial. Then instead of flying back home with the team after the game, he flew to WDW without any teammates to celebrate with. And the "all expenses paid trip" to Disney is mainly for a parade and photos; I don't think he visited any of the parks because he was too busy doing all the interviews and whatnot. Not saying it's a bad deal, but it's certainly not as easy as Disney makes it seem.

 

[toasty]

I was actually a bit surprised that it was only $30K. When you're making multiple millions of dollars a year, that's not a heck of a lot of money particularly when, as you mentioned, it involves what is essentially a promotional trip. I'd like to think that these guys have enough appreciation for the American institution that is Disney World to be excited about being a part of this iconic moment, but if not, might not be that much fun.

 

[jmorri26]

I thought I had a vague memory when the Saints won (my boys!) of Drew Brees doing an interview with our local station after and they asked about that and him saying something about how its totally up to the player if they want to say it or not,they're not required to, and he did because it just felt like what he was supposed to yell after winning. If they say it, Disney flies them out next day. Such a fun tradition.

 

[jw24]

From what I understand, there's actually a player pool and Disney asks some from each team if they are interested in doing it. Usually, it's the star players but we've seen star players turn it down like Peyton Manning did when the Colts won the Super Bowl. I remember watching an NFL documentary when the Bengals played the Niners and apparently, Disney was about to approach Boomer Esaison and make him say the iconic line but when Joe Montana went down the field and scored, they obviously had to change their plans.

 

[luv]

I'd bet real money that they're paid to say it.