Note to the NFL: The fans want in.

If you pay an ounce of attention to college football, you know that new/innovative uniform designs by Nike, Under Armour, Adidas and others are a hot button topic. This year, more than any year in the past, bowl bound teams were unveiling new uniforms for their bowl game. Not their standard uniforms...their BOWL GAME uniforms.

NIKE NFL Uniforms

To some, that may sound crazy and give the sense of "that seems uncalled for". For others, however, it's just one more thing to talk about as their team heads in to what is most likely a meaningless game (or non BCS bowl). Why do schools invest money and time in to something as unrelated to the actual play on the field? It's easy: THE FANS.

The NFL switched from Reebok to Nike as their official uniform supplier in 2012. With that announcement came the idea that Nike's Pro Combat uniform concepts (which started this whole craze a few years ago in college football), would find their way in to the NFL. The NFL has been very strict with their policies about franchises making drastic changes to their logos/uniforms. Many wondered how this transition from Reebok to Nike would go.

Seahawks 2012 NIKE Uniform Design

Out of thirty two NFL teams, only one took advantage of the uniform switch to Nike to re-boot their image...the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks were already known for being a bit more "out there" with their uniforms due to combining neon green to a specific dark shade of blue. It was a good look for Seattle and people began to associate that color combo with their franchise. That's the beauty of it...identity. There are LOTS of teams that need identity changes for many reasons. The NFL's time to ease up on their traditional ways is now...but they don't have to do it all at once.

I think I've developed a concept that includes EVERYONE from the NFL, Nike to the fans.

Every year, more and more fans are taking interest in how good or bad a "newly unveiled" uniform design is sports. It's not just about logos and re-designs, its about concepts never before seen in a uniform design. Thanks to social media and connectivity to your favorite teams/schools, these new concepts and uniforms spread like wild fire and the fans always want more. A perfect example: the "leaked" logo for the Miami Dolphins for 2013-14 created a crazy social media buzz.

What if we gave the power to fans to use their creativity? As in..."give them a voice"?

My idea is quite simple: Every year, the NFL celebrates Armed Forces week. NFL teams pay tribute to our Armed Forces with multiple events and honorable things being done...and it's a great way to pay respect. What if, for ONE week a year (say, during Armed Forces Week), the NFL allows every team to wear Nike Pro Combat inspired uniforms? Better yet, what if those uniform designs were developed by fans? Even better yet, what if the fans were able to vote on five separate uniform designs for each team (again, designs submitted by the fans)?

This is how I'd imagine it works:

- During the previous years' post season, through the Pro Bowl, the NFL promotes and encourages fans to enter/submit a uniform design of one NFL team of their choice.
- Fans then have to submit their designs/concepts to an authorized NFL/Nike website by a specific date (IE March 31st).
- Nike, along with representatives from each NFL team, will then select FIVE uniform designs for each team.
- Fans will then have a specific window in which they are able to vote for their favorite design of the five (IE the month of May).
- Prior (or during) training camp, each NFL team will unveil the winning designs for their team AND the fans who designed them. Obviously a massive grand prize will go to the winning designers (Super Bowl tickets for life, a small percentage of the jersey sales for that specific design...etc).

Madden Cover Vote '13

From there, the NFL and Nike sit back and collect the additional revenue they may have not received from standard jersey sales. A portion of all revenue collected from these designs (jerseys, hats, t shirts...etc) go to Military Families, Veterans or any sort of Armed Forces charity. Maybe the items don't go on sale until Armed Forces week, but regardless of when they go on sale, they stay for sale until the next year's contest winners are announced. 

Seems like a pretty awesome idea to me. Then again, I have no idea how long a jersey design/concept can go from "concept" to actually being worn on the field and in to retail stores...but its the NFL and Nike, I'm sure they can make it happen...but I'll take credit for the idea :) Besides, we know the "let the fans vote" concept already works with the Madden Cover Contest each year with EA Sports and ESPN.

Feel free to share this with the social media world, and who knows, maybe the NFL and Nike see it and consider the idea. (yeah, I don't think they will either...)

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