The NFL arrived at Wembley Stadium on Sunday with the LA Rams beating the Cincinnati Bengals 24-10 in front of nearly 84,000 fans.
After two matches at Tottenham Hotspur's impressive new home, Wembley staged the first of its two games this season with the Rams seeing off the Bengals who now have an 0-8 record this season and are bottom of the AFC North division.
As part of UCFB’s work experience programme, a group of students supported the NFL events team at Sunday’s game and we caught up with them to find out more…
Owen Chengun, BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing student at UCFB Wembley: “Working for a company the size of the NFL on event day was completely eye-opening and enlightening, as one could imagine. My day started at 10.30am and up until 1.30pm I was welcoming staff and handing out badges. It was here I realised the staggering amount of staff required in order to deliver seamless and world-class sporting entertainment, such as the NFL. After this, I was tasked to recognise staff for doing all the right things that contributed to the NFL fan journey. Staff were awarded with a First Down card for doing the basics of customer service or a Touch Down card for going above and beyond. The role was genuinely satisfying, as staff members were delighted that their efforts were being recognised and rewarded.
"I recognised staff member’s endeavours in hospitality, outside the ground and in the NFL operations/players block, and it was here that I gained unprecedented access to the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals players. Due to our role, we were fortunate enough to be in the tunnel prior to the LA Rams running out onto the pitch pre-match as well as the Bengals for the second half. This was by far the highlight of my day.
"Working for the NFL not only looks fantastic for my CV, it allowed me to witness first hand just how much thought global organisations put into the customer journey, which as a marketer I need to be aware of and learn from. The day was remarkable and exceptionally beneficial for me and hopefully my career.”
Richard Mallock, BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing student at UCFB Wembley: “I’ve learnt many things during my time as part of the NFL staff recognition team. Not only have I been able to spend time working in both the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley but I’ve had access to areas behind the scenes and been with the teams before they headed out on to the field.
"My job was to go around the stadium and award staff for going above and beyond in their work to improve the customer experience. It was amazing to see how a simple recognition card and pin could bring a smile to the faces of those who received them. I believe the recognition team is great for staff morale and will hopefully result in the same staff coming back year on year.
"I’d like to also thank UCFB for providing this opportunity as it’s another great name and event to have on my CV and further increases my chances of success for landing a job in the sports industry.”
Martynas Jokubauskas, BA (Hons) Sports Business & Sports Law student at UCFB Wembley: “I have been part of the NFL Fans First volunteer programme for all of the NFL London Games so far this year. As part of this team, my goal is to make a difference for all the staff working in the stadium and around it. My colleagues and I tried to create lifetime memories for all the staff by showing how much we appreciate all the work they do to make those games as memorable as possible for all the fans. Staff members contribute to the NFL fan journey and try to make that couple of hours in the stadium as unforgettable as possible - they do the work that isn’t always noticed, and our team has been created for that reason, we recognize staff members and provide small gifts to make their job more enjoyable. This experience has helped me to improve my communication skills and I have learned how to approach people with different views and perspectives.
"Recognising the contributions of an events team is very powerful because it creates such a positive environment during the event and staff get a chance to show their best and be an important part of this exciting sporting occasion. As a team, throughout the NFL games in London, we followed the NFL’s common purpose: to create lifetime memories and increase their enjoyment while working there.”
James Duckering, BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management student at UCFB Wembley: “My role working for the Fans First programme at Sunday’s game was to help recognise helpful stewards and reward them for good performances with either a First Down Card and a 100 year anniversary pin badge (which gives them a discount off of merchandise at the NFL online store). However, if a member of staff went out of their way, they'd receive a Touchdown Card and a mini football to take home with them for their hard work.
"Also, we were there for the staff arriving so that we could ensure we handed all of them a teammate pin badge to demonstrate that everyone is part of the NFL on game-day.
"My highlights of the day would be seeing stewards with a smile after handing out sweets to keep their energy up after a long day. It was also great to watch some of the game and see some top players such as Todd Gurley III. “
The Houston Texans face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in the final match of this year's NFL London Games next Sunday 3rd November, from 2pm GMT.
