Andra Day to sing National Anthem
NBC's Football Night in America kicks of season at Sports Authority Field at Mile High
NBC/NFL Network Special on Thursday, Sept. 8, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. ET
Precedes NFL Kickoff Game: CAROLINA PANTHERS vs. DENVER BRONCOS
The NFL kicks off its 97th season with "2016 NFL KICKOFF PRESENTED BY HYUNDAI" – 7:30 PM ET Thursday, September 8. Multi-platinum global stars DIERKS BENTLEY and ONEREPUBLIC will perform live at Civic Center Park in Denver, it was announced Monday night during NBC's national broadcast of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Performances by Bentley and OneRepublic will be featured in simulcast coverage of the 60-minute pregame show from Denver from 7:30 – 8:30 PM ET on NBC and NFL Network. The live pregame broadcast also will be available via NFL Mobile from Verizon.
Television's most-watched studio show, NBC's Football Night in America, will be live on-site in Denver with its full team -- BOB COSTAS, DAN PATRICK,Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach TONY DUNGY, and two-time Super Bowl winner RODNEY HARRISON, along with NFL Insiders MIKE FLORIO and PETER KING. The NFL Kickoff Game on NBC will be called by AL MICHAELS, CRIS COLLINSWORTH and MICHELE TAFOYA.
The show leads into the season opener between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos in a rematch of Super Bowl 50 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver (NBC, NBC Sports Live Extra on desktop and tablet, Westwood One Radio Sports, 8:30 PM ET). It marks the first Super Bowl rematch played on Kickoff Weekend since 1970 (Kansas City-Minnesota). Grammy-nominated performer ANDRA DAYwill sing the National Anthem.
The musical performances are part of the celebration to kick off the 2016 season and to honor the Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos. This is the 15th consecutive Kickoff celebration to start the season and the 12th time the NFL has saluted the Super Bowl champions with the opening game in their stadium on a Thursday in primetime.
2016 NFL KICKOFFwill be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER, the Executive Producer of the Super Bowl pregame and halftime shows,*and directed byGREGG*GELFAND.
In addition to presenting sponsor Hyundai, top tier sponsors for the NFL's Kickoff platform include Bud Light, McDonald's, Microsoft, Pepsi, Snickers, Verizon and Visa.
Media may visit NFLcommunications.com to apply for credentials to cover the "2016 NFL Kickoff" concert. The credential deadline is Friday, September 2. Media interested in covering the game may apply for credentials through the Broncos.
Visit NFL.com/Tickets for tickets to NFL games.
| HISTORY OF NFL OPENING KICKOFF EVENTS | ||||||
DATE
LOCATION
NETWORK
TALENT
GAME
9/5/2002
Times Square, New York
CBS, MTV, VH1 and ESPN
Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias, Alicia Keys, Eve, Cast of Broadway musical Rent with Joey Fatone of NSYNC
San Francisco at NY Giants (ESPN)
9/4/2003
The National Mall, Washington, DC
ABC
Aerosmith, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Britney Spears, Good Charlotte
NY Jets at Washington (ABC)
9/9/2004
Gillette Stadium, New England/ Metropolitan Park, Jacksonville
ABC
Boston Pops, Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, Elton John, Toby Keith, Lenny Kravitz (NE); Jessica Simpson (Jax.)
Indianapolis at New England (ABC)
9/8/2005
Gillette Stadium, New England/ Los Angeles Coliseum, LA/Detroit
ABC
Green Day, Santana, Michelle Branch, Ozzy Osbourne, Trisha Yearwood (NE); Kanye West, Maroon 5, Good Charlotte, Rihanna (LA); Rolling Stones (taped from Detroit)
Oakland at New England (ABC)
9/7/2006
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh/Miami
NBC
Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride (Anthem) (Pitt.); Diddy, Cassie, Yung Joc, Tego Calderon (Miami)
Miami at Pittsburgh (NBC)
9/6/2007
Monument Circle/RCA Dome, Indianapolis
NBC, NFLN
John Mellencamp, Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Hinder, Keyshia Cole & Voices of Unity Youth Choir (Anthem)
New Orleans at Indianapolis (NBC)
9/4/2008
Columbus Circle, New York City/Giants Stadium, New Jersey
NFLN, NBC
Natasha Bedingfield, Keith Urban, Usher
Washington at New York Giants (NBC)
9/10/2009
Point State Park/Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
NFLN, NBC
Tim McGraw, The Black Eyed Peas, Harry Connick Jr. (Anthem)
Tennessee at Pittsburgh (NBC)
9/9/2010
Jackson Square (Parade & Concert) /Superdome, New Orleans
NFLN, NBC
Dave Matthews Band, Taylor Swift, Harry Connick Jr., Colbie Caillat (Anthem)
Minnesota at New Orleans (NBC)
9/8/2011
Lambeau Field,
Green Bay
NFLN, NBC
Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Maroon 5
New Orleans at Green Bay (NBC)
9/5/2012
Rockefeller Center, New York / MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
NFLN, NBC
Mariah Carey, No Doubt
Dallas at New York Giants (NBC)
9/5/2013
Baltimore Inner Harbor/ Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
NFLN, NBC
Keith Urban, Danielle Bradbery (Anthem)
Baltimore at Denver
(NBC)
9/4/2014
CenturyLink Field, Seattle
NFLN, NBC
Pharrell Williams, Soundgarden, Ariana Grande (Anthem)
Green Bay at Seattle (NBC)
9/10/2015
Gillette Stadium, New England
NFLN, NBC
Ellie Goulding, Train
Pittsburgh at New England (NBC)
9/8/2016
Civic Center Park, Denver
NFLN, NBC
Dierks Bentley, OneRepublic, Andra Day (Anthem)
Carolina at Denver (NBC)
