NFL and NetApp Collaborate for Advanced Data Management
The NFL has entered a global partnership with NetApp to bolster its data infrastructure and accelerate innovation focused on operations, competition, and fan engagement. According to a press release, NetApp has been named the official data infrastructure partner and international game sponsor for 2025, including matches in London and the regular season debut in Madrid.
Key Aspects of the Partnership
The primary objective is to organize and leverage the vast amount of data generated by the league, including performance metrics, video from broadcasts and replays, sensor telemetry on-field, social media interactions, historical statistics, and administrative data. The NFL aims to unify and govern these data streams, reduce latencies, and enable real-time analytics for both sports and business decisions.
Technology Foundation
The technology foundation comprises a central repository supported by NetApp ONTAP, a unified storage operating system that enables consistent data movement between local data centers and public clouds. Additionally, NetApp CyberVault is employed for cyber resilience and rapid incident recovery. Key differentiators include integrated security at every layer and operational continuity.
- NetApp ONTAP: Unified storage operating system for consistent data movement between local data centers and public clouds.
- NetApp CyberVault: Designed for cyber resilience and rapid incident recovery.
- Integrated security at every layer: Ensures robust data protection.
- Operational continuity: Guarantees uninterrupted services during disruptions.
The collaboration extends to existing NFL strategic partners, such as AWS, Cisco, and Microsoft. This interoperability facilitates machine learning models for predictive analysis, content personalization, workload orchestration, and cost optimization.
- Machine learning models: Enable predictive analysis and content personalization.
- Workload orchestration: Optimizes resource allocation for various tasks.
- Cost optimization: Helps manage and reduce expenses through efficient data management.
Impact and Benefits
The NFL emphasizes that data management is a competitive advantage, especially with over 218 million followers in the United States and ongoing international growth. The league needs to minimize complexity while ensuring data availability.
- Standards of uptime, ransomware protection, and data recovery: Facilitate business continuity in a constrained sports calendar.
- Relevance for priority markets: Ensures efficient data management in key regions.
In Mexico, the second-largest market for NFL fans, nine teams participate in the International Home Marketing Area (IHMA) program to deepen their connection with the audience and convert reach into revenue. The data infrastructure enables segmentation, campaign measurement, and localized digital products.
- Segmentation: Targeted marketing efforts based on fan data.
- Campaign measurement: Assess the effectiveness of marketing initiatives.
- Localized digital products: Tailor content and experiences for specific markets.
For NetApp, this agreement strengthens its position as a provider of intelligent data infrastructure with native support for hyperscale clouds. The company asserts that observability, automation, cyber resilience, and enterprise-grade storage enable the modernization of legacy architectures without disrupting operations or compromising efficiency.
- Observability: Enhanced monitoring and understanding of data systems.
- Automation: Streamlines processes and reduces manual intervention.
- Cyber resilience: Ensures data protection against cyber threats.
- Enterprise-grade storage: Provides robust and reliable data management capabilities.
Regulatory and Governance Considerations
Both the NFL and its technology partner aim to adhere to privacy, retention, and ethical use of fan and player information. The combination of policies, controls, and traceability ensures compliance with local and international requirements while preserving competitive integrity.
