With football season underway, NFL fans are flocking to their TV sets, mobile phones, connected TVs, desktops and laptops waiting for their favorite team to take the field. This week’s “Monday Night Football” game is a face-off between the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. PT at the Soldier Stadium Stadium in Chicago, Illinois.
But not everyone has the cash to put down $50+ on a satellite subscription to watch the game. However, with more consumers now turning to connected TVs and mobile devices for their daily dose of entertainment, the National Football League has made it easier for cord-cutters and cord-nevers to get their football fix without emptying out their piggy bank.
While fans can watch this upcoming “Monday Night Football” game on the NFL network available on streaming platforms like FuboTV, DirecTV Now, PS Vue and Sling TV — they all charge a monthly subscription fee. The cheapest of these services is Sling TV, which includes the NFL Network in its “Blue” package for $25 per month. Of course, consumers can get around paying the monthly service fee by taking advantage of the free trial period that most of these platforms offer.
But if $25 per month is still too much or canceling the service after its trial period is too big of a hassle, there is another way to watch the game without spending a dime — as long as you own a smartphone.
Anyone with a smartphone can download the NFL, Yahoo Sports, AOL or Tumblr mobile apps and enjoy the upcoming “Thursday Night Football” game at no cost. The same goes for all regular season and playoff games, and even the Super Bowl. The NFL announced the news in February.
15 Coolest Things About the Upcoming LA Rams and Chargers Stadium (Photos)
Football is finally back in Los Angeles, with the Rams and Chargers set to ensure that their upcoming $2.6 billion stadium has all the Hollywood glamour and VIP amenities that you'd expect for A-list clientele along, with the football necessities for die-hard NFL fans. TheWrap recently got a sneak peek at the L.A. Stadium and Entertainment District -- check out the coolest aspects.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
The 70,000-seat open air stadium is expandable up to 100,000 seats -- and aside to hosting regular season NFL games -- it's also destined to be home to the 2028 Olympics, future Super Bowls, college football national championship games, the NCAA Final Four, X Games and a multitude of other sporting events. It is set to open in 2020, with the Rams playing at the L.A. Coliseum and the Chargers at StubHub Center in the meantime.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
Fully funded by the real-estate fortune of Rams owner Stan Kroenke, the two L.A. teams (one of which is NFC and the other AFC) will split their time at the new stadium with 10 home games for each team per regular season (not accounting for playoffs or potential Super Bowls). Currently, all aspects of the entertainment district's model center in Playa Vista pays equal homage to both teams.
Hiro Ueno
While its Compton neighbor is more famous, Inglewood is steeped also in history -- all of which will be celebrated at its latest addition. Renowned for the former Hollywood Park Racetrack, it is also home to the Forum, where both the L.A. Lakers and Kings played from 1967-99.
Debbie Emery
Reminiscent of the waves pounding the nearby beaches, the stadium roof curves in a perfect wave of transparent ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) covering the playing field, seating bowl, Champions Plaza and performance venue.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
While it doesn't rain often in L.A., when that mysterious wet stuff falls from the sky it often does so with a vengeance. That's why the sail-shaped roof will be strong but clear to allow in natural light but ward off bad weather. The design is also open on the sides to allow breezes to flow through the building.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
The two 160 by 72 feet video screens at Cowboys' AT&T stadium have been vowing fans since 2009, but they ain't seen nothing yet. The L.A. stadium will boast an oval shaped, dual-sided Oculus video board with over 60,000 linear feet of digital display -- so there literally won't be a bad seat in the house.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
With a site that's 3½ times the size of Disneyland, there's plenty of room for retail space, restaurants, a 6,000-seat performance venue attached to the stadium aiming to attract the music industry's biggest talents, a five-star hotel, residential apartments -- and even a lake.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
Whether it's fantasy football fanatics wanting to follow every game stat, or corporations showcasing their company message, the 52-screens throughout the stadium mean that not a single play or deal will be missed.
Hiro Ueno
While they'll be plenty of personalized options for the suite experiences, guests can expect gourmet food, high-end drinks (including wines from Kroenke's vineyard, but probably not the 1992 Screaming Eagle, which goes for $7,000 ... a bottle) and a bird's eye view of the field. Most suites will also have private bathrooms, to maintain the privacy of A-list guests, plus VIP parking options.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
The entry to the club area will have a more open plan layout, so fans can mingle, meet up, and freak out if a game is coming down to the wire.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
The entire stadium is built indented into the ground so that it doesn't interfere with the flight path at LAX (which is three miles away) or interrupt the horizon. A secondary radar system will also be installed at LAX to eliminate the risk of any impact on air traffic. That proximity to the airport will make it easy to pop in for games -- whether flying coach or on a corporate jet.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
You can't be in L.A. and not have a patio, so there'll be plenty of outdoor areas aside from on the field to enjoy the California sun all-year round (this is anti-thesis of "football weather" experienced by most cities).
LA Stadium Entertainment District
While the opening of the stadium is still three years away, the L.A. Stadium Premiere Center in nearby Playa Vista shows potential season ticket or suite buyers exactly what to expect through an Emmy-worthy introduction video, a 30 by 40 foot model replica, and digital displays. You sign a deal right there -- and then celebrate at the in-house bar.
Jeff Lewis
Visitors at the Premiere Center can test-drive the luxury suites, pick their must-have amenities -- and even try out the leather seats for size.
Hiro Ueno
The sleek design of the Premiere Center mirrors that of the eventual stadium, while the integrated technology allows the space to evolve as new elements are developed.
Hiro Ueno
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Are you ready for a lot of football, Los Angeles?
Football is finally back in Los Angeles, with the Rams and Chargers set to ensure that their upcoming $2.6 billion stadium has all the Hollywood glamour and VIP amenities that you'd expect for A-list clientele along, with the football necessities for die-hard NFL fans. TheWrap recently got a sneak peek at the L.A. Stadium and Entertainment District -- check out the coolest aspects.
LA Stadium Entertainment District
LA Stadium Entertainment District
