Automakers Stand by the NFL in Ad Dollars

Recent surveys have found the majority of football fans plan to continue watching despite allegations in the NFL of domestic abuse.  Now it seems, sponsors are standing by the league as well.  

The Detroit News is reporting today that the nation's automakers, including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota have no plans to pull advertising in light of the scandals.

Ford and Chrysler, along with Anheuser-Busch and Verizon were the league's top advertisers last season.  Some others, including McDonald's and Pepsico, have criticized NFL officials for their handling of the situation but have not pulled their money to make a real statement.

Baltimore Raven's running back Ray Rice and the Viking's Adrian Peterson have lost endorsements, though, apparently limiting the fallout to individuals only.

Retired Michigan State University advertising professor Bruce Vanden Bergh, told the article he's not surprised.

"There's too much money involved for the automakers to overreact, or react too quickly," he said.

USA Today is reporting that the NFL doesn't believe the scandal will have far-reaching effects, at least as far as advertising is concerned.  It says the NFL is looking to reach $25 billion in revenue in the next decade--more than twice what it is now.

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joanne.paul@townsquaremedia.com