Generic top-level domainsIDNDNSSEC
Overview
.nfl is a brand gTLD applied for and operated by NFL Reg Ops LLC as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program. Delegated in 2016 and using Neustar as its registry, the TLD is intended to signal authentic, secure online properties associated with the National Football League.
History
- Applied for under ICANN's New gTLD Program (application materials referenced Reveal Day, June 13, 2012).
- Delegated and implemented on 23 June 2016.
- Registry operator: Neustar.
- Manager / registrant controller: NFL Reg Ops LLC.
- The NFL has a long online presence (the principal site nfl.com was brought in-house in 2007) and sought the .nfl gTLD to extend that control and branding.
Usage and Audience
- Intended audience: NFL organizations, Member Clubs, affiliates, and NFL fans seeking authentic league or team content.
- Typical uses described in the application:
- Official league and team websites (news, scores, statistics)
- Ticket sales and event information
- Official merchandise and retail
- NFL-sponsored fantasy football and interactive fan services
- Distribution of league media and video
- Charitable and community programs
- The application emphasized international reach and the potential to present localized or language-specific content for foreign audiences.
Registration Rules
- Eligibility / restrictions:
- Registration and use are restricted to NFL Reg Ops, its Affiliates, and the NFL's thirty-two Member Clubs (i.e., it is intended as a limited brand TLD).
SEO and Brand Impact
- The NFL framed .nfl as a means to convey authenticity and security online, helping users immediately recognize legitimate NFL properties.
- The registry expects the TLD to:
- Increase consumer trust for transactions (tickets, merchandise)
- Reduce fraud, counterfeiting and piracy by offering authenticated domain space
- Serve as a recognizable brand signpost over time for fans and partners
Notable Cases or Examples
- The application cites the NFL's existing high-profile online presence:
- nfl.com (brought under NFL control in 2007) as the league's principal website.
- High audience engagement metrics referenced in the application: ~70 million unique visitors per month during the 2011 season and Super Bowl XLVI (2012) reaching ~111.3 million U.S. viewers.
- The application also listed all thirty-two Member Clubs by name as intended participants in the namespace, and described coordination with clubs to integrate team and league web properties under .nfl.
Operator
Whois
% IANA WHOIS server % for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org % This query returned 1 object domain: NFL organisation: NFL Reg Ops LLC address: 345 Park Avenue address: New York NY 10154 address: United States of America (the) contact: administrative name: Chris Niemi organisation: Markmonitor Inc. address: 1120 S. Rackham Way, Suite 300 address: Meridian ID 83642 address: United States of America (the) phone: +1 (208) 389-5740 e-mail: dotnfl@markmonitor.com contact: technical name: IANA Contact organisation: GoDaddy Registry address: 100 S. Mill Ave, Suite 1600 address: Tempe AZ 85281 address: United States of America (the) phone: +1 480 505 8800 fax-no: +1 480 624 2546 e-mail: iana@registry.godaddy nserver: A.NIC.NFL 2001:dcd:1:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.192.9 nserver: B.NIC.NFL 2001:dcd:2:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.194.9 nserver: C.NIC.NFL 2001:dcd:3:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.196.9 nserver: NS4.DNS.NIC.NFL 156.154.156.122 2610:a1:1074:0:0:0:0:7a nserver: NS5.DNS.NIC.NFL 156.154.157.122 2610:a1:1075:0:0:0:0:7a nserver: NS6.DNS.NIC.NFL 156.154.158.122 2610:a1:1076:0:0:0:0:7a ds-rdata: 7234 8 2 ec15a3b4d86192561c46bc1ebb72aa65bf5bf9c9d07a32ee736157ebadd447bb whois: status: ACTIVE remarks: Registration information: http://www.nfl.com/ created: 2016-06-03 changed: 2024-05-11 source: IANA