Touchdowns & togetherness: personal relationships influence football fan spending, new NFL and Bread…

The financial playbook

Being a devoted fan is more than just showing up on game day; it means planning ahead financially. Seven in ten (70%) NFL fans report budgeting for their football-related expenses, with more than a third (35%) reporting saving for months in advance. Younger fans are especially intentional, with 40%of Gen Z and 39%of Millennials stating they save months in advance to cover NFL expenses.

According to respondents, the top purchases and expenses include NFL merchandise and memorabilia (68%), game tickets (47%), bar and restaurant food and drinks (43%), tailgating supplies (38%) and player-endorsed items (26%).

Nearly half (48%) of Baby Boomers said they're most likely to use a bank-branded credit card to pay for football-related purchases, the highest among all generations, compared to 39%of Gen X, 36%of Millennials and 35%of Gen Z.

Gen Z goes all in on the NFL

For Gen Z NFL fans, football is more than just a game; it's a lifestyle they prioritize and around which they base their experiences-73%plan to buy merchandise for the upcoming season, which is higher than the overall average (68%). ​​​​More than half (55%) of Gen Z who plan to travel would plan their vacations around games; 57%would consider traveling to attend the Super Bowl, the highest among all generations. Nearly one in four (24%) say fear of missing out, or FOMO, influences their decision to buy tickets, highlighting how central football has become in their plans.

They're also more likely than the overall average to embrace flexible payment plans, with 21%reporting they use Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options to support their NFL lifestyle; they're also the most likely generation to use a debit card (78%) and crypto (7%) to pay for NFL purchases. Rewards matter too, with Gen Z and Millennials being the most likely (29%,28%) to use rewards or points to pay for their NFL-related expenses, showing they know how to maximize the value of their purchases.

"The NFL uniquely connects community, travel and personal finance. Fans express their passion by investing in shared experiences-whether carefully budgeting for months or going all out for Super Bowl celebrations," said Val Greer,executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Bread Financial. "The NFL Extra Points Visa® Credit Card empowers fans to unlock these one-of-a-kind moments, from traveling to games across state lines and hosting unforgettable game-day parties to gifting or purchasing exclusive memorabilia. It's all about fans celebrating the sport and the teams they love."