NFL Connects Small Businesses With Super Bowl Buyers
More than 100 small business owners met potential vendor buyers at an Inglewood networking event ahead of Super Bowl LXI.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
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The NFL, the Rams, and the L.A. Super Bowl Host Committee hosted a Tuesday night event in Inglewood where more than 100 small business owners gained direct access to buyers seeking vendors. Members of NFL Source, a procurement program for small businesses, met with groups looking to hire.
Why it matters
Small businesses have often been overlooked for these types of opportunities, and the event aimed to connect them directly with buyers. Panelists urged owners entering procurement to remain diligent, patient, and ready.
More than 100 small business owners attended the Inglewood event, which was hosted by the NFL, the Rams, and the L.A. Super Bowl Host Committee. Results in terms of signed contracts have not yet been reported.
The players
NFL Source
NFL Source is a procurement program run by the National Football League that connects small businesses with buyers for league and event contracts.
Roham International
Roham International is a Torrance-based merchandise manufacturer that participates in the Super Bowl vendor ecosystem.
The details
Business owners met directly with groups seeking to hire vendors, including potential buyers SoFi Stadium, the NFL, and the Rams. Buyers advised vendors not to take on more work than they can handle and to ask similar vendors for help completing jobs.
Timeline
Tuesday night, early November 2026, the Inglewood networking event was held.
Super Bowl LXI is the event for which vendor contracts are being sought.
Season Trajectory
The event is an early step in the vendor sourcing cycle for Super Bowl LXI, which the NFL Source program is designed to support for small businesses. It shows how host-city organizers are building local supplier pipelines ahead of the league's largest game.
Small business owners who want Super Bowl LXI vendor work can pursue NFL Source procurement opportunities, which buyers say favor vendors who remain diligent and patient. Owners are advised to partner with similar vendors when a job is larger than one business can handle alone.
The takeaway
Small businesses that prepare early and team up with peer vendors are best positioned to compete for large event contracts like those tied to the Super Bowl.
Further reading
For more on league-level developments, see the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportsbusinessjournal.
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