Press

The New Interactive Experience Celebrates Super Bowl XLVIII and Offers a Rare Behind-the-Scenes Look at NFL Officiating and the Opportunity to Train Like an NFL Pro

NFL’s Head of Officials Dean Blandino Among Expected Attendees

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) and the National Football League (NFL) will join together to celebrate the opening of You Make the Call: Learn to be An NFL Official, a new interactive experience that gives children and their families an exclusive look into the world of NFL officials, on Thursday, January 9 from 10 am – noon at CMOM (212 West 83rd Street). The multimedia exhibit, featuring daily and weekly programming, as well as clinics and appearances by NFL representatives, runs through February 28.

You Make the Call: Learn to be An NFL Official will help families understand how developing better decision-making skills, including planning, organizing, focusing on task and physical fitness leads to leadership and social success. The exhibit is part of CMOM’s EatSleepPlay™ national early childhood obesity prevention initiative, which CMOM, a Let’s Move! Museum, developed with the National Institutes of Health.

Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to go “under the hood” and make the correct call in the “You Make the Call” booth – a replica of the sideline instant replay system used by real NFL officials.

Other interactive exhibit highlights include an NFL Play 60 obstacle course where kids can train like an NFL pro and run through pop-ups and dive onto a landing mat for a “touchdown” finish while carrying a football. Children can also participate in the “Zebra Dance” – a physical routine that combines officiating call signals and trendy dance moves – and design their own referee flags in the “You Make the Flag” workshop. Throughout the exhibit’s run, NFL officials, coaches and current and former players will also stop by the museum to participate in various programs. For the latest schedule information, please visit cmom.org.

Attendees at the Jan. 9 press event will include:

• Dean Blandino, NFL VP of officiating
• Laurie Tisch, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund president, Children’s Museum of Manhattan board member and New York Football Giants co-owner and board of directors member
• Andrew S. Ackerman, CMOM executive director

In addition to speaking with the attendees, media will have the chance to watch young visitors participate in all aspects of the exhibit.

WHAT: You Make the Call: Learn to be An NFL Official Exhibit Opening

WHEN: Thursday, January 9
10 am – noon

WHERE: Children’s Museum of Manhattan
The Tisch Building
212 West 83rd Street
New York, NY