This is big. Bigger than lifesize. Maybe you’ve seen one of the inflatables on a commercial with suburban neighbors one-upping each other to prove who was the biggest team fan. Maybe you’ve seen your neighbor’s inflatable motorcycle-riding Santa and want to bring some sanity to the street. Are these inflatable NFL players really available, and how difficult are they to set up and maintain?
The same manufacturer that builds custom inflatable tunnels for NFL teams to run through before a game has come out with one you can put in your yard. They are plenty big, though not quite as big as the ones needed on a nationally-televised football game. “Tiny” stand eight feet tall with his arms raised, and “Bubba” is five feet tall even as he stands crouched in a three-point stance.
The box for the blow-up players is surprisingly small. The polyester fabric folds quite compactly, and the blower fan is fairly small considering the size of the player once inflated. So it ships and stores easily. Everything you need is included: the player, tie downs, base stakes, a patented internal blower, and a six foot electrical cord.
Setup is simple. Unfold the polyester inflatable NFL player, and ensure the zippers are all closed. Check the blower intake port to make sure it is clear of debris. Attach tie down ropes to each loop on your character, then attach the ropes to the tie down stakes. Plug into an electrical outlet and the player will begin to inflate. When you are ready to take down your inflatable football player, unplug the blower fan and open the zipper to deflate. Let the blower cool down before storing it near the polyester fabric. Never use in water or wet conditions. Don’t use near fire or heat-emitting products. If you use an extension cord, only use one designed for outdoor use. Always unplug the power cord before touching the fan or the air intake port.
We have heard some interesting propositions for what to do with inflatable NFL players. Although it would cost a couple grand, you could purchase 22 players in a mix of crouching “Bubbas” and standing “Tinys”, with 11 on each team, then line them up for the largest football line of scrimmage on record. Even just one blow-up player is great to announce a party, as people will know which house is yours before turning the corner at the end of the block. Commercial operations install one or more inflatables to attract customers, such as announcing the featured game of the week at a sports bar. These inflatable NFL players available in two versions for each football team were made available to the public in 2009, so expect to see more and more on the landscape of sports fans’ homes and business in the coming years.