As a two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time NFL MVP, and 14-time Pro Bowler, retired quarterback Peyton Manning will no doubt be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Manning would probably also deserve consideration for a Celebrity Commercial Hall of Fame if there was one. For most of his career, and ever since, Manning has remained a fixture on our televisions. He has endorsed Buick cars, Papa John’s pizzas, Gatorade sports drinks, Nationwide Insurance plans, and more.
Recently, Nationwide has created a campaign in which Manning creates his own miniature town full of families and businesses: Peytonville. Here is Manning explaining his vision to his bewildered sidekick, country star Brad Paisley:
Manning’s fantasy has inspired us to think of our own as we explore possible sports betting apps that could be introduced when Tennessee launches its online-only sports betting market: the Peytonville Sportsbook.
Peyton, the perfect pitchman
Tennessee doesn’t have any casinos or racetracks. Accordingly, its new sports betting law allows anyone to pay the license fee and send an application to the Tennessee Lottery to launch an online sportsbook. Given Manning’s connections to the Volunteer State, a sportsbook starring the University of Tennessee alum and a natural-born spokesman makes perfect sense.
If you are wondering whether Manning would even be eligible to open his own Peytonville Sportsbook, as a retired player, he technically could. The law prohibits current coaches, players, and employees of teams from obtaining licenses. Additionally, those employed by leagues or associations might also have “the direct ability to influence the outcome of a sporting event” are excluded.
The last prohibition also prohibits “any other category of persons … who, if licensed, would affect the integrity of sports wagering” from getting a license. It’s possible to imagine someone coming up with an argument to include Manning in that category.
But much as Peytonville is Manning’s fantasy, the Peytonville Sportsbook is ours … so let’s roll with it a little.
Possible Peytonville promos
After all, we’re already starting to imagine some great promotions. These would surely help make Peyton’s app competitive, much like he was throughout his storied career.
- Omaha: In honor of Manning’s most-used audible, a special bet in which players are allowed to change their pregame moneyline or spread bet (at appropriate odds) before the first half concludes.
- The Hurry-Up: Place five in-game bets inside of one quarter and earn a bonus bet.
- Football on Your Phone: Get an odds boost when placing your first NFL bet via the mobile app because your “phone ain’t for callin’, your phone’s for footballin’.”
- Number 18: Manning wore No. 18 and played 18 seasons. Win a spread bet by picking a team favored by 18 points or more and win a bonus bet.
- Peyton Payout: Score an early payout on a moneyline NFL or NBA bet when your team takes a lead of 18 points or more.
- Brad Beat Insurance: Close-game insurance for bets lost due to a last-second score, named after Brad Paisley (a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville).
That’s not even including the Laser Rocket Arm Reload bonus, Sibling Rivalry props whenever siblings compete in the same contest (in honor of Peyton’s two-time Super Bowl-winning brother, Eli), or the Chicken Parm You Taste So Good cash-out early option.
Here’s hoping that “Come Play at Peytonville” ad campaign begins sooner than later.
