Wall Street Journal Special Report: The Business of Football

In football, the game is just the beginning. Football is a massive business that involves big money player contracts, endorsements, and media mega-deals. For the fans, football has become a 24/7, 365-day-a-year lifestyle of television, tailgating, video games, and fantasy leagues.

This Special Report from The Wall Street Journal contains ten articles:

"The Battle for the NFL's Future," by Stefan Fatsis: Team owners used to share a common vision. But no more. A look at how today's owners are shaping the direction of America's most-powerful sports league.

"Beyond the Bowl," by Alex Frangos: The next generation of football arenas is pushing the bounds of stadium engineering.

"Where Football Never Stops," by Joe Flint: When the NFL started its own cable channel, skeptics wondered how it would fill off-season time. They don't wonder any longer.

"Madden vs. Blitz," by Nick Wingfield: In the battle of the video games, both sides lay claim to reality.

"Is It Real...," by Stephanie King: ...or is it fantasy football? These days, it's hard to know the answer, as game telecasts cater to fantasy followers.

"Amateur Night," by Amy Merrick: Semipro football is enjoying a comeback. But nobody is going to confuse it with the pros.

"A Whole Different Game," by Peter Sanders: For coaches, success at the college level doesn't always translate to the NFL.

"The Number Cruncher," by Allen St. John: What does an internist have to do with college football rankings? A lot.

"Protect and Serve," by Thaddeus Herrick: Advances in equipment reflect the rise of the passing game.

"No Guarantees," by Jon Weinbach: Why NFL players can't count on their big paychecks for long.