Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Into the 1970s I think, you would see the names of both team painted in the end zone in regular season games hosted by one of the teams. Like you'd see in the Super Bowl at a neutral site. I have also seen the goal post pad done the same way. When did this stop?

I would be surprised if it ever started. Other than a playoff game perhaps, I can't imagine why any NFL team would have gone to the expense of painting the visiting team's name in one of its stadium's end zones. Especially since one would only "own" that end zone during two of the four quarters.

Mark L. Ford wrote:I would be surprised if it ever started. Other than a playoff game perhaps, I can't imagine why any NFL team would have gone to the expense of painting the visiting team's name in one of its stadium's end zones. Especially since one would only "own" that end zone during two of the four quarters.

The 49ers, Jets, and Chiefs were three teams still doing this into the 1970s. I would have to think about it or look at old films to see it other teams did this.

JWL wrote:

Mark L. Ford wrote:I would be surprised if it ever started. Other than a playoff game perhaps, I can't imagine why any NFL team would have gone to the expense of painting the visiting team's name in one of its stadium's end zones. Especially since one would only "own" that end zone during two of the four quarters.

The 49ers, Jets, and Chiefs were three teams still doing this into the 1970s. I would have to think about it or look at old films to see it other teams did this.

When the Vikings played the Packers in Bloomington in 1969, the goal post pad had "Packers" on it.

The Saints did it for at least the first few years that they were at Tulane Stadium.

One of the end zones was marked "Broncos" during the 1986 AFC Championship Game in Cleveland.

In 1967, the Cowboys and Saints saved one end zone for the opponents' colors:





1973 NFC Championship Game:

Then I imagine that there must have been some NFL rule about the visiting team bearing the expense for painting the end zone during regular season games. I'm not surprised at all about the wrap-arounds for the goal posts, which are both reusable and portable, and could probably be switched out between quarters.

Mark L. Ford wrote:Then I imagine that there must have been some NFL rule about the visiting team bearing the expense for painting the end zone during regular season games.

I kind of doubt that. Why would every team in the league have paid just a couple of teams to paint the end zone? It seems to me more likely that those home teams that did do it for visiting teams must have been willing to foot the bill. I doubt that it would have cost as much as it did to maintain the visitors' locker room.

rhickok1109 wrote:

Mark L. Ford wrote:Then I imagine that there must have been some NFL rule about the visiting team bearing the expense for painting the end zone during regular season games.

I kind of doubt that. Why would every team in the league have paid just a couple of teams to paint the end zone? It seems to me more likely that those home teams that did do it for visiting teams must have been willing to foot the bill. I doubt that it would have cost as much as it did to maintain the visitors' locker room.

The Saints were just getting started, so they likely wanted to make a big splash.

While not the end zone, the last five years the Chiefs were at Municipal Stadium, they would use midfield to paint helmets for them and whoever they were playing in a game.