Unfold the edges of a tiny, triangle paper football (yes, the ones you used to flick through a friend’s goal post-shaped hands in high school) and you might not see a business plan, but PeeBee Enterprises CEO Robert Miller certainly did.

The 46-year-old football fan first considered reinventing the cafeteria time-killer as a tabletop game in 2003. “Soccer has foosball games; hockey has tabletop hockey games; there’s even baseball games out there where you can hit the ball with a bat,” Miller says. “And I just got to thinking there’s never been a football game where two guys can sit down and actually play against one another as far as the tabletop version goes.”

So he built prototype after prototype, refining game rules and the table itself until the finished product, Full Contact Paper Football, hit the market Aug. 5, just in time for the Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival and the 2010 football season. Each table, which has the option to sit on a surface or come equipped with legs that are “the perfect size for bar stools,” is manufactured and packaged in Ohio and comes with a game ball made from Wilson NFL-grade leather.

The tables are patent pending, Miller says, and intended to be personalized. Consumers can choose team colors, stadium sizes and eventually lighting options for the game. They are also encouraged to decorate, cut and craft the table in any way they please.

“The ultimate goal is to get NCAA and NFL licensing for the product,” Miller says. For now, his current plan is to continue promoting via tables, tents and booths at area football games and events. “I’ve had booths at the Hall of Fame and sold a few; I plan on doing a few football games in the Muni Lot on Sundays,” Miller says. “Anyone who has stopped by the booths or seen the product has loved it. I’ve had a great response. It’s very visually appealing, and then when you play it, it gets even better. It’s just a blast to play.”

- NEONow

Popularity:
This record has been viewed 533 times.