<P> The National Football League Kickoff game, along with related festivities, marks the official start of the National Football League (NFL) regular season . A single game is held, preceded by a concert and other ceremonies . This first game of the season is usually scheduled for the Thursday following Labor Day and since 2004, it was hosted by the most recent Super Bowl champions . However, in 2012, the game was moved to Wednesday to prevent conflicts with the acceptance speech of the Democratic National Convention . The remainder of the league plays their opening weekend games the following Sunday and Monday . </P> <P> The Kickoff Game was introduced in the 2002 season . From 2004 onward, the most recent Super Bowl champion has played in the kickoff game every year, and hosted the game in all but one year (2013 being the lone exception, in which the champion played on the road because of a parking conflict). </P>

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