NFL cracks down on church Super Bowl viewing

[tk13]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...RTS03/70201036

Churches react to NFL's Super Bowl warning

By Robert King
robert.king@indystar.com

Several Indiana churches are scrambling to decide what they should do about their plans for Super Bowl viewing parties in light of the NFL’s tough stance with an Indianapolis church that wanted to show the game on a giant screen.

Congregations such as Indian Creek Christian Church in Marion County's Franklin Township and Castleton United Methodist Church in Indianapolis had decided to or were considering whether to cancel their viewing parties in light of the NFL’s objections that such parties violate copyright laws.

At least one church plans to defy the NFL’s objections and host a big-screen party anyway.

The question arose after Fall Creek Baptist Church said the NFL had demanded that it forego a “Super Bowl Bash” at the church that would bring together congregation members to watch the game with a projection TV.

A story in Thursday’s Star prompted two dozen calls and more than 130 e-mail responses — almost all of them voicing outrage at the NFL’s stance.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has a longstanding policy against “mass out-of-home viewings” of the Super Bowl, even if they don’t charge admission. Hosts of parties can use only one TV that is no bigger than 55 inches, according to a league attorney. The NFL makes an exception to that, however, for sports bars that show televised sports on a regular basis.

[acesn8s]

Aren't they having a party at the RCA Dome?

[Eric]

Nfl is god.

They can do what they want.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Eric

Nfl is god.

They can do what they want.

Hey, not bad. I'll give you credit for making the effort to find the original thread.

[jebatzel]

looks like they are going to reschedule a lot of those parties

"Church 'Super Bowl' festivities may go on
NFL says just don't charge admission fees to parties"

news link

[C-Mac]

Originally Posted by jebatzel

looks like they are going to reschedule a lot of those parties

"Church 'Super Bowl' festivities may go on
NFL says just don't charge admission fees to parties"

news link

Superbowl tithing probably is one of the biggest takes of the year for a lot of these churches.

[Bwana]

The NFL is turning into a bigger joke every year.........Unreal.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Bwana

The NFL is turning into a bigger joke every year.........Unreal.

Agreed. The NFL should be worrying about their drug substance policy, and nailing the bastards who are cheating the system, than some innocent fans who want to watch the big game at a Church.

If I was the pastor for that church, I'd still do it. The NFL would be forced to sue, but do they really want to sue a church? That would give the NFL negative PR.

[Mr. Laz]

The NFL hates GOD

[tk13]

Originally Posted by acesn8s

Aren't they having a party at the RCA Dome?

No, that is not allowed.

[C-Mac]

The NFL has had this rule for years, its just that now the churches have recently started having these advertised Superbowl parties. Just because they are churches doesnt make them above the law or rule. You can be assured the churches have benefited monetarily from the NFL in this case. The NFL has the right to the money if they indeed were to charge for the viewing. I dont understand all the distain toward the NFL here over such an old rule.

[C-Mac]

Originally Posted by acesn8s

Aren't they having a party at the RCA Dome?

Who would go there if they were just showing the local news? If they are charging or making money from the viewing of the Superbowl, then the NFL is entitled to part of that money.

[morphius]

Originally Posted by C-Mac

The NFL has had this rule for years, its just that now the churches have recently started having these advertised Superbowl parties. Just because they are churches doesnt make them above the law or rule. You can be assured the churches have benefited monetarily from the NFL in this case. The NFL has the right to the money if they indeed were to charge for the viewing. I dont understand all the distain toward the NFL here over such an old rule.

because the old rule is BS, IMHO. Technically this would keep me from going to nzoners house, which I think is stupid. It is funny that it is okay for bars, but not people and other institutions...

[C-Mac]

Originally Posted by morphius

because the old rule is BS, IMHO. Technically this would keep me from going to nzoners house, which I think is stupid. It is funny that it is okay for bars, but not people and other institutions...

I'm really surprised you view it this way. Technically it doesnt apply to Nzoner's house, and its only OK for bars (business pay higher than residential) who pay money year round to have the rights to show TV. The flags went up when they saw the churches(who usually dont broadcast TV) advertising their Superbowl parties and probably charging admisson. Many of the churches now have a reputation of money makers IE there advertising of the parties. Again its a very old rule that only reared its head because of the churches new type of membership campains.

[morphius]

Originally Posted by C-Mac

I'm really surprised you view it this way. Technically it doesnt apply to Nzoner's house, and its only OK for bars (business pay higher than residential) who pay money year round to have the rights to show TV. The flags went up when they saw the churches(who usually dont broadcast TV) advertising their Superbowl parties and probably charging admisson. Many of the churches now have a reputation of money makers IE there advertising of the parties. Again its a very old rule that only reared its head because of the churches new type of membership campains.

Hosts of parties can use only one TV that is no bigger than 55 inches, according to a league attorney.

That reads to me that any host, not just Chruch's and organizations are not allowed to show the game on anything larger then 55".

Of course I also think that the Church's are doing it more because a lot of Church's now have technology to show it to a large group of people, so they say why not use it?

Really I see the rule as stupid. It isn't like it is keeping people from going to the game and there really are not NFL ran parties everywhere, so they don't lose anything in the deal.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by morphius

That reads to me that any host, not just Chruch's and organizations are not allowed to show the game on anything larger then 55".

Once again...

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has a longstanding policy against “mass out-of-home viewings” of the Super Bowl, even if they don’t charge admission.