SI.com - 2006 NFL Playoffs - NFL nixes church's plan to show Super Bowl - Thursday February 1, 2007 2:09PM

NFL officials spotted a promotion of Fall Creek Baptist Church's "Super Bowl Bash" on the church Web site last week and overnighted a letter to the pastor demanding the party be canceled, the church said.
Initially, the league objected to the church's plan to charge a fee to attend and that the church used the license-protected words "Super Bowl" in its promotions.
Pastor John D. Newland said he told the NFL his church would not charge anyone and that it would drop the use of the forbidden words.
But the NFL objected to the church's plans to use a projector to show the game, saying the law limits it to one TV no bigger than 55 inches.



Newland said his church won't break the law.
"It just frustrates me that most of the places where crowds are going to gather to watch this game are going to be places that are filled with alcohol and other things that are inappropriate for children," Newland said. "We tried to provide an alternative to that and were shut down."

... that's kind of a shame. I don't think the church was trying to 'get away' with anything - and I'm sure the pastor's words are sincere.

My guess is that the whole problem revolves around their plan to charge a fee.

Beyond that, the NFL is just being dick-headed about it - doing the whole "no bigger than 55 inch" thing. That's just stupid.

Actually, there are churches all over the country that have Super Bowl Parties - and have for years. I'd think the NFL would be very pleased by that.

Now I do hope I don't offend anyone here.

And I do hope I am funny, at least enuf to bring a smile if not an out and out belly laugh to y'all...

But I think the problem is that the NFL is afraid if churches sponsor superbowl parties this year, everyone will think that the Green Bay Packers are in the game.

Cos everytime someone says,
"Jee-zus", it is gonna sound like "Cheese-us!"

OD

Ummmmm, my guess is that NOBODY is THAT confused!

On one hand, I find it ridiculous that the church isn't allow to show the game using a projector, isn't allowed to use the words "Super Bowl" in its advertisements, and isn't allowed to charge people for admission. Those laws are horrible.

On the other hand, I feel like the pastor was implying that his bash would have protected children from alcohol and things inappropriate for children. I disagree that it would have, since the people bringing their children to that event are not likely the same people who would be performing activities inappropriate to children.

Still, it seems like a fine party, which should not have been cancelled because of awful lawmaking.

Seems just plain ridiculous, like how a few years back a children's clinic was forbidden from putting up paintings of Disney characters because they were trademarked. There's no profit motive or scam. It's just a party.

I got to agree with the NFL on this one. They do own the rights to the game and the name there for have the right to dictate how the game can be viewed. Sure it's big business and it wouldn't have hurt if the church had their Super Bowl Bash but then when would they draw the line. Before long they would lose total control of the copy right and every church and corner bar would be having their own Super Bowl Bashes.

Great... now the kickers have no shot!

That is silly. Sure it would be wrong to charge for entry but let the church show the game.

Who does Jesus want in the super bowl anyway? Bears or Colts???

It was wrong for this church to charge an admission fee. ANYBODY that knows how the system works KNOWS you cannot do that - and this isn't just in regards to the Super Bowl. This is no different then if that church rented a movie at Blockbuster, then showed it through their video projector, and charged people to come see it. In its purest sense, you're trying to use a free commodity - that is copyrighted - to turn a profit.


On the other hand, the NFL is now just being a corporate dick-head. They cannot mandate how big a TV screen you have, for crying out loud!


The church should not be allowed to charge admission - but they SHOULD be allowed to show the game and have a SuperBowl Party.