NFL Pulls Plug On Big-Screen Church Parties For Super Bowl

The Washington Pest ^ | 2/1/08 | Jacqueline L. Salmon

[YankeeGirl]

Our church committees sponsor all kinds of activities to bring families and members together. We’ve had talent shows, bible study, potluck suppers, Mother’s Day teas, family game nights, teen nights, craft workshops, fried chicken luncheons and featured speakers (on medicare and healthy eating), to name a few.

I don’t see the problem of bringing members and their friends together for fellowship in the church setting. My kids grew up feeling very comfortable at church. Admittedly the Sunday worship service was probably their favorite part when they were young, but it was a regular part of their youth. And if sitting through the service as a pre-requisite for the usher chicken dinner to follow, they were game.

When we had an Argentine pastor we all got interested in the World Cup. A sports themed event sounds like a great way to bring folks together. Since we don’t serve alcohol in our small church, we wouldn’t get too many of our folks who’d rather have more traditional “adult” refreshments. But I can see this working fine in other congregations where you could get a good sized group of participants who wouldn’t miss it. (Or where those restrictions aren’t a factor.)

[Wolfie]

It’s down the the beer companies. They’re a major advertiser, so the NFL doesn’t want to tick them off. If the Churches sold beer, they’d be exempt too.

[edcoil]

In a related sports story about how greedy sports and MLB has become - they have increased the fee they charge little league teams to use their names and uniform styles.

Most uniforms for baseball are just t-shirts and pants however when you get to the little league majors (12 years old) the uniforms change to be more like the pros so, they demanded more money.

Last year we ended all baseball teams that have pro-names. Instead of Tigers and Dodgers we now have Irish and Trojans.

It was still $200.00 for 11-12 year old to play this spring.

[Ron in Acreage]

I could understand the NFLs point if the game were PPV, but this is not PPV. My brothers church has done this for the last few years on their 10-12ft HD projector.

[Young Scholar]

I think they pay significantly more for that privilege.

[trisham]

Bad publicity for the NFL, who have set themselves up as the bullies.

[LonePalm]

Muzzies don't do pigskin.

'La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.' - Auguste Escoffier
(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[RDTF]

ridiculous. They need to get bad PR for this

[VOA]

NFL Pulls Plug On Big-Screen Church Parties For Super Bowl

The sort of thing that happens when you have lawyers running part
of your operation.
Instead of human beings.

(I'm sympathetic to copyright, etc. But the NFL is just dumb
on this topic.)

[perez24]

See Post 65.

[colonialhk]

Have they gone after the bars in NY, SF and LA?

[perez24]

I think that the problem might be that some organizations, e.g. churches, Moose Lodge, etc., might allow donations or something like that.

[Rummyfan]

The NFL never seems to miss an opportunity to act like idiots, alienating their own dedicated fans.

[Arkansas Toothpick]

There is nothing wrong with having a Super Bowl party at a church. I would much rather hang out with my Christian friends and enjoy watching the game in a lively atmosphere that isn’t filled with smoke, raunchy talk and copious amounts of booze. Plus, a lot of churches use the halftime as a chance to share some type of message or devotional. Even if they don’t “hold church”, then there is also a good chance that a non-believer will be there to see that Christians DO enjoy life. After all, wasn’t the very first mention of Jesus’ ministry his attendance at a wedding?

Let’s not fuddy-duddy ourselves, Christians.

[zencat]

We used to take a digital projector run through a computer and project it on a white sheet on a wall. Must have been 72". Had six old couches we’d put in two rows. The back row up on cinder blocks for that stadium seating effect. Lots of chili and always two kegs of beer. About 30 or so people in a house.

Finally lost interest around 2003. It’s more of a sensationalist media fiasco, than a sporting event nowdays.

[Right Wing Assault]

Most of these people will be watching the game at home anyway. What difference does it make if they all watch it in the same place at the same time? And what is so special about large screen in a large room? Generally you see a smaller picture than you would at home in front of a smaller screen since you can sit closer. People are going more for the fellowship than the game. The fanatic fan (redundant?) will want to stay at home to watch.

What would Jesus do? Would he watch the Super Bowl? My guess is he probably would, but he might not be happy with the half-time show and some of the commercials and he would make that known.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Absurd.

[Theo]

bump

[1rudeboy]

I think the NFL has in the past. This might be one of those “use it [the right] or lose it [the right]” things. The NFL might realize it’s bad press in the short-term, but necessary in the long-term. (I’m just speculating).

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

The league bans public exhibitions of its games on TV sets or screens larger than 55 inches because smaller sets limit the audience size.

Oh {expletive}!!! My HDTV is 56 inches (truly, not just saying that because it is 1 inch bigger than the limit) - does that mean I can't invite friends over to watch? Shesh, if I ask them to bring munchies or a beverage to share does that make it charging for admission? Gads, I could be violating NFL policy...

Wait, here's something better. Hey NFL, you're my favorite thing to watch on TV, but don't get stupid. I could start spending Monday evenings online (FR), and extend those Saturday family hikes into all weekend long hikes. What will you do when your viewer numbers start to drop?