NFL Stops Church Super Bowl Party

It's bad enough that the Super Bowl kills church attendance every year, but the NFL is also killing church Super Bowl parties:

The National Football League (NFL) has ordered Fall Creek Baptist Church to cancel their Super Bowl viewing party on the grounds that the church used its trademark name in their promotions in addition to the church’s plan to charge a fee to attend.

The church, located in Indianapolis, hometown of the Colts who are playing in the championship game, had planned on projecting the game on a 12-foot-wide screen to their congregation as well as anyone interested.

Originally, Fall Creek had promoted the event as a “Super Bowl Bash” on their church website, which the NFL officials came across. The league sent an overnight FedEx immediately to the church’s pastor, John D. Newland, instructing them to terminate the event.

Newland responded to the association by noting that they were not charging attendance fee. The money was to help pay for snacks. He also promised to remove the words “Super Bowl” from his promotion in an attempt to still show the game.

The NFL refused the offer, however, stating that the church cannot project the game onto such a large screen. They may only hold the event if they use a TV no bigger than 55 inches.

The church will most likely call off the event.

The NFL is getting part of $2.5 million per 30 second commercial, and they're worried about some church charging a few bucks for snacks? Screw 'em. Have the event and make them sue you. That would really look good in the press.