The Super Bowl party is a great American tradition: the big game, goofy commercials, and gobs of food. But is it legal to host a party if you’re watching the big game? We’ll break down the mystery.
First off, the NFL doesn’t have a police force that’s going to break down your door and throw handcuffs on you if you’re having a party. But the league can get testy, depending on the circ*mstances.
Super Bowl Parties at Churches
In 2007, the NFL threatened to sue churches that were hosting Super Bowl parties, but that’s because some of the churches were going above and beyond a typical party situation.
At the time, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the issue was that some churches were charging admission (to cover food), and showing the game using a projector. They also used the phrase “Super Bowl” in advertisem*nts for the event.
However, in the face of legislative pushback, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell composed a letter saying, “the league will not object to live showings – regardless of screen size – of the Super Bowl by a religious organization when such showings are free and on premises used by the religious organization on a routine and customary basis.”
Super Bowl Parties at Bars and Other Venues
Sports bars may have to pay specific licenses to show NFL games - those are determined by the size of the venue, the number and size of screens, and how many speakers are in play. If you own a sports bar, you should consult an attorney to be sure you’re on the right side of the law.
Venues (including bars) can’t charge admission to watch the Super Bowl, and the law generally prevents them from showing the game on a TV bigger than 55 inches. The league has had to inform theaters, schools, museums, casinos, and hotels about these rules.
Again, these rules may be legally dodged if the venue pays the correct license to the league.
What the Law Says About Super Bowl Parties
When it comes to the law, there’s a lot of grey area. In 1976, the drafters of the “Transmit Clause” added to U.S. copyright law didn’t consider the possibility of a massive gathering to watch an event. The most-watched TV show that year was “Happy Days.” No one was charging admission for a huge party to watch the Fonz on a 25” Zenith. The law has not been revisited since then, so even if the NFL wanted to sue you for a party, it would have no legal precedent unless you were trying to turn a profit from their content.
Essentially, if you’re trying to make money from a Super Bowl party, the league might object. If they chose to press charges, they might have a case. Here's the specific copyright law if you want to do your own deep dive.
How to Watch the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs airs at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on Sunday, February 12. Rihanna is performing the halftime show.
You can watch the game on FOX. To watch the action, we recommend Sling TV or DIRECTV STREAM.
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The general rule the NFL abides by is, if you're in a non-residential setting and you're broadcasting the game on a screen that is larger than 55-inches, you're going to need to pay a licensing fee.
They are not allowed to use the term “Super Bowl” in any advertisem*nt because the NFL simply owns the trademark. It's why you see restaurants and bars advertising parties by using the words "The Big Game".
The NFL will not object when a church has a party for its congregants to watch the Super Bowl together if it holds its “viewing party” in its usual place of worship and does not charge a fee for attending the viewing party.
A bar or restaurant that has a public performance license to show television programs on its premises has the right to show the Super Bowl broadcast to its patrons, but if it uses the words “Super Bowl” in its advertising to attract customers, the league will object.
Some companies think saying "Super Sunday" is cool instead of "Super Bowl," but that's owned by the NFL too. So, if a company is caught using the term(s), they will receive a cease-and-desist letter from the league. Companies can't use the term because the league charges companies lots of money to use the term.
Although many people are going to friends and family's houses, bars and restaurants can organize and bring a better Super Bowl watch party experience. When the Super Bowl food and drinks are curated well and served on time everyone will be happy. You can also think about things to do during the half-time break.
Renting space to watch the game is not allowed, even if your church rents space for regular worship services. Your church cannot charge admission for your party. However, you may accept donations to defray the cost of food and other supplies.
For instance, inmates congregate to watch the game in San Quentin Prison in California, with some placing money or soup cans on the result. Some watch for study purposes or to benefit from the alone time it offers. An inmate claims that the game is "bigger than New Year's Eve" in jail.
CBS is broadcasting Super Bowl 58 on Feb. 11, 2024, taking its turn in a rotation of three networks that will soon become four. NBC, CBS, and Fox alternate Super Bowl broadcasts, and ABC will join the rotation with Super Bowl 61 in February 2027.Super Bowl 58 can also be streamed live on Paramount+.
The host stadium must be in a market that hosts an NFL team and must have a minimum of 70,000 seats, with the media and electrical amenities necessary to produce the Super Bowl. Stadiums may include temporary seating for Super Bowls, but seating must be approved by the league.
According to RHCP they record a live performance prior to the day of the Superbowl and use the audio from that for the actual show, then they just lip sync/mime all or most of it.
The NFL does not pay any appearance fees for entertainers who perform during the mid-game spectacle, either directly or through sponsors. But the artists do get paid for their time, even if it's much less than they're used to. “The NFL covers all costs associated with the show and does pay the performers' union scale.
Last year, CBS made the unfortunate mistake of getting the date of Super Bowl LVII wrong during its live broadcast of the Chiefs-Bengals game. During said broadcast, a caption on the screen stated that the Super Bowl would air on February 29 instead of February 12. Not only was this date incorrect.
That's because the National Football League (NFL) trademarked the phrase “Super Bowl” back in 1969. The NFL considers any commercial activity that uses the term “Super Bowl” to be in violation.
Though Jay-Z produced the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show starring J-Lo and Shakira, the rapper rejected the offer. In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, the rapper revealed that he turned down the opportunity because the NFL wanted control over who he could bring out for the performance.
The NFL considers any commercial activity that uses the term “Super Bowl” to be in violation. And don't underestimate how seriously they take this. In the past, they haven't hesitated to send cease-and-desist letters to businesses and even churches who used their name to promote events and services.
Because the NFL restricts use of its "Super Bowl" trademark, it is frequently referred to as the "big game" or other generic terms by non-sponsoring corporations. The day that the game is held, is commonly referred to as "Super Bowl Sunday" or simply "Super Sunday".
It's an opportunity to get together with your favorite people and watch an exciting game. There are snacks, drinks, competition and an overwhelming sense of excitement. And of course, every family and friend group needs someone to host the party.
Sometimes the simplest Super Bowl party invitation ideas are the best. Find a good image of the Vince Lombardi trophy and fit your party information on the image. Put the name of your party on the football at the top of the trophy, and then have all your other information on the sides.
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