After banning church Super Bowl parties in the past, the NFL has relented and is allowing churches to show the big game, provided they don’t charge for the event or use the name “Super Bowl” (I recently saw TGI Friday’s calling it “The Game We Can’t Name” in their promotions).
While churches can’t charge for the event, taking donations to defray costs is OK. Another stipulation is that the event needs to be held in a location where the church normally meets (apparently no renting out new space for your “big game” party).
If your church is having a Super Bowl party, hopefully you already knew that (doing your copyright homework is good marketing).
adam mclane
January 29, 2009
In talking to tons of youth workers this week, most don’t seem to be interested in having parties anymore. With all the copyright issues, a history of 5 hour games, and a certain washed-up pop stars boob popping out on live TV… it seems a lot of youth group are either forgoing the big party or hosting it in a private home.
It is interesting to me how quickly this went from a big trend to “last years” trend.
Anyone else seeing the same thing? Or am I just nuts?
Rhett
February 5, 2011
Adam, you may not like certain pop stars, but you have to respect them. Thankfully, I wasn’t watching the “Big Game” during the incident and I don’t listen to Janet’s music, but she is a long way from washed up. As a Christian, I don’t care to defend non-brothers and sisters, but as a Black woman, I feel insulted because most of these comments are fueled by underlying racism.
Michael
February 6, 2011
Underlying racism? That’s laughable. Bottom line: A human’s private part popped out during the most televised event of the year. Get over yourself.
Communicating Christ
January 30, 2009
Like anything, the amount of hoopla an event generates depends on the amount and way it’s promoted. Make a church super bowl party out to be a big thing, it becomes a big thing.
Promoting means publicizing. A press release in your local newspaper is a necessary step.
Tony Liston
January 18, 2011
The success of it locally may also be directly tied to what teams are playing. A team from the local region will more likely draw participants that two teams from other parts of the country.
CopyrightSolver
January 25, 2011
Hey folks. We have posted an updated article on this subject on CopyrightCommunity:
http://www.copyrightcommunity.com/copyright_community/2011/01/churches-dont-be-tackled-by-super-bowl-party-penalties.html
Rhett
February 5, 2011
My church only charges for food (after realizing how much it costs to feed all those folks for free the first year). It thought it was really nice that the pastor of our mega-church … 40,000+ members … decided that he & the brothers would have a fellowship over the game. Two years ago, they started letting the sisters and children come, too. I either watch the game at home or a small private party, but will probably fellowship at church this year. Hopefully, this refusal to allow churches to use the term Super Bowl will not stop churches from having fellowships and this won’t be my church’s last year hosting a party. It’s hard enough to get the men to participate in church activities, but they show up in record numbers for sports events.
CMS
February 5, 2011
It would be interesting to see how they decide upon these rules: At what point does a party large enough to be considered an official “big game” event?” What if you’re a house church? What if you’re a house church that ends up watching the “big game” at another member’s house that happens to rent their home? Is that breaking the “renting space” rule? :-) ahhhh…
anyway, new facebook page up. check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Church-Marketing-Solutions/169415946438348?ref=ts