View topic - Will Heinz field be opened to watch the SB?

[rw37 Profile]

I live in NYC and I am thinking about driving out to pittsburgh for the bowl (not a native pittsburgher, but I did live in oakland for the better part of 2 years). I was wondering if anyone knew if they will open the stadium for people to come watch the game...I imagine the tailgating would be aweseome.

Thanks in advance.

[darthsteel Profile]

that would be kinda wierd , watching a game played in florida while your freezing outside in 20 degree weather. just does not seem like rite..

[relictele Profile]

The NFL frowns upon and actively discourages/prohibits public exhibitions for one simple reason....their ad rates are based on per-TV or per-household viewership which means they want 50,000 homes watching not 50,000 people watching one screen.

They typically run stories about this scenario every time the SB comes around. The NFL really has no defense for their killjoy position and quite frankly anyone dumb enough to publicize a large-scale exhibition (beyond the obvious sports bars etc.) probably deserves their scolding from the NFL viewership police. In recent years the petty tyrants at the league office have even taken to pursuing supermarket chains for unauthorized use of the term 'Super Bowl.' So...instead you will see plenty of generic references to the 'big game,' 'football Sunday,' etc.

Obviously the Steelers have a vested interest so a Heinz Field party is probably out.

Now, we all know fraternal organizations and others will have viewing parties, NFL policies be damned and I say vive le revolucion.

[SteelTank Profile]

I think the SUper Bowl is a bit different as far as viewership goes. Everyone knows that Super Bowl parties are held and that the number households viewing is not the only indicator... That's why they sell $2 million spots for the game long in advance.

The NFL has no say in weather or not the game can be viewed this either. The only thing it can govern is weather or not a game is shown locally. Even that is not absolute. For example, the city of Seattle(I think it is Seattle), passed an ordinance that will allow Seahawks game to be shown on local TV even if the game is not sold out. Their reasoning was simple - tax payer money built the stadium so they have exlcusive rights to watch what goes on there if it is televised.

Still, I have not heard of any plan to open up the stadium to watch the game - I doubt it will happen.

[relictele Profile]

The NFL has no say in whether or not the game can be viewed this way either

Sorry but that is technically incorrect. Why don't people Google before making categorical statements?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103958_pf.html

Relevant quote: "The league bans public exhibitions of its games on TV sets or screens larger than 55 inches because smaller sets limit the audience size. The section of federal copyright law giving the NFL protection over the content of its programming exempts sports bars, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said."

The truth apparently lies somewhere in the middle - obviously the NFL cannot pursue millions of big-screen watchers regardless of venue especially as ownership of large flat-panel TVs has exploded but the Steelers as an NFL franchise certainly could not coordinate or condone a Heinz Field viewing party whether they directly own the stadium or not. Throw in the cost of a gathering approximating another home game with parking, police man-hours, security/concessions staffing, etc. with no offsetting revenue and the Heinz idea is probably a non-starter.

The NFL knows it must turn a blind eye to viewing parties and so forth no matter what copyright law, advertising contracts and/or league policy dictate but any organization foolish enough to charge admission and advertise such will make itself a target.