NFL Cracks Down On Theaters

The long arm of the National Football League has reached out and warned at least three area theaters they can't show NFL football games on the big screen.

Packers fans fill the Northern Lights Theater at Potawatomi Bingo and Casino to watch Brett Favre and the Packers play the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 29.

The use of big-screen theaters has become increasingly popular because fans not only get to watch the big game on a larger screen but get the sensation of sharing the experience with a larger group. It may not be Lambeau Field, but for many fans it's a step above sitting on your Barcalounger in the den.

NFL officials confirmed Saturday that cease-and-desist letters were sent out to three business owners telling them they were violating copyright law by showing Packers games on the big screen. The NFL said letters were sent to the Potawatomi Bingo and Casino, operators of the Northern Lights Theater; the Marcus Corp., owners and operators of the AT&T Palladium in Brookfield; and the Rosebud Cinema Drafthouse in Wauwatosa.

Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesman, said in an e-mail that the league recently became aware that the businesses were showing Packers games. "We let them know they are violating copyright law and longstanding NFL policies that prohibit mass out-of-town viewing of NFL games.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703965

Better not mess with the NFL's money making ability.

 

To funny

 

NO
FUN
LEAGUE

 

WTF??? You can't show a game that's broadcast on free tv to the public????? You've got to be kidding me. I've been to tons of sports bars that show games on a big screen, I don't get it!

 

Here's my question... how did they even know about this?

 

The NFL has become a joke, you can't do crap anymore.

I think it's because they're selling food and stuff, and they're saying they're using a free service from the NFL to make money or some crap.

 

Well screw you NFL because I'm watching your games on illegal internet streams. :icon_ataunt:

So :word05: .

 

Maybe the theaters charged the entrance. I don't see other reasons that would "force" the NFL to give another bad image of itself.

 

I didn't even know that people did this. That's awesome.

 

Don't think so....that would effect every sports bar in the country then. They all sell food and beer every Sunday. It's gotta be because they were charging admission or something like that. It's still a joke any way you cut it though. NFL is a multi-billion dollar a year company and worrying about Grandma's bingo palace showing their games if they don't get a cut!hboy:

 

Good question! You can't tell me that this is only happening in Packer country :icon_rolleyes:

 

I doubt it is, they must of been tipped of by someone. They take the piss anyway with their limiting of viewing the game.

 

I think somebody snitched for the reward the NFL offered...TICKETS TO THE SUPERBOWL! :rollinglaugh:

 

That sounds like a lot of fun, going to a movie theater to watch a football game. The only way I could see the NFL having a problem with it is if the people were being charged admission to watch the games. Otherwise it would be the same as having a bunch of people over to watch the game on free TV.

But leave it to the NFL, which isn't hurting for money by any stretch of the imagination, to squabble of a couple thousand dollars, if it was even close to that much.

Next they'll start flagging touchdown celebrations......oh wait.

 

yea movie theaters back when i was a young lad i use to ooo nevermind but those were some good times.

 

I used to work in a movie theatre and we had this thing where we'd show movies and then you can order dinner with that and every Packers game was shown on the big screen. Don't know if they still do it today, but one interesting thing about that was that we couldn't say Packers football, only Green Bay football when selling tickets

 

I would love to see a game in a movie theater. Minus the whole lack of beer thing.

 

lol thats funny. But ya it had to have been something about charging. Thats honestly the only thing i can think of.

 

Apparently, they were not charging, and are going to show this weekends game as well - despited what the NFL says. They are fighting this as they feel they are doing nothing wrong. This is courtesy of a local newspaper article.

 

There you go.