Go here (no need to contact the NFL for something easily found online). Hopefully my posting an excerpt will not violate copyright:
the following are not infringements of copyright:
5. B. communication by an establishment of a transmission ... embodying a performance ... intended to be received by the general public, originated by a radio or television broadcast station ... or ... by a cable system or satellite carrier, if
i. in the case of an establishment other than a food service or drinking establishment ...
II. any visual portion of the performance or display is communicated by means of a total of not more than 4 audiovisual devices, of which not more than 1 audiovisual device is located in any 1 room, and no such audiovisual device has a diagonal screen size greater than 55 inches
There you go, the law. The NFL people aren't trying to be jackasses; it is just that if you let one person slide, then others will be able to claim the same. Hence, if this church has a SuperBowl party, then some guy can do the same next year and charge admission.
So if I invite a wad of people over to watch the Super Bowl and I have mor ethan 4 TVs showing it and/or at least one of them is bigger than 55 inches, I'mn brekling the law by having a private party?
That just plain doesn't make sense.
It just comes naturally, right?
No, as you know, charging admission is a different issue. These folks were not charging acmission. The pastor said so.
The church seems to be in compliance with the requirements of the law.
And saying that you can't refer to the Super Bowl as "the Super Bowl" is just plain silly. Maybe we should call it "the World Series."
You wrote: "it is just that if you let one person slide, then others will be able to claim the same. Hence, if this church has a SuperBowl party, then some guy can do the same next year and charge admission."
Well, then the NFL has A LOT of work to do between now and kickoff:
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16598307.htm
"MIAMI - Football's faithful will file into house parties, bars and, of course, Dolphin Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday to observe their holiest of holy days. But they'll also turn out in force at churches across the country, which are tapping the popularity of sports in hopes of saving souls.
Organizers of church-sponsored Super Bowl gatherings see the events as a departure from the formality of organized religion - the type of events that could make someone who doesn't typically attend services feel more at home."
Sounds like they'll have to shut down hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of these events.