January 2, 2005
BY BILL ORDINE
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
The National Football League is full of menacing characters ferocious about
protecting their turf. Usually, they're linebackers, defensive tackles and
safeties intent on keeping the opposition from crossing the goal line.
But it seems some of pro football's most intimidating defenders don't wear
helmets and shoulder pads but rather pinstripe suits.
Just ask Las Vegas' big casinos.
Those Super Bowl parties that had become a Las Vegas tradition -- the ones
featuring theater-size screens, chafing dishes piled with chicken wings and,
of course, the opportunity to bet on almost anything from the coin toss to
which team scores last -- were thrown for a loss last January by stern
warnings from NFL lawyers and officials. Some parties, the league contended,
violated NFL copyright on the broadcast of the game.
This year, a letter from the NFL -- occasionally referred to as the No Fun
League -- to the American Gaming Association, a casino umbrella group,
further outlined the league's prohibitions.
As a result, casino-hotels are forced to piece together Super Bowl soirees
that won't draw a penalty flag.
Possible infractions include screens that are too large, too many screens or
televisions and charging admission.
So the question for fans considering going to Vegas for the Super Bowl on
Feb. 6 is, well, what exactly will there be in Sin City to enjoy?
For starters, betting on the game is unaffected. And NFL officials have said
businesses that show sports events on television as part of their normal
operations will be allowed to present the Super Bowl. That includes casino
sports and race books where wagers are taken year-round on every imaginable
sports event, and the games are shown on jumbo televisions. The same
broadcast allowance applies to your neighborhood sports bar.
The NFL makes one further concession, called the homestyle exemption. It
means a business can set up in a bar or ballroom a single television no
larger than one commonly used in homes, provided no admission is charged.
So, for the time being, it appears those mega-parties that charged $50 or so
for wings, beer and a relatively comfortable seat from which you could root
for your money as well as your team are finished.
The letter the NFL sent Nov. 10 has had such a chilling effect on casinos
that some gambling operators have been reluctant to discuss what, if
anything, they have planned for the hundreds of thousands who show up in
Vegas expecting a Super Bowl party.
Last January, the trendy Palms Casino-Hotel altered its arrangements for a
Super Bowl bash when the league objected to its huge screen. The Palms
hustled to round up smaller televisions and returned customers' money. This
year, Palms officials won't discuss whether they have anything planned.
Spokesmen for some of the largest gaming companies said their casinos would
offer Super Bowl festivities but stay strictly within the league's
guidelines.
"Previously, the MGM Grand showed the game in the Hollywood Theater," MGM
Mirage's Alan Feldman said. "That's not going to happen." Feldman said MGM
Mirage, whose Vegas casinos include the MGM Grand, Mirage, Bellagio, New
York New York and Treasure Island, will keep the Super Bowl action in sports
books and bars.
Caesars Entertainment casinos -- Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Bally's
and Flamingo -- will do the same.
"We'll have very exciting events in our sports books that will conform to
the rules set up by the NFL," Caesars Entertainment's Robert Stewart said.
"And we're confident that people will come and have a great time." Perhaps,
but it seems that pro football's biggest day just won't be quite as super in
Vegas
BY BILL ORDINE
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
The National Football League is full of menacing characters ferocious about
protecting their turf. Usually, they're linebackers, defensive tackles and
safeties intent on keeping the opposition from crossing the goal line.
But it seems some of pro football's most intimidating defenders don't wear
helmets and shoulder pads but rather pinstripe suits.
Just ask Las Vegas' big casinos.
Those Super Bowl parties that had become a Las Vegas tradition -- the ones
featuring theater-size screens, chafing dishes piled with chicken wings and,
of course, the opportunity to bet on almost anything from the coin toss to
which team scores last -- were thrown for a loss last January by stern
warnings from NFL lawyers and officials. Some parties, the league contended,
violated NFL copyright on the broadcast of the game.
This year, a letter from the NFL -- occasionally referred to as the No Fun
League -- to the American Gaming Association, a casino umbrella group,
further outlined the league's prohibitions.
As a result, casino-hotels are forced to piece together Super Bowl soirees
that won't draw a penalty flag.
Possible infractions include screens that are too large, too many screens or
televisions and charging admission.
So the question for fans considering going to Vegas for the Super Bowl on
Feb. 6 is, well, what exactly will there be in Sin City to enjoy?
For starters, betting on the game is unaffected. And NFL officials have said
businesses that show sports events on television as part of their normal
operations will be allowed to present the Super Bowl. That includes casino
sports and race books where wagers are taken year-round on every imaginable
sports event, and the games are shown on jumbo televisions. The same
broadcast allowance applies to your neighborhood sports bar.
The NFL makes one further concession, called the homestyle exemption. It
means a business can set up in a bar or ballroom a single television no
larger than one commonly used in homes, provided no admission is charged.
So, for the time being, it appears those mega-parties that charged $50 or so
for wings, beer and a relatively comfortable seat from which you could root
for your money as well as your team are finished.
The letter the NFL sent Nov. 10 has had such a chilling effect on casinos
that some gambling operators have been reluctant to discuss what, if
anything, they have planned for the hundreds of thousands who show up in
Vegas expecting a Super Bowl party.
Last January, the trendy Palms Casino-Hotel altered its arrangements for a
Super Bowl bash when the league objected to its huge screen. The Palms
hustled to round up smaller televisions and returned customers' money. This
year, Palms officials won't discuss whether they have anything planned.
Spokesmen for some of the largest gaming companies said their casinos would
offer Super Bowl festivities but stay strictly within the league's
guidelines.
"Previously, the MGM Grand showed the game in the Hollywood Theater," MGM
Mirage's Alan Feldman said. "That's not going to happen." Feldman said MGM
Mirage, whose Vegas casinos include the MGM Grand, Mirage, Bellagio, New
York New York and Treasure Island, will keep the Super Bowl action in sports
books and bars.
Caesars Entertainment casinos -- Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Bally's
and Flamingo -- will do the same.
"We'll have very exciting events in our sports books that will conform to
the rules set up by the NFL," Caesars Entertainment's Robert Stewart said.
"And we're confident that people will come and have a great time." Perhaps,
but it seems that pro football's biggest day just won't be quite as super in
Vegas