The New York / New Jersey Super Bowl Host Committee has contacted every municipality in the state of New Jersey via letter outlining the steps necessary to hold Super Bowl XLVIII-related events without violating any NFL trademark rules, the Bergen (N.J.) Record reported Friday.
According to the Record, the committee, while welcoming towns and cities to have events tied to the first-ever Super Bowl held in New Jersey, informed the municipalities that using the NFL shield and other league logos is not permitted, though they can use the term “Super Celebration Fair” to refer to a Super Bowl-related event. Moreover, using the term “Super Bowl” without league permission is prohibited, too, as the Record noted.
Super Bowl 48 will be held on February 2, 2014 at MetLife Stadium.
The committee also said it would assist municipalities on Super Bowl-related ideas and will allow them to use the committee’s branding upon request, too, the Record reported.
“We wanted to be proactive and give guidance, because we didn’t want any money — public or private — wasted on developing materials or signage that runs afoul of NFL sponsorships or trademarks, “ Al Kelly, the host committee’s chief executive, told the paper. “We don’t want them to have to just burn what they did.”
If you have ever heard an advertisement refer to the NFL or the Super Bowl in strictly general terms -- and aren’t those the most comical things? -- well, this story is just a reminder that the NFL doesn’t joke around about its trademarks.