Lawmakers seek greater coverage of NFL events
Published Feb. 9, 2007
Two Missouri senators from Kansas City are sponsoring a bill that would ensure local media agencies the ability to operate on the sidelines of local sports stadiums during NFL games.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee's Summit, and co-sponsored by Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, would allow media members access to cover major athletic events with video or photographic coverage.
The bill touches on topics addressed in a March 2006 decision by the 32 owners of NFL teams to limit the access of local members of the press. But because the bill was conceived in Missouri, it would only affect games played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
The Border Showdown game between the MU and Kansas University football teams is moving to Arrowhead Stadium in 2007 and 2008, but it would not be affected by either the NFL's regulations or the bill sponsored by Bartle and Callahan.
"We aren't under the guises of any NFL policies whatsoever," MU athletic department spokesman Chad Moller said. "It's our own game that we just happen to be playing at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City."
The bill reads that a stadium in the state of Missouri with 10 percent of its construction costs from state or local taxes would be unable to deny local media outlets reasonable access. If members of the local media were denied reasonable access, they would be able to sue for damages.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the procedures are not aimed at limiting the local media but rather are for the benefit of all involved.
"We value the local media and want them to cover our games," Aiello said.
The NFL installed the new policies in order to have a less congested and better working environment, not just for media members but also for players and coaches. Rather than having a large number of media members on the sidelines, NFL policies limit the number of media members allowed.
"There's a pool feed that the local stations operate, and they take turns shooting for the sideline footage that they use," Aiello said. "They can use the network telecast for free."
With the current NFL regulations, local media outlets are still able to access the field before and after games and can get interviews during the week at their convenience. The only change is that sideline footage comes from the pool telecast, as opposed to from individual cameras.