How to Host a Legal Public Screening of a Super Bowl Halftime Show and a Match

Don’t get shut down on game day: a step‑by‑step legal and logistical checklist for hosting a public screening that shows a Super Bowl halftime show and a live match

Hook: You want a packed house, loud cheers and merchandise sales — not a cease‑and‑desist or a shut‑down order. In 2026 rights holders and enforcement tech are stricter than ever. If you’re a venue manager, supporter group or event planner combining a Super Bowl halftime concert and a live match, this guide gives you a practical, legally sound, crowd‑safe blueprint — from permits and broadcast licensing to staging, ticketing and safety.

Quick reality check (Top takeaways first)

• Public performance of televised sports and halftime concerts = multiple licenses.
• Fees and enforcement vary.
• Streaming the screening online (even to a private Facebook group) requires separate digital retransmission rights.
• Start early.

Why 2026 is different: trends that change how you plan

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw three trends that directly affect public screenings:

• Consolidated sports rights and hybrid broadcasts.
• Automated enforcement & content recognition.
• Venue licensing platforms and PRO automation.

First step: define your event and risk profile

Before you call anyone, answer these questions. Your licensing needs depend on them.

1. Is the screening commercial (charging admission, selling sponsorship, or significant alcohol/food sales) or community/non‑profit?
2. Will you stream the screening online (even a closed group)?
3. How many people will you host (expected and maximum capacity)?
4. Will you show only the broadcast feed, or will you also run in‑venue music, DJ sets, or a pre‑/post‑show concert?
5. Are you inside a licensed venue (existing PRO blanket) or a pop‑up/outdoor space?

Legal licensing checklist (step‑by‑step)

For a combined Super Bowl halftime show + match screening, you will typically need multiple permissions. Use this legal checklist as your roadmap.

1. Broadcast/public performance rights

• Contact the rights holder for the broadcast.public exhibition or commercial screening license.
• Key details to provide: date/time, venue address, expected attendance, whether you will charge admission, whether you will sell/serve alcohol, and whether you plan to stream or redistribute the feed online.
• Why it matters:

2. Music licensing (for the halftime show and any in‑venue play)

• Contact Performing Rights Organizations (PROs):
• Halftime show specifics:
• Fees and reporting:

3. Artist and label rights (when applicable)

• Major halftime acts have separate image and performance rights.

4. Digital streaming & social media

• Assume the broadcast license does NOT include online streaming.
• Never simulcast the feed to social without explicit permission.

5. Local permits, codes and insurance

• Assembly permit / temporary event notice: Many municipalities require a public assembly permit for crowd sizes over a threshold or for outdoor events.
• Alcohol and food vendor permits:
• Fire marshal & occupancy:
• Insurance:liquor liability (if applicable). Most broadcasters require proof of insurance to issue a license.

6. Contracts and sponsorships

• Align sponsor exclusivity with broadcast rights:sponsorships don’t conflict with official partners; conflict can void licenses.
• Ticketing terms & refunds:

Operational checklist: venue, tech and staffing

Once legal clearance is underway or secured, use this operational list to run a tight event.

Venue & layout

• Capacity planning:
• Screen placement & sightlines:
• Sound system:
• Latency & feed switching:latency, lip‑sync and channel switching. Have a dedicated operator and redundant cable and IP feeds.

Tech & connectivity

• Bandwidth:
• Backup feeds: Contract two independent feeds when possible (network feed + secondary satellite or licensed encoder). Test failover for at least 24 hours before the event.
• Compliance with captioning/accessibility:

Staffing & safety

• Security:
• Medical:
• Traffic & parking:

Tickets, deals and revenue guardrails

Tickets both monetize and define licensing obligations. Be transparent — and conservative — on pricing and admissions to avoid surprises in licensing reconciliation.

Free vs paid events

• Free events:
• Paid events:

Ticketing best practices

• Use a ticketing partner that supports access control and revenue reporting.
• Tiered pricing:
• Offer official partner discounts:

Sample timeline (90→0 days)

1. 90–120 days:AV provider.
2. 60 days:
3. 30 days:
4. 14 days:
5. 7 days:
6. Day of:

Pricing expectations & budgeting (ballpark ranges)

Fees vary widely by rights holder, location, audience size and revenue model. Use these ballpark estimates for budgeting but always request a formal quote.

• Minor local match public screening (no admission):
• Commercial screening of a major live match (charged admission):
• Super Bowl + halftime show commercial screening (medium to large venue):
• Digital retransmission rights (simulcast online):

Enforcement risks and mitigation

Even well‑intentioned events get caught. Here’s how to reduce risk.

• Always get written confirmation.
• Keep records:
• Publicize official partnership:
• Have a legal escalation plan:

Practical, actionable templates

Sample outreach email to rights holder

Subject: Request for Commercial Public Screening License – [Venue Name], [Event Date]

Body (shortened): Hello [Licensing Contact],
We are [Venue Name], operating at [address]. We plan to host a public screening of the Super Bowl on [date], including the halftime show and a pre‑match live broadcast. Expected attendance: [#]. Admission: [free/paid – ticket price]. We request a commercial public performance license and brief confirmation of any reporting requirements and fees. Please advise on next steps and required documentation. Thank you, [Name, Title, Phone, Insurance details]

Sample PRO reporting checklist

• Venue name, address, and contact person
• Event date and broadcast time
• Full set list (if required) and timestamps for televised segments
• Attendance and ticket revenue breakdown

Case study snapshot: a community club’s successful 2025 screening

Experience matters: a supporter group in a mid‑sized U.S. city hosted a Super Bowl halftime + match screening in 2025 and followed a checklist like the one above. They started licensing outreach 90 days out, secured a broadcaster sublicense at a reduced community rate because they were non‑profit and didn’t charge admission, used a venue blanket license with ASCAP/BMI, and obtained a temporary liquor permit. The event drew 800 people, sold official merchandise through an approved league vendor and avoided any enforcement issues because they documented all licenses and submitted post‑event PRO reports. Lesson: documentation + early outreach = lower fees and fewer surprises.

Contingencies & crisis playbook

• Feed interruption:
• Enforcement visit:
• Large crowd incident:

Checklist you can use right now (printable)

• Define event class: commercial vs community
• Contact broadcast rights owner for a public performance license (90–120 days)
• Confirm PRO coverage and file any required reports
• Book AV and backup feeds; run tests 14 and 3 days out
• Apply for assembly, liquor and health permits (60 days)
• Purchase event insurance with liquor liability (if applicable)
• Hire security and medical; brief staff on escalation
• Set up ticketing with revenue reporting capabilities
• Reconfirm all licenses and have printed copies available day of

Final tips from experienced operators

• Don’t assume broadcast = permission.
• Negotiate value:
• Communicate to patrons:
• Leverage local partnerships:supporters’ trusts, local bars or official fan clubs — they can help with credibility and sometimes reduced fees.

“Start the licensing conversation early and treat the broadcast feed as you would a live concert — both are intellectual property that require clear permission.”

Closing — your next steps

Hosting a legal, safe, and profitable public screening that includes a Super Bowl halftime show plus a match is fully achievable — but only with disciplined licensing, a robust operational plan and early outreach. Follow the step‑by‑step checklist above, start licensing 90 days out for major events, and document everything. In 2026 the difference between a successful event and a costly enforcement action is preparation.

Call to action: Ready to run your event? Download our free printable screening checklist and sample license email templates, or email our events team at events@soccerlive.us for a venue audit and licensing audit template tailored to your city. Don’t wait — rights and AV bookings fill fast in Super Bowl season.

Related Reading

• Microcinema Night Markets: Designing Profitable Night‑Screening Pop‑Ups in 2026
• Breaking: Anti‑Scalper Tech and Fan‑Centric Ticketing Models — Policy Changes Bands Should Watch (2026)
• Field Review: Emergency Power Options for Remote Catering — What Works in 2026
• Compact Capture & Live Shopping Kits for Pop‑Ups in 2026: Audio, Video and Point‑of‑Sale Essentials
• JioStar’s Record Quarter: What Streaming Growth in India Means for Global Media Investors
• Fail‑Safe Patching: Avoiding the 'Fail To Shut Down' Windows Update Pitfall
• Does Giving Up Alcohol Boost Testosterone? The Evidence and a Practical 30-Day Plan
• Patient Guide: Choosing a Homeopath in 2026 — What Credentials, Tools and Community Indicators Matter
• Playbook: Preventing Drift When AI-Based Task Templates Scale Across Teams