Super Bowl XLVII Kicks Off With Superfluous Liability Waivers

To many, the NFL stands for the "No Fun League." And that certainly applies when it comes to Super Bowl XLVII and its associated legal liability waivers.

The NFL wants nothing to do with potential lawsuits related to Super Bowl Sunday, so league lawyers have slapped liability waivers onto just about everything. Same goes for other companies hoping to get in on some Super Bowl-related action.

Here's a look at three examples of superfluously worded Super Bowl liability waivers:

1. Super Bowl volunteers. Not only will these "volunteers" not get paid for any of their hard work before, during, or after the game, but they also must waive their rights to ever sue the league. And should a volunteer die while working for the Super Bowl, the waiver also attaches to his "heirs, administrators, executors, guardians, assigns, representatives, and next of kin, forever."


2. The "NFL Experience." In order to participate in the "NFL Experience," which is a series of kid-friendly events like autograph signings and wearing pro uniforms, you must also sign a waiver. The legal language cover any claims that could be made by either you or your family members including lawsuits for injury and wrongful death.


3. Super Bowl-related sweepstakes and contests. Leaving no nook or cranny untouched, even participation in contests like the "Verizon NFL Super Bowl XLVII Sweepstakes" requires a waiver. What could you possibly sue over in a Super Bowl sweepstakes? Liability due to any potential misuse of prizes, or loss in relation to the awarding of prizes, are all covered by the waiver.

The NFL is a business entity first. And that is clearly evident when you look at all the steps the league took to protect itself from liability.

So should you avoid some of these Super Bowl festivities due to the waivers and legal forms you'll have to sign? That's up to you, though the chances of someone being injured at the NFL Experience or through a sweepstakes shouldn't be all that great. You'll just have to go into these events knowing that you're essentially on your own, legally speaking, once you sign off on that Super Bowl liability waiver.

Related Resources:

• Premises Liability Who Is Responsible? (FindLaw)
• Should You Sign a School Sports Waiver? (FindLaw's Injured)
• Super Bowl Fans Injured Outside Cowboys Stadium (FindLaw's Injured)
• Junior Seau's Family Sues NFL Over Brain injury (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)