Intrust Bank Arena cites NCAA rules in canceling Shocker watch party

Planning to watch Wichita State University’s NCAA Tournament game Sunday at Intrust Bank Arena? Better make other plans.

Arena officials said in a news release Wednesday that due to NCAA rules they were unaware of, they will not be able to show Sunday’s third-round game.

The NCAA has published viewing party guidelines on its website for “events whose primary purpose is to view any NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship game.” In those guidelines, the NCAA says “there should not be sale of food or beverages.”

Although there would be no admission charge, Intrust Bank Arena had planned to open its bars and lounges and have food and beverages for sale at some concession stands on Sunday. The arena had announced Tuesday that it would show Sunday’s game – which could pit WSU against the University of Kansas – on its center-hanging LED high-resolution video board.

With no food or beverage sales, officials said the arena “would not have been able to provide the exceptional guest experience we strive for each time we welcome guests into our venue.”

Christine Pileckas, sales and marketing manager for Intrust Bank Arena, wouldn’t say how the arena became aware of the guidelines prohibiting the party.

“We’re just following NCAA rules,” she said.

A representative with the NCAA said in an e-mail Wednesday evening said she could not speak to the situation at Intrust Bank Arena. However, she said the problem is not so much a food-and-drink issue as it is a federal copyright issue.

Meghan Durham, assistant director of public and media relations for the NCAA, said in general, organizations sponsoring large watch parties must obtain a public performance license, since the NCAA’s broadcast is copyrighted material. Those licenses are offered by most cable and satellite television providers, she said.

With the right licensing, an organization could possibly show the game and sell concessions, Durham said.

“The NCAA provides the guidelines … as a courtesy to nonprofit and commercial entities who would like to host a viewing party, as a measure to help them follow the right steps to be in compliance with federal law,” Durham said in the e-mail.

People can still watch the game at local sports bars, however. Those gatherings are allowed because the bar is not open solely for hosting the watch party, said Kyle Smith, nightly operations manager at Larry Bud’s Sports Bar and Grill. Also, some smaller establishments are exempt from the requirement to obtain a commercial license, Durham said.

The NCAA publication says people “may gather to watch tournament games as a social outing, but not for the purpose of an organizational fundraising.”

“This is a big deal for us, having two Kansas teams play each other – it’s paying our paychecks,” Smith said.

This story was originally published March 18, 2015 at 12:39 PM with the headline "Intrust Bank Arena cites NCAA rules in canceling Shocker watch party."