Ravens' Cass Says NFL Should Let Teams Sell More Liquor Ads

Cass Says Public Has Grown More Tolerant To Liquor Ads

Ravens President Dick Cass said that the NFL "should allow teams to sell more liquor advertising and put their logos on state lottery tickets," according to Curtis Eichelberger of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Even though the NFL "has been buffeted by the worst recession in a generation," Cass said that the "major reason the ads should be allowed is because the public has grown more tolerant." Cass: "It's more acceptable now. It's not a desperate need for money, that's not what is driving it." Cass said the Ravens "would be pleased to have our marks and logos associated with the Maryland state lottery. We serve liquor at the stadium, so I don't know why we can't advertise that. I think it makes sense to permit some sort of advertising arrangement with liquor." Eichelberger noted the NFL "only allows teams to sell ad space to distillers in the upper level of stadiums and in publications such as game programs," while sponsorships "involving a team logo, in-stadium video displays or television advertisements" are not allowed. NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that NFL owners "will likely discuss the issue at their spring meeting" in Ft. Lauderdale on May 18-20 (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 4/14).