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New Bill Would Ban So-Called "Pay-For-Patriotism" Displays At Colts Games

Indianapolis Colts

  

Congress may outlaw what critics call “pay for patriotism” celebrations at sports games, including some that have taken place at Indianapolis Colts games in the past.

This year’s final Defense Authorization Bill to be considered by the House and Senate contains a ban on Defense Department spending on salutes to troops at sporting events.

Between 2011 and 2014, the Colts received $620,000 from the department, the fourth-most among NFL teams, for such displays.

A congressional report that goes along with the legislation urges sports teams and leagues to donate an amount equal to what they may have been paid for such events to charities or other groups that help service members or veterans. The Senate has already approved a “pay for patriotism” ban in its version of the Defense spending bill, and the provision is included in the final version of the bill that emerged from conference committee.

The Colts have not commented on the legislation, but when the payments were made public in May the team said that most of its celebrations of service members and/or veterans had no advertising tie-in.

The Indiana National Guard has been a sponsor of the Colts in the past, something the team will not discuss, but Colts COO Pete Ward said in May the team had donated tens of thousands of dollars to military organizations through raffles and also routinely donates game tickets to service members.

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