NFL, Big Ten reviewing implications of Indiana religious freedom bill

A year after potential action by the National Football League hung over Arizona's veto of a religious freedom bill, an NFL spokesman said Friday the league is "studying" Indiana's "religious freedom" law.

"We do not have a comment at this time," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "We are in the process of studying the law and its implications."

The Big Ten Conference, which has major events scheduled in Indianapolis annually through 2022, said in a statement that it is aware of the law and that its impact will be reviewed at the next meetings of athletic administrators (May 18-20) and presidents/chancellors (June 7).

"The Big Ten Conference and its member institutions believe in promoting an inclusive environment in which athletic competition can operate free from discrimination," the statement said.

One event that may be under review by the NFL is the annual Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where about 300 players are evaluated for the NFL Draft.

The weeklong combine, which has been in Indianapolis since 1987, has grown into a national media event, with live television coverage by the NFL Network.

During last month's combine, a spokesman for Visit Indy said it was trying to make a multiyear deal to be host of the combine. Agreements with the NFL have previously been year-to-year, Visit Indy vice president Chris Gahl said.

Visit Indy negotiates with the NFL for use of the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium for the event. Gahl said last month the deal was "probably a few months from being finalized."

Visit Indy estimated the economic impact of this year's NFL Combine at $8.27 million based on an "economic impact calculator" developed for Indianapolis by consultant Rockport Analytics.

Visit Indy took a position against the religious freedom bill before it was signed into law.

The NFL has taken action based on social issues before. It moved the 1993 Super Bowl out of Arizona after the state's voters rejected a Martin Luther King holiday.

In February 2014, less than a year before Arizona was to play host to this year's Super Bowl, governor Jan Brewer vetoed a "religious freedom" bill.

The NFL did not make an explicit threat to move the Super Bowl, but Sports Illustrated reported that the league was looking at options to move the game if Brewer had signed the bill.

At the time, Aiello said, "Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard. We are following the issue in Arizona and will continue to do so should the bill be signed into law."

The local Super Bowl host committee there spoke out against the bill.

"We do not support this legislation," a statement said. "Instead, we look forward to continuing to promote the NFL's values while focusing on the economic momentum apparent in Arizona and capturing the positive worldwide attention associated with hosting Super Bowl XLIX."

The Big Ten football championship game is scheduled for Indianapolis through 2021.

The men's basketball tournament is in Indianapolis in 2016, 2020 and 2022. The women's basketball tournament is in Indianapolis from 2016-2022.

Call Mark Alesia at (317) 444-6311. Follow him on Twitter: @markalesia. Read his other stories.