Super Bowl LXI Falls on Valentine's Day: Shirt Rules

Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which is also Valentine's Day. For a custom shirt shop that is two of the busiest winter selling reasons landing on the same day, plus one of the most closely policed trademarks in sports. This guide covers the calendar, what the NFL protects, wording that avoids the problem, and shirt ideas that work for both holidays.

This is general information for shop owners, not legal advice. When an order is borderline, ask an intellectual property attorney.

The February 2027 calendar

The game is the championship of the 2026 NFL season. Dates and kickoff details can change, so confirm them with the NFL before printing a date on anything.

What the NFL protects

According to a Foster Garvey PC law firm guide to Super Bowl marketing (updated Jan. 7, 2026), the protected material includes:

• "Super Bowl" and "Super Sunday," described as registered trademarks
• The Super Bowl logo
• "NFL," "AFC," "NFC," the full league and conference names, and their logos
• NFL team names, nicknames, and logos
• Player names and nicknames, which players often register as trademarks
• Team colors, which the firm says can draw an NFL objection

The same guide says that using these marks in a way that suggests a relationship with the league requires a license, that news and commentary are treated differently from promotion, and that businesses associating themselves with the game can receive cease-and-desist letters. A shirt is merchandise, not commentary, so the safest assumption is that "Super Bowl" on a product is a risk whether a shop prints one or one thousand.

Wording shops use instead

The Foster Garvey guide lists phrases that businesses use in place of the protected name:

• "The Big Game," "The Big One," "Gameday," or "Gametime"
• "Football's Favorite Day"
• The date, such as "The February Football Finale"
• The names of the competing cities or states, which are not owned by the league

Several of these are still judgment calls, and the guide itself notes the NFL polices aggressively. Original art and personalization (the host's name, the party date, a family surname) keep a design clearly yours.

Shirt ideas for a combined game day and Valentine's Day

Watch-party crew shirts. The host's name, "Gameday 2027," and original football and heart graphics. No team marks, league marks, or team colors copied from a uniform. Couples matching shirts. "Her Team" and "His Team" or similar pairs that do not name an NFL club, with the customer's own nickname or initials. Galentine's shirts. Group shirts for a friend night that happens to fall before the game. Pair them with a name, a year, and an inside joke the customer supplies. Anti-Valentine's gameday. Humor that sets the game against the holiday, in original wording. Family chili-cook-off shirts. A generic "Chili Champion" design for the potluck that goes with the game. Kids' and youth watch-party sizes. Check the youth size guide before ordering blanks for groups.

Production and timing

The holiday list gets tighter in February because Valentine's gifts and a game-day rush hit together. Work backward from your transfer supplier's published turnaround and your blank supplier's shipping times, and see the fast transfer suppliers guide and supplier directory if you outsource. Shops that press in-house can hold blanks and a few stock designs for last-minute watch-party orders.

Frequently asked questions

When is Super Bowl LXI in 2027?

Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. That date is also Valentine's Day. Kickoff time and other details can change, so confirm them with the NFL before printing a date on a shirt.

Can I print "Super Bowl" on a custom T-shirt?

A law firm guide to Super Bowl marketing describes "Super Bowl" as a registered trademark and says use that suggests a relationship with the NFL requires a license. A shirt is a commercial product, so unlicensed use is a risk. Phrases like "The Big Game" are what many businesses use instead.

Can I print an NFL team name or logo for a customer?

No. Team names, nicknames, logos, and colors are protected, and a customer's request does not make the shop licensed. Offer a city name, a watch-party design, or original football art instead.

What can I print instead of the Super Bowl name?

Shops commonly use "The Big Game," "Gameday," "Gametime," or the date. Original graphics, host names, and party details keep the design clearly independent. These are judgment calls, so ask an attorney about borderline orders.

Where it fits in the DTF Database

Licensing comes up every season. The licensed character and trademark guide covers the general rules, and the World Series shirt guide walks through the same issues for baseball. For the full seasonal calendar, see the holiday shirt design ideas guide and the seasonal holiday transfers guide.