The Hill News

All 11 members of Indiana's congressional delegation want the National Football League (NFL) to avoid a prolonged labor dispute that could lead to a player lockout.

The delegation penned a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and players' union chief DeMaurice Smith Thursday, saying their state stands to lose $200 million in economic activity if the Super Bowl, which is scheduled to be held in Indianapolis, is canceled. On the contrary, holding the game could spur $365 million in economic activity, lawmakers say.

{mosads}"As the home of the Indianapolis Colts and the host of Super Bowl XLVI, Hoosiers have a large stake in seeing owners and players reach an agreement," they wrote. "As our state continues to recover from the! recent economic crisis, it is critically important that the 2011 NFL season proceed unimpeded."

The letter is the latest chapter in Congress's involvement in the NFL labor dispute, which could result in ownership locking out the players for at least the start of the 2011 season.

The collective bargaining agreement between players and owners is set to expire on March 3, and both sides have hit an impasse over negotiations on a new one.

The players' union has been actively meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, arguing that managers are pushing players into a lockout. The league has said that Congress should largely stay out of the negotiations, calling them a private matter.

Some Indiana lawmakers are going to lengths to promote the letter: Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) plugged the letter on his Twitter account and his website.