Many NFL teams facing TV Blackouts

[dbackjon]

The bad economy is hurting NFL ticket sales.

In a recent sideline chat with Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank during one of his team's practices, he expressed concern to me about his team's ticket sales, although he said they aren't as bad as some teams. What's concerning is that Blank has a hot team with a young star in the making in Matt Ryan and the Falcons are coming off a playoff season.

He is not alone in his concern.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who had a waiting list thousands long a few years ago -- or so they said -- are now selling season tickets in half-season packages to drum up interest.

The waiting list doesn't exist anymore.

In Jacksonville, where I live, the Jaguars have sold roughly 35,000 season tickets. That's behind the pace of last season, and could lead to all 10 home games being blacked out.

It's the same in a lot of other cities.

That's why I think the NFL needs to revise the blackout rules for a year.

Do the fans a favor. Show some goodwill.

Too bad it won't happen.

I understand why the blackout rules are there, and I do believe in them, but for this one season it wouldn't hurt to amend them some.

Maybe lower the number of tickets that need to be sold each week, or something along those lines. The blackout rules don't apply to luxury seating -- which is a good thing because those are even tougher to sell in a tough economy -- but it could be revised down to a different percentage of the general seating.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11800373.

[bobbythekidd]

Ya know I didn't even think about blackouts. This is going to have a ripple effect from local advertising as well.

[UNHWildCats]

fuck that... blackout rules should be abolished...

Taxpayers dump millions and millions of dollars into new stadiums for these teams and then the NFL tells them they cant watch the games? FUCK THAT

[TwinTownBisonFan]

reason #12 why I'm not a fan of the NFL

[93henfan]

I don't really have sympathy for cities that can't sell out a stadium. Just about every team from DC to Boston has a season ticket waiting list in five or six figures. I have to cough up $300+ per ticket if I want to go see the Eagles, yet these bodiddles can't pay face value? Boo hoo. Enjoy the blackouts you non-supportive f***s.

[dbackjon]

I don't really have sympathy for cities that can't sell out a stadium. Just about every team from DC to Boston has a season ticket waiting list in five or six figures. I have to cough up $300+ per ticket if I want to go see the Eagles, yet these bodiddles can't pay face value? Boo hoo. Enjoy the blackouts you non-supportive f***s.

It is going to be interesting to see what happens with this economy - even NY baseball teams have had hard times selling tickets.

[BlueHen86]

fuck that... blackout rules should be abolished...

Taxpayers dump millions and millions of dollars into new stadiums for these teams and then the NFL tells them they cant watch the games? FUCK THAT

I agree.

[bluehenbillk]

Well at least it would drive up sales of Direct TV & the Sunday ticket......

[JayJ79]

Well at least it would drive up sales of Direct TV & the Sunday ticket......

are they not subject to the blackout rules?

[UNHWildCats]

The Patriots released individual game tickets this morning at 10 AM. All but a few SRO and single tickets were sold out by 10:02.

[grizzaholic]

If NO can sell out, the rest of the nation should be able to sell out their stadiums for the season. But I do think it is BS that they make you pay for preseason game tickets and regular season tickets. Kind of a load of bull.