NFL Games on Blackout because they don't sell out

DeltaSigStan · #1 08-14-2004, 11:20 PM

Does this happen outside of San Diego?

One of the biggest issues in The City of San Diego vs. The San Diego Chargers is the ticket guarentee. If a game doesn't sell out, the City was supposed to pay for the remaining tickets and give thm away.

That doesn't happen anymore, and once again, the 2 Charger fans and 5,000 fans of the other team couldn't sell out Qualcomm, and the Bolts are on delay.

Does this happen often? I mean, I think there are a lot of underlying factors, but puting the fact that the Chargers suck with the ineptness of San Diego local government, the idiocy of the Spanos, and the disloyalty of fairweather San Diego fans, I'd think this rarely happens.

kappaloo · #2 08-14-2004, 11:22 PM

I know that Chicago does black out for NHL games for the same reason.

AlphaSigOU · #3 08-14-2004, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
Does this happen outside of San Diego?

Of course! You might see it in smaller-market teams more so than the big moneymaker large-market teams.

Here in Dallas, the Sainted Cowboys are on the boob tube every day and night as summer camp evolves.

DeltAlum · #4 08-14-2004, 11:43 PM

It is part of the NFL TV rights contract that any home game that isn't "sold out" is blacked out in its market area. Obviously, that's so that people will pay their bucks to come out the stadium instead of watching in on TV. That includes pre-season, by the way.

DeltaSigStan · #5 08-14-2004, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
It is part of the NFL TV rights contract that any home game that isn't "sold out" is blacked out in its market area. Obviously, that's so that people will pay their bucks to come out the stadium instead of watching in on TV. That includes pre-season, by the way.

I know. It's happening right now. I can't watch Peyton Manning run over the Bolts.

To the others, I ask NFL specifically because they don't occur as frequently as the other sports (once a week vs 162 games, one almost every day).

But, thanks for the input. I figured it wasn't just the Bolts "fans" who don't go in droves.

DeltAlum · #6 08-15-2004, 12:14 AM

Sorry, thought you were asking for the reason for the blackouts.

It's pretty much a non-issue here because the Broncos have sold out their last 2,358,951,093,651 home games.

I often wonder why, though.

Eclipse · #7 08-15-2004, 12:18 AM

Used to happen all of the time in Atlanta pre Michael Vick. Transplants like my hubby were happy because they were not stuck with seeing the Falcons and could see a "better" game played. I think the last 2 years have been sold out, so they are always on the tube.

Atlanta fans are very fickle however, so if the Falcons don't deliver soon, people will cancel their season tickets. The Braves are dealing with that right now. Since they have only been going to the division championship or what ever you call it for the last 10 years or so the fans are kinda blase' because they don't go to the World Series.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #8 08-15-2004, 01:30 AM

Prior to last season it happened ALL the time here in Seattle. Last season, there always seeemed to be "someone" buying up the last tickets to keep a blackout from coming.

I don't care from here on out since I have season tickets now.....

HOWEVER, I really wish they would exempt airports. Last year, I'm sitting in the Phoenix airport aiting to come home and I was all excited because I could watch the Seahawks/Cardinals game on the tv (it was in AZ) and I couldn't figure out why it wasn't on tv. STUPID blackout. Had I been at HOME, I could have watched it no problem but since I was traveling, I couldn't see it.

DeltaSigStan · #9 08-15-2004, 03:24 AM

I hope this makes Sportscenter, but this WR for the Colts made an UNBELIEVABLE catch and went 80+ yds for a TD and secured his roster spot.

See, this is what happens when your organization KNOWS WHAT IT'S DOING...

Kevin · #10 08-15-2004, 01:47 PM

I know Dallas used to do this pre-Parcells.

There's another team that's looking pretty pitiful.

DeltAlum · #11 08-16-2004, 10:18 AM

Somebody please black out Jake Plummer.

Sister Havana · #12 08-16-2004, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kappaloo
I know that Chicago does black out for NHL games for the same reason.

Actually, the Blackhawks have a policy of not showing home games on local TV no matter how the team is doing. This is because the owner is an asshat who believes that if you show home games on local TV, that downgrades the value of the product because no one will want to come...they will all want to watch on TV.

And it's working SO well, let me tell you.

cuaphi · #13 08-16-2004, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Somebody please black out Jake Plummer.

But "It's just the preseason."

Wonder what excuse they'll use once the regular season starts.

Kevin · #14 08-16-2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sister Havana
Actually, the Blackhawks have a policy of not showing home games on local TV no matter how the team is doing. This is because the owner is an asshat who believes that if you show home games on local TV, that downgrades the value of the product because no one will want to come...they will all want to watch on TV.

And it's working SO well, let me tell you.

First, you need a ticket that people will want to buy.

KSigkid · #15 08-17-2004, 10:39 AM

When the Whalers were in Hartford, games would be blacked out, actually quite a bit (lack of attendance, which is why there are no Whalers anymore).