I understand the reason for the blackouts and I have no problem with the NFL in using them. However, I believe that this year should be the exception to the rule.
There are plenty of people in this country who have either lost jobs or are struggling to get by. The NFL is getting their money from the TV contracts regardless so one year of lifting the blackout rule isn't going to harm them imo.
There are plenty of people in this country who have either lost jobs or are struggling to get by. The NFL is getting their money from the TV contracts regardless so one year of lifting the blackout rule isn't going to harm them imo.
Stay Classy Washington Redskins. Stay Classy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/02/AR2009090203887.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/02/AR2009090203887.html
NFL Predicts Single-Digit Decline in Ticket Sales After Records
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By Aaron Kuriloff
Sept. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The National Football League is forecasting a single-digit percentage decline in ticket sales during the 2009 regular season after reaching record highs in recent years.
The worst recession since the Great Depression will probably slow ticket sales by a few percentage points, said Brian McCarthy, a league spokesman. The NFL sold about 17.9 million tickets total in the 2008 regular and postseasons, third-best all-time, and down 1.3 percent from a record of about 18.1 million in 2007.
Two teams -- the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers -- have already said they anticipate television blackouts. NFL rules require local television to black out games that aren’t sold out within 72 hours of kickoff.
“The policy is important in supporting the ability of the clubs to sell tickets and keeping our games attractive as television programming with large crowds,” McCarthy said in an e-mail.
About 96 percent of games sold out last season in time to avoid a television blackout, down from a record 97 percent in 2006. At the end of the last recession in 2001, the NFL sold out 84 percent of its games.
There were nine blackouts last season, out of 256 regular- season games, McCarthy said.
Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver told the Florida Times-Union newspaper last month that the team had about 14,000 or 15,000 non-premium tickets unsold and was facing blackouts at all eight home games. Jim Steeg, the Chargers’ chief operating officer, said last month the team had thousands of tickets remaining to every game, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Unemployment Rates
Unemployment exceeded 10 percent in both cities as of July, according to the U.S. Labor Department. About 19.9 percent of offices in metropolitan Jacksonville were vacant in the second quarter of 2009, and 20.9 percent of those in San Diego, according to CB Richard Ellis Office Vacancy Index.
“We are sensitive to what our fans and business partners are enduring in these tough economic times,” McCarthy said. “Three quarters of the clubs froze ticket prices this season and have created more flexibility and options for fans to help them afford tickets.”
Share | Email | Print | A A A
By Aaron Kuriloff
Sept. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The National Football League is forecasting a single-digit percentage decline in ticket sales during the 2009 regular season after reaching record highs in recent years.
The worst recession since the Great Depression will probably slow ticket sales by a few percentage points, said Brian McCarthy, a league spokesman. The NFL sold about 17.9 million tickets total in the 2008 regular and postseasons, third-best all-time, and down 1.3 percent from a record of about 18.1 million in 2007.
Two teams -- the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers -- have already said they anticipate television blackouts. NFL rules require local television to black out games that aren’t sold out within 72 hours of kickoff.
“The policy is important in supporting the ability of the clubs to sell tickets and keeping our games attractive as television programming with large crowds,” McCarthy said in an e-mail.
About 96 percent of games sold out last season in time to avoid a television blackout, down from a record 97 percent in 2006. At the end of the last recession in 2001, the NFL sold out 84 percent of its games.
There were nine blackouts last season, out of 256 regular- season games, McCarthy said.
Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver told the Florida Times-Union newspaper last month that the team had about 14,000 or 15,000 non-premium tickets unsold and was facing blackouts at all eight home games. Jim Steeg, the Chargers’ chief operating officer, said last month the team had thousands of tickets remaining to every game, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Unemployment Rates
Unemployment exceeded 10 percent in both cities as of July, according to the U.S. Labor Department. About 19.9 percent of offices in metropolitan Jacksonville were vacant in the second quarter of 2009, and 20.9 percent of those in San Diego, according to CB Richard Ellis Office Vacancy Index.
“We are sensitive to what our fans and business partners are enduring in these tough economic times,” McCarthy said. “Three quarters of the clubs froze ticket prices this season and have created more flexibility and options for fans to help them afford tickets.”
What a stupid mover by the team..
On Oct. 8, the Redskins sued Hill in Prince George's County Circuit Court for backing out of a 10-year ticket-renewal agreement after the first year. The team sought payment for every season through 2017, plus interest, attorneys' fees and court costs.
Hill couldn't afford a lawyer. She did not fight the lawsuit or even respond to it because, she said, she believes that the Bible says that it is morally wrong not to pay your debts. The team won a default judgment of $66,364.
"It really breaks my heart," Hill said, her voice cracking as the tears well and spill. "I don't even believe in bankruptcy.
"We are supposed to pay our bills. I ain't trying to get out of anything."
Hill is one of 125 season ticket holders who asked to be released from multiyear contracts and were sued by the Redskins in the past five years. The Washington Post interviewed about two dozen of them. Most said that they were victims of the economic downturn, having lost a job or experiencing some other financial hardship. :>(
This is so stupid. If you live in a city and don't want the game blacked out then GO TO THE GAMES. Did you ever think that maybe Jacksonville shouldn't have an NFL team if they can't support it. This "down economy" excuse is also crap. Let me ask you this how is the economy in Pittsbugh? It was a bad economy before the downturn. Yet they find a way to sell out. Maybe its cause the franchise is well run and they put a good product on the field. I will say this as a Tampa Bay Buc fan. I'm not going to any games this year and if I do want to watch a game then I'll go to a bar or something. But I refuse to support a team that is doing nothing but trying to save as much money as they can and not even trying to win. I wish there were more people like me that won't go to games until ownership learns they can't half ass run the team. If your not trying to win than I'm not supporting you by going to the game. And if I can't see the game because of that than oh well. I really don't care to watch my bucs go 2-14 this year anyway.
For small market teams I agree.
My comment about the NY teams is that ticket prices are pricing out all of the real fans.
Do you realize lower level and mezzanine seating is 5-700 PER seat, face value? What happens when all these ticket brokers tack on their profit and NO ONE buys these seats? The upper level will be sold out every game. The rest will be a joke.
