Lots of TV blackouts all over this fall

[Skkorpion]

We touched on this a month back. It is creeping up on us.

Within a few weeks we'll know how many teams will start peddling single game tickets. My guess is a minimum of 16 of the 32 will not sell out. Maybe up to 6 teams will have their entire seasons blacked out at home.

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

 

[blindseyed]

Glad I have DTV now

 

[Unsterblich856]

What a stupid rule. This really needs to be solved before this scars the NFL if so many teams are being blacked out.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

hopefully this gets the league to take a look at the blackout rule - especially given how important the TV ratings/revenue are to their product

 

[O]

I would be willing to bet that it affects more than sixteen.

 

[TJ]

Glad I have DTV now

If you live in Chandler, Cards games will still be blacked out, even with the special NFL Package. I've had it since 2005 in two markets and I always get notices of where the blackouts will occur (when I lived in L.A., Chargers games were blacked out) Only solution is to buy a ticket to the game

 

[Stout]

If you live in Chandler, Cards games will still be blacked out, even with the special NFL Package. I've had it since 2005 in two markets and I always get notices of where the blackouts will occur (when I lived in L.A., Chargers games were blacked out) Only solution is to buy a ticket to the game

Wait, that doesn't make sense. We've been selling the games out, right? Why would they be blacked out if we're selling them out?

 

[Skkorpion]

Wait, that doesn't make sense. We've been selling the games out, right? Why would they be blacked out if we're selling them out?

We are not selling out any games right now, if rumors hold true.

 

[Stout]

We are not selling out any games right now, if rumors hold true.

Really? If we can't sell out games NOW, of all times...what the hell kinds of fans are there in the Valley? I mean, we were in this game...it was kind of a big deal...the Super Bowl? Ugh. I hate to bash our fan base, but we'd DAMN sure better sell out this season.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

they'll sell out the home games this year - especially with the visitors coming in - maybe a couple will be close, but it will happen

maybe they won't sell out the allotment of season tickets, but I can't imagine them needing to sell more than 5k-7k seats to each individual game

however TJ is correct - if the game is locally blacked out and you live locally even DTV won't show the game - this shouldn't of been an issue since the new stadium opened, but would of been before

 

[TJ]

Really? If we can't sell out games NOW, of all times...what the hell kinds of fans are there in the Valley? I mean, we were in this game...it was kind of a big deal...the Super Bowl? Ugh. I hate to bash our fan base, but we'd DAMN sure better sell out this season.

I'm finally able to afford season tickets this season and put myself on the waiting list March 31st. I got the letter in the mail the other day that I'll get a call June 3rd to pick my seats. If I'm only waiting two months to get pulled, that's not a good sign

 

[O]

Really? If we can't sell out games NOW, of all times...what the hell kinds of fans are there in the Valley? I mean, we were in this game...it was kind of a big deal...the Super Bowl? Ugh. I hate to bash our fan base, but we'd DAMN sure better sell out this season.

I am a month away, give or take, from living in the streets.
Who are you to pass judgement on true fans?
edited, keep that comment to yourself

 

[DoTheDew]

The blackout rule was created to give the incentive to go to games (which generates much more revenue per person than TV viewing). The problem is that its a false incentive because most people who were going to go to the game will do so anyway, and most people who don't want to will just hope that the games are sold out. Very few fans pay close enough attention and have a flexible enough schedule to wait until the last minute to find out if a game will be blacked out or not and buy single game tickets if it is.

Some things the NFL should do:
1. Make all teams allow ticket scalping. I know the idea of home games becoming road games sucks, but from the NFLs standpoint this will increase profits as more people will buy singles looking to make a profit on outsiders. This doesn't hurt the NFL at all, and frankly if teams can't handle visiting fans then they probably don't deserve to win anyway.
2. If they aren't selling out games, that means tickets are too costly plain and simple. If supply is fixed and demand doesn't meet that supply then changing price is the logical conclusion.
3. Finally, if they can't accept whatever price they have to drop tickets to in order to sell out each game, then the only option left is to improve the product. Being at games provides plenty of things that watching on TV doesn't and vice versa. The NFL's marketing department simply has to find more ways to make being at games more appealing to the fans vs watching on TV. Whether that is giveaways and prizes, better halftime and pregame shows, or just improved stadiums is up to them to figure out.

 

[ajcardfan]

Really? If we can't sell out games NOW, of all times...what the hell kinds of fans are there in the Valley? I mean, we were in this game...it was kind of a big deal...the Super Bowl? Ugh. I hate to bash our fan base, but we'd DAMN sure better sell out this season.

You got it bass-ackwards this time stout. What was impressive was selling out the next season after the Denny Green trainwreck and an unproven coach taking over. Whoever decides to buy a ticket this year does nothing to prove thier true fanhood IMHO. Any ****** can feel good about buying a ticket for a Super Bowl team.


I paid up, as usual. But, I know some of my seatmates had a hell of a time affording LAST year and our seats went up a couple of hundred for the season. The two brothers who have four tickets in front of me work in construction and their business has been in the tank, and I'm sure it's not getting any better at all yet. If they aren't there this season, I won't hold it against them. And, I'm sure there are thousands of people in similar situations. The diehards are blue collar for the most part and times are tough.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I am a month away, give or take, from living in the streets.
Who are you to pass judgement on true fans?
edited, keep that comment to yourself

 

[Stout]

You got it bass-ackwards this time stout. What was impressive was selling out the next season after the Denny Green trainwreck and an unproven coach taking over. Whoever decides to buy a ticket this year does nothing to prove thier true fanhood IMHO. Any ****** can feel good about buying a ticket for a Super Bowl team.


I paid up, as usual. But, I know some of my seatmates had a hell of a time affording LAST year and our seats went up a couple of hundred for the season. The two brothers who have four tickets in front of me work in construction and their business has been in the tank, and I'm sure it's not getting any better at all yet. If they aren't there this season, I won't hold it against them. And, I'm sure there are thousands of people in similar situations. The diehards are blue collar for the most part and times are tough.

I knew I worded this badly, and on ***** by some of you guys that is confirmed

I MEANT to write about the fickle fanbase in general, which tends to follow the winner. If we can't draw the add-on fans here in the Valley when we just went to a Superbowl, then we never, ever will. If last season's run doesn't do it, NOTHING will.

 

[Stout]

I am a month away, give or take, from living in the streets.
Who are you to pass judgement on true fans?
You can kiss my white Irish ass!

See my previous post that explains my position. Of course I would not be addressing anything to people who literally can't afford to go to games, and I think that anyone with half a brain could figure that out. I'll try to kiss your white Irish ass, but you'd better wash off your forehead first

Clearly my half a brain line is tongue-in-cheek, because I worded my initial post poorly and it was easily and forgiveably misunderstood. Aimed at the add-on fans, not the hardcores. They are not in doubt. Ever.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Really? If we can't sell out games NOW, of all times...what the hell kinds of fans are there in the Valley? I mean, we were in this game...it was kind of a big deal...the Super Bowl? Ugh. I hate to bash our fan base, but we'd DAMN sure better sell out this season.

Then come help pay for them....because not everyone in this economy can run out and spend thousands on tickets, and then travel over 100 miles round trip on a Sunday and pay for food, beer, gas, etc.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

By the way, I AM buying tickets to the opener...I haven't been to a game yet in the new stadium.

 

[Carddan]

By the way, I AM buying tickets to the opener...I haven't been to a game yet in the new stadium.

Glad to hear it, you should love it! Last year I talked to several people in my section which I hadn't seen before, for many of them it was their first Cardinals game anywhere. I wished them a great time and told them to come back when they can.

I welcome all Cardinals fans, die-hards, STHs, even the bandwagon jumpers. Who am I to judge? If you root for the Cardinals that is good enough for me. I do not think you have to be in the Stadium to be a fan. I hope we sell out, but I will not criticize the fan base if we do not. I'm fortunate to afford the time and money to have tickets, it was not always the case but I was still a fan. My financial situation does not make me a better fan but I do feel obligated to "represent" for those who aren't there or can't go.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I welcome all Cardinals fans, die-hards, STHs, even the bandwagon jumpers. Who am I to judge? If you root for the Cardinals that is good enough for me. I do not think you have to be in the Stadium to be a fan. I hope we sell out, but I will not criticize the fan base if we do not. I'm fortunate to afford the time and money to have tickets, it was not always the case but I was still a fan. My financial situation does not make me a better fan but I do feel obligated to "represent" for those who aren't there or can't go.

Agreed. You have to start somewhere.

 

[Totally_Red]

Glad to hear it, you should love it! Last year I talked to several people in my section which I hadn't seen before, for many of them it was their first Cardinals game anywhere. I wished them a great time and told them to come back when they can.

I welcome all Cardinals fans, die-hards, STHs, even the bandwagon jumpers. Who am I to judge? If you root for the Cardinals that is good enough for me. I do not think you have to be in the Stadium to be a fan. I hope we sell out, but I will not criticize the fan base if we do not. I'm fortunate to afford the time and money to have tickets, it was not always the case but I was still a fan. My financial situation does not make me a better fan but I do feel obligated to "represent" for those who aren't there or can't go.

Agreed! I have nothing against people who jump on the bandwagon, as long as they don't jump off at the first sign of problems. If you jump off, just stay off because you are nothing but a fickle finger in the wind trend follower.

 

[Stout]

Then come help pay for them....because not everyone in this economy can run out and spend thousands on tickets, and then travel over 100 miles round trip on a Sunday and pay for food, beer, gas, etc.

Meh, this argument is absolutely baseless. If every team was having a hard time selling out because of the economy, then it would hold more water. Still, I doubt very much that the Steelers (and believe me, Western PA is in bad shape) will have a hard time selling out. The economy? Individually I think it a perfectly valid excuse. As a fan base? Not.

 

[Shane]

Meh, this argument is absolutely baseless. If every team was having a hard time selling out because of the economy, then it would hold more water. Still, I doubt very much that the Steelers (and believe me, Western PA is in bad shape) will have a hard time selling out. The economy? Individually I think it a perfectly valid excuse. As a fan base? Not.

You are right!

 

[jw7]

We are not selling out any games right now, if rumors hold true.

Skkorp, you are dead wrong on this. You still owe me a hat from our last bet, but I will go you double-or-nothing that every single regular-season home game is televised locally. We have an attractive out-of-conference schedule at home, coming back from the SB and the best WR in the league.

Let me know the stakes if you are interested. I know where you sit.