HDTV to blame for possible NFL playoff blackouts?
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jan 2nd 2009 2:23PM
posted Jan 2nd 2009 2:23PM
The NFL may need to rethink blackout rules in the face of swank HDTV setups and tanking economy. Word is Arizona and Minnesota are both under the gun for possible local TV blackouts of playoff games if enough tickets aren't sold this afternoon. Breaking a string of sellouts for the 0-16 Lions is one thing, being 8,000 tickets short as the Vikings were or 3,700 out for the Cardinals at last count yesterday could leave flat screens dark in the Twin Cities and Tempe this weekend. C'mon folks, someone is going to have to actually go to the game, should we start drawing straws?Read - Arizona gets another blackout deadline extension
Read - Vikings face possible blackout; thousands of playoff tickets still up for grabs
I just don't understand how that is possible. Maybe it's because I'm a Giants fan and there is a 30 year wait list for season tickets.
Being a Packer fan that lived in Minnesota for 13 years... I can attest to the fact that the Vikings have terrible fans. But even this surprised me some... not selling out a game when they are sucking... ok, but not selling out a game when they are in the playoffs, really?! In the same way you, as a Giants fan, thinks it is crazy, I, as a Packer fan, wholeheartedly agree.
Oh, and one thing all these articles fail to mention: Although it is true that the Vikings haven't had a blacked out game since 1997... multiple times corporations have had to buy up the remaining tickets on the last day. The local network affiliate (FOX, CBS, etc) that had ad revenue on the line has done it a number of times.
Ah, your typical Packer fan thinking they are holier than thou and that there shit don't stink. I have been to may share of pro football games and stadiums and I have had the worst experiences at Green Bay. I understand that the home team will be there in masses and fired up, but man have I seen way too may Green Bay fans that are total assholes and douche bags. My wife, who is a Packer fan and the reason I have been to so many Green Bay games has commented on it as well.
I looked at the Cards' tickets that are still available $420 each? $80 each but in the corner of the endzone? Don't forget about the TicketDisaster fees on top of that. Really. Those are terrible. I am a sportsfan and I wouldn't pay that kind of cash for tickets. That area of Arizona is also going through a bad real estate market right now. They have other things to worry about. In addition Minnesotons are a bit more fiscally responsible in my experience.
Oh yeah, parking, food, etc. It is super expensive.
Maybe some of these teams have finally hit that point where people won't pay that much.
I'm with you, prices are insane. I'd rather buy a new HDTV, and have my party catered, and still walk out ahead.
Last I heard, there's a pretty bad recession going on.
My guess is that next season a lot of NFL games will be blacked out.
Maybe this is a good thing....this might get the ball rolling in getting the NFL to remove their ridiculously arcane blackout rules.
Ticket prices are insane. On top of that, the Vikings were only selling ticket bundles of four or more when first offered.
I thought I read something about the NFL possibly expanding the season/losing some of the dumb preseason games?
If so, then you'd think the stadium owners would be able to lower game prices in struggling markets, since there would be more 'real games' to attend.
I agree though, watching at home on HDTV is a lot more exciting than expensive nosebleed seats. At the very minimum, something should be done to make it easier and more affordable to sell/buy tickets last minute for games, since they're all barcoded and scanned anymore anyway.
As much as I would like to see ticket prices come down, they won't.
With exploding player contracts and new stadiums being wanted by all owners, prices will only go up.
Did you know the new stadiums in Dallas and New York are going to have PSL (personal seat licences)? That means you have to pay a license just to pay for your seat! WTF is that!?!? Paying a fee, so you can pay to sit down.
Only in America...
Is it common to blackout a game in the local area if it's not sold out? That seems like you are punishing fans for not buying tickets. Why would the NFL do that?
Because if it's not sold out and it's not on TV, the fans now have to give their money to the NFL to go see the game in person if they don't want to listen to it on the radio or pay for one hell of an expensive satellite package.
So, the NFL gets more money. That's why they do that.
Recession to blame for possible NFL playoff blackouts?
My friends and I here in Saint Paul talked about going to the game, but the tickets were way too expensive. We all decided to get together and have a party at home instead. Now it seems our party will be listening to the radio.
Got a friend with a SlingBox? Or a way of finding a temporary friend in a different market?
I've never used slingboxes, but I've heard that they are pretty nice, though I find it hard to believe that they could be up to the HD standard that I've gotten used to.
i blame the schools
Not playing a game in the local market because ticket sales aren't high enough is a stupid rule. Happens all the time to the Oakland Raiders. And you know what... it doesn't make me want to go to the game when they're not being telecast. Instead, I find myself losing interest in watching them alltogether.
We went to a playoff game last year. It was rainy, cold and the people around us were obnoxious. My wife said she had a good time but would prefer watching the games from home (we have Sunday Ticket and we watch only HD games) - comfort, warmth, no annoying fans, more action (RedZone channel is nonstop plays all day long) and a butt-load cheaper.
What is the attraction of seeing a game in person? I don't know. I've been going to games off and on for about 30 years and really, I'm with my wife: I'd rather watch it at home.
Well, good news for Arizona fans...it sounds like they sold out the game just in time for it to be on TV. Haven't heard anything about Minnesota though. Being a Chicago Bears fan though, I don't really care...ha ha. Vikings fans (and Minnesota fans in general) are the worst.
Well at leat here in MN people get cheap whne time gets tough and why screw with all the hassles to see the game when you can stay home and have your food much cheaper and no stale beer smell, then just roll into bed or if the game goes terribly pear shaped turn it off. Oh I know why its selling out they need a new park according to the team owner so we in MN need to forego capitol improvements in our bridges and roads and help the poor team owners out so they can screw everybody more with over priced tickets and no true social responsiblity to the city and surrounding area.
Of course if they blackout the game god forbid somebody might have a conversation in a bar or restaurant instead of cheering to a team that can not hear them since its teleVISION not telePHONE.
It isn't just ticket prices. Tack on $20 parking, $10 beers, $7 burgers/hot dogs, just completely out of control. Cities shouldn't be forking over cash for stadiums when the bulk of its citizens can't afford to go to a game.
Let them screw over their own fans and see how well ticket sales do then!
I only got to see my Miami Dolphins 4-5 times on TV this year because of the stupid rules. I live in Tampa bay but, they use to only block Miami if Tampa played at the same time.
NFL is greedy as hell. They need to let fans be able to watch games. Blocking today game for local fans would be just like when they put a major game on the NFL Network and only a handful of people saw it.