Blackout Revelation

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Raheem Morris wants NFL to change blackout policy
Posted by Mike Florio on September 15, 2010 12:21 PM ET
The Bucs were the only NFL home team in Week One to play in a stadium where the non-premium seats had not been sold out.  And so the game was not televised locally.

Coach Raheem Morris thinks that the policy compelling a blackout under those circumstances should change.

"The economy right now is rough," Morris said earlier this week on WDAE radio in Tampa, via JoeBucsFan.com.  "We understand that.  And I'm very sensitive to that.  I actually was in a mall this week, and ran across a young man in the mall in the Apple store and gave him and his family four tickets to the game.  And I was fired up about that and received a beautiful e-mail today from their family.  And, you know, I wish I could do more.  I wish I could buy all the tickets myself.  But I can't do that yet.

"I don't think it's a lack of fan support," Morris said.  "You would like the NFL to change the [blackout] rule with the economy with what we got going on right now."

Though Morris may not be able to buy all the tickets himself, the reality is that, last year, the Bucs paid 34 cents on the dollar as to any non-premium tickets, ensuring a string of "sellouts".  And it appears that the Rams did the same thing on Sunday.  And it's likely that the same tactic has been used in the past -- and will be used in the future -- by other teams to ensure that the three-hour infomercial will air in the home market.

But the league won't be changing the blackout rule, regardless of whether slow sales result from a bad economy or a bad team or a kick-ass HD/3D TV that was just installed in the man cave.  Indeed, as the home-viewing experience improves, the league will be even more vigilant regarding the blackout rule, since more and more fans will realize it's cheaper -- and in many respects better -- to stay home.

Sooooo, I wonder how soon the national vultures media picks up on this?

[hanjin1]

send them to l.a. they can't fill their seats the fans don't support them. the bucs need to move west. get some trucks for the bucs!!!!

[copperfiend]

Chargers have 8k tickets to sell to avoid being blacked out

[Shwaz]

As much as the blackouts hurt us here in Jax, I don't want to see the rule changed.

The whole point of televising is so that people without tix can see the game. Without a full stadium, there is no revenue... if there is no revenue there is no team.

The only way to lift the blackout rule is to charge for televised games via pay-per-view.

Imagine if local concerts were televised...

[Dog Walker]

send them to l.a. they can't fill their seats the fans don't support them. the bucs need to move west. get some trucks for the bucs!!!!

Wow, I thought I was the only person in Jacksonville who felt this way.

Every economic study ever done about professional sports teams in a city show that at best they are economically neutral, but are mostly economic negatives.  Everybody has limited entertainment dollars and when the sports teams come into a town, every other entertainment option including restaurants sees a decline in sales.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

The post by Intuition Ale Works made me think to post this about the blackouts.  Sure, I got it from PFT, but typically Florio is trashing the Jags.  I just wonder why the major media outlets don't blast the other teams the way they blast us?

And I agree Shwaz, the rule shouldn't be changed.  If WW hadn't given the Jags away 5 years ago, we might not be in the situation that we're in now (season tix), because people wouldn't have gotten used to seeing the Jags on TV - they would have HAD to go to the stadium to see their hometeam.  They were too used to seeing Spurrier whip Appalachian State from their recliners and then WW gave them the Jags from the same seat.

Live and learn.

[CS Foltz]

Dog Walker............said it before and will say it again..........If they are winning, they would have no problem filling the stadium up and then some! So win (better than a 7 & 9 result and backing into the playoffs) and all problems are solved...........continue to lose and you get what you sow!

[Bativac]

Every economic study ever done about professional sports teams in a city show that at best they are economically neutral, but are mostly economic negatives.  Everybody has limited entertainment dollars and when the sports teams come into a town, every other entertainment option including restaurants sees a decline in sales.

Quoted for truth. But if you're smart, you'll learn what I learned and keep your mouth shut when considering such heresy.

[Dapperdan]

I do feel that the national media loves to dump on us, but you do have to admit, no other team has had almost their entire home season blacked out. We did it to ourselves. They don't understand the community push we have seen the past several months.

[Shwaz]

Dog Walker............said it before and will say it again..........If they are winning, they would have no problem filling the stadium up and then some! So win (better than a 7 & 9 result and backing into the playoffs) and all problems are solved...........continue to lose and you get what you sow!

CS - although you're beating a dead horse, and I do agree a winning record would help ticket sales... it's still a poor mentality and not conducive to long term success... because the only sure thing in NFL is that losing seasons are just around the corner at anytime.

The Packers are a prime example. They will without a doubt never be in danger of losing their franchise even though they're the smallest market.... because their fans love the team unconditionally. You'll find the same in Pittsburgh, NY and many other NFL markets.

The product is the game, the NFL experience and not the outcome. I've paid good money to watch this team lose and I expect to time and time again. I keep my expectations realistic and I enjoy the game regardless. It's time for 65,000 other fans to do the same.

[duvaldude08]

Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!

[Shwaz]

Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!

I'm sure even Tampa was whining last year internally while buying up the remaining tickets for .34 on the dollar.

[duvaldude08]

Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!

I'm sure even Tampa was whining last year internally while buying up the remaining tickets for .34 on the dollar.

Right! I was reading that they have been hiding their tickets problems for a few years by buying up the unsold tickets. So this year, they decided to face the music.

[CS Foltz]

Shwaz............you do have a point, but have to point out that Green Bay dates back to pre-NFL! They have a  winning history and the Jags do not! Winning is everything and as I pointed out.....a winning record makes filling any stadium up one heck of alot easier! Losing seasons are just a turn of the wheel and the wheel allways turns! Any team has ups and downs.......Redskins,Dolphins..........heck even Cleveland (they are an original team though, actually Baltimore Ravens was the original team prior to their move!) Not turning my back on the Jag's, they have possibilities, but winning does all a world of good..........media would get off of Jacksonvilles back, team could be a contender.......they might even get to the playoffs with a winning record and be a real contender, but time will tell for sure! A brand new season.......so who knows?

[Shwaz]

Everybody is full of it in my opinion. When it was us getting bashed last year, the black out rule was ok. Now that Tampa is having blackouts, they are whinning about the black out rule. Man people are a trip. We took our whipping last year, so Tampa man up and take yours!

I'm sure even Tampa was whining last year internally while buying up the remaining tickets for .34 on the dollar.

Right! I was reading that they have been hiding their tickets problems for a few years by buying up the unsold tickets. So this year, they decided to face the music.

It's no secret that a few teams have been doing this. Then you've got other teams with poor fan following in a corporate rich market. Miami & Houston for example sellout regularly but only 50% pass through the turnstiles... the rest are bought out by fortune 500 companies. : /