Bucs Not Only Team Sweating Blackouts
September 15th, 2010
"We can't sell any tickets to a good team here in San Diego!"
Much was made in recent days of the Tampa Bay area not buying tickets to Bucs games. Why, how horrible of an area this is, how dare Team Glazer not allow the games to be on TV… yada, yada, yada.
Joe first smelled feces when he heard the loud and proud crowd boast even St. Louis sold out its Rams game. Originally from that neck of the woods, Joe knows what a lousy football market that is. In fact, third parties had to buy up tickets to donate to charitable organizations in order for that game to be televised locally.
Now there is this little nugget: Seems as if the pearl of the Pacific Coast, San Diego, is in real danger of having a blackout, KNDS-TV in San Diego notes that its game with Jacksonville this week will “most likely” be blacked out.
Chargers president and CEO Dean Spanos told our media partners at the North County Times that the game, which is a week from Sunday against Jacksonville, will “most likely” be blacked out.
Spanos blamed the bad economy in an interview with the paper.
“I think Southern California is still suffering, and in some ways the region may be worse off today than it was a year ago,” Spanos said in the interview.
So for all the haters out there who bag on this area as a rotten sports town, either start screaming about San Diego (or Cincinnati) or shut the hell up! Last Joe checked, the Chargers are expected to win the AFC West. Can’t blame their (lack of) attendance on rebuilding.
September 15th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I agree with Rah. The NFL should consider a lower percentage attendance to allow it to be shown on local TV. Like two thirds sold out or something for now with this economy. I own season tickets but would also support a pay per view opportunity when the game isn’t sold out. My kids often use my tickets and I’m just a person that would prefer to watch games from home. Even if it cost me something. That’s my two cents.
September 15th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Thank God someone (JOE) know’s what they are talking about! I’ve been saying this for a while, but most people will call you out by saying you’re just making excuses. I had my season tickets from 1990 until just last year and it is killing me, but having kids and the wife out of work you have to make some tough choices these days. I do have tickets to the Steelers & Panthers games so I hope this will take care of the withdrawls I’m having. Thanks Joe for pointing out the obvious that some people don’t get.
Just a note: I also made it to 8 RAY’S games this year so I’m all about supporting the local teams.
September 15th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Good point , Dew. A lot of people would rather watch the games at home. Due to health, heat, drinking and driving, etc. Buuuuut, if you are willing to pay for games on TV, to avoid them being blacked out, then kiss ever watching them for free goodbye! If we’ll pay now, the NFL will figure, why not pay everytime! Don’t know if I wanna cross that bridge yet! I like watching several games on Sunday, all for the price of clicking the remote. Would hate to see a little cash register ring up more money everytime I surfed a game
September 15th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
I totally agree….. Except The chargers are expected to win the AFC West…. A whole bunch of teams are expecting blackouts this year
September 15th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Yeah, I can admit I was probably wrong the other day…I was just fired up at all the people doggin the Bucs win. Sorry fellas…but I still hope winning brings back the fans. It may bring them back close enough for the owners to kick in to make the TV spot.
The black out thing really is bad marketing. A three hour commercial for the team makes sense to me. People that love to go to the game love to be there. GO BUCS!
September 15th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Also, maybe not this Joe, but one of you Joes have said that winning will fill seats.
September 15th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I am one of those who think Tampa is a rotten sports town. Heck, the whole state of Florida actually. All three NFL franchises are one of the least popular ones. Rays are the best team of MLB and the attendance is laughable. I am a hardcore fan of both these franchises, but just stating my honest opinions here. Freeman, Longoria, LeBron and Howard will hopefully change all that.
September 15th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Jonny – Baseball SUCKS so there….
September 15th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Hey Jonny I suppose you like kickball too?
September 15th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I’m no geography expert but I think it will be quite difficult if not impossible for the chargers to win the AFC south
September 15th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Thanks Jason. AFC West indeed!
September 15th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Jonny…I have been one of those people as well, I was born and raised here to boot. After I went back and forth with a guy yesterday on this site, I talked to a bunch of people I know. They kind of changed my mind, but not 100%. I think it is the lack of winning and the economy. Maybe all the people that comment should stop saying they are not going due to the direction of the team, and say it is for lack of funds. Plenty of commenters on her, TBO, PR, etc. have stated the reason is the team. I think most of them did not have tickets anyway, but winning will still add butts in the seats.
Joe…Call me a hater all you want, but I am a rare elusive Floridian living in the Tampa Bay area my entire life, so I have seen this before.
September 15th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Well I am pumped, bad economy or not, I just got some Club seats + parking pass, west side 50YL for way less than face value. I am pumped bring on the steelers!
Of course I won’t be feeding my family for a week anything but tuna but…Go Bucs!
September 15th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I’ve said it before, the NFL needs to adjust its ego, er, policies in this economy. Mandate lower ticket prices, 25% off season tickets, 15% of single game tickets and reduce the blackout threshold. Additionally, reduce concession prices and\or offer a “concession card” whereas you pre-pay (30% off) for the card which entitles you to X number of drinks and food per game\season. I guarantee you more attendance. Hell, I would even do it and I live in Charlotte NC!
September 15th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Living in San Diego myself this is an easy one…90% of the people living here aren’t actually from San Diego. You go to any game and about half the fans are rooting for the opposition because its the area they moved here from. So when we play relatively new teams, such as Jacksonville, there aren’t that many fans that have moved here since the inception of the team.
Also the fact that its still summer and very nice here, so similar to your area I’m assuming, there are a ton of other things to do rather than spend +$100 at a football game. As the season goes on, if the Chargers are winning, all the band wagoners will start going to the games.
And as always, when the bigger teams come to town…Patriots, Steelers etc they will draw the crowds. But ya, San Diego has some pretty empathetic fans too.
September 15th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Jeff…you are right. Busch Gardens went to that food card, great idea.
September 15th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
The fact is that the economy is in the tank and a lot of people are on unemployment, facing losing a job in the near future or struggling to keep their home that they overpayed for or feed their kids. An NFL ticket is extremely inflated in price for the average person. Also, the games are just not very entertaining of family friendly. There are no cool items given to attending fans or neat halftime entertainment. The last several games I attended were just a lame experience for the money it cost. The NFL is going to end up like the NHL if it is not careful by losing interest due to lack of television coverage. I prefer the home experience on a big HD TV in the air condition with grocery store bought beer and a party atmosphere with friends and family. I think a lot of people feel the same. Maybe if the games are priced like a prime time main event, then they should play Saturday evenings at 7 or 8 PM when it is not so freaking hot and it would feel like a prime time event. Also there are many people who still actually attend worship services on Sunday who put GOD above football. Just my observations and opinions. Go Bucs!!!
September 15th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Raheem Morris.
September 16th, 2010 at 2:12 am
Tampa is much like SD, where there are a lot of transplants from up north that root for other teams. The people on here bitching about the ‘direction of the team’ and the coach all live in their mom’s basements, and can’t afford to go to the game anyway.
September 16th, 2010 at 3:49 am
I am a native Floridian. I have lived in Atlanta as well. I can say that Atlanta and Miami are much worse pro sports towns than the TB area. When the Hawks had Dominique, they had trouble selling out the Omni. The locals got so used to the Braves winning that some playoffs games would not be sell outs. Before Vick, the Falcons routinely had abysmal crowds. Miami is just as bad. The Heat crowds this season were terrible even though they had a decent playoff team. The Phins have always had fickle fans. So it is not all bad here in TB.