Could Lee Roy Selmon’s Memory Sell Out CITS?
September 5th, 2011
Last week Bucs officials all but stated the season opener against the Lions this coming Sunday would be blacked out.
This news was hardly a revelation. The Lions are not a team that draws in fans like the Cowboys, for example.
Bucs officials noted that at normal sales rates, it would take something unforeseen to see 10,000+ tickets to an early, steamy September game gobbled up in less than a week, to meet the Thursday, 1 p.m. deadline to avoid an NFL mandated blackout.
Could that unforeseen event be Lee Roy Selmon’s passing?
Surely with the game being on Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of demented animals flying planes kamikaze-style into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and a cornfield in Pennsylvania, murdering thousands and leaving countless innocents maimed, the victims and their families will be honored and remembered leaguewide at games.
But with yesterday’s passing of Bucs great Selmon, a beloved figure throughout the Tampa Bay community, the Bucs will almost assuredly honor the man prior to kickoff. A moment of silence will certainly be in order.
Sunday’s game will likely be a very public memorial service of sorts for Selmon.
Joe was a guest on Rays Rev Radio podcast last night (after a few adult beverages no less), produced by Raysheads Matt Sinn and Mike Weber, both producers at Joe’s proud media partner, WTSP-TV Channel 10. During the podcast, Sinn wondered aloud if fans wanting to pay tribute to Selmon will buy up the remaining tickets to not just sell the game out, but avoid a blackout?
It’s an interesting thought that Joe admitted right away to Sinn he never thought of.
It is a salient point by Sinn. It will be an emotional day, not just because of the memories of a dark day for America 10 years ago, but to honor a fallen man that meant so much to both the Bucs, and the Tampa Bay area in so many ways.
Will Selmon’s death motivate Bucs fans to pay homage to the man, despite all the reasons fans cite for not going to games?
We shall see in just a handful of days.
September 5th, 2011 at 9:15 am
I might buy a pair of tickets despite living 1250 miles away, just to help the cause.
September 5th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Wondering if they’ll wear a 63 patch all season?
September 5th, 2011 at 9:19 am
I think the previous commenter that suggested throwback jerseys for the day (if sanctioned by the league) would be a great tribute.
Any chance of the Glazer’s picking up the tab for the unsold tickets to the game at the last moment? I sure hope that they find a way to sell this game out.
September 5th, 2011 at 9:29 am
@Larry, thanks for the meaningless comment. Had you said that you already purchased the tickets…well that would be acceptable.
September 5th, 2011 at 9:55 am
@buccanr1
That comment was entirely low class. Tell me, do you think such a comment will drive Larry to purchase those tickets, or now that you’ve offended him, will he say “screw it” and not buy them?
This is a solemn time and yet you are bringing this? Come on now, you can do better.
@Larry
If you bought those tickets, I think it would be an incredible thing. I also live out of town, and I’m going to have to see if I can do the same…I don’t know if I can buy two…but maybe one.
@ALL FANS
When we look back at this season and the passing of Lee Roy Selmon, wouldn’t it be great to say that his life and his passing united the Tampa Bay area in supporting the team he loved? We should do our best to make sure every game is sold out.
Just something to consider. I know I am.
(and just a reminder…ticket scalpers tickets are seats already sold…so buy the tickets direct from Ticket Master)
September 5th, 2011 at 9:56 am
sigh…I got spammed again, Joe. This is starting to suck…
September 5th, 2011 at 9:59 am
Our fans suck , you think they care ?
September 5th, 2011 at 10:12 am
@Jason, I like what you say about the patch. You are probably right on.
@buccanr1, get off the guy’s back, and please grow up.
@me, I wouldn’t miss this game for the world. For all of those that live/work/serve in far away lands and can’t make it to the game, I will do my best to represent you in the most hardcore Buc Fansion.
September 5th, 2011 at 10:18 am
I too am getting spammed Joe! It happens almost everytime I make a long post.
September 5th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Thanks, Joe 🙂
September 5th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Apple, how do you get a profile pic?
September 5th, 2011 at 11:49 am
The Bucs wearing a patch or a “63” on their helmets is pretty much a given.
Wearing throwbacks for the season opener is pretty much out of the question. Too little time to pull that off.
The league has to approve throwbacks and then they’d have to order the uniforms from Reebok. Guessing they don’t yet have their creamsicles for the throwback game later this year.
September 5th, 2011 at 11:52 am
Pete:
Joe will look to see if it’s in the spam filter, but the phrase “less is more” springs to mind. When you write novels for comments, WordPress spam filter nabs it.
September 5th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
I’ll be there. . .
September 5th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Great idea, but not going to happen. I think what would be more likely…
Does anyone think it’s strange that none of the players have thought of buying up the rest of the ticket as a goodwill gesture? Sort of, “Hey, we’re a great team, let’s get as many fans as possible to see us to increase our exposure.”
Certainly they must realize that the more the local fans see them, the more the national audience will see them, and FEASIBLY, the more valuable they’ll be on the open market when their contract comes up.
Does anyone think that McCoy, Penn, Joseph, Black, Freeman and company couldn’t pony up the ~350k/game it would cost to sell out the games?
Just imagine the goodwill that a player would get from the community if they laid down a wad of cash so that the community could see the team!
September 5th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
A saw a cool idea ob FB, to name the Pirate Ship the SS Selmon. The Bucs should make that happen.
September 6th, 2011 at 12:03 am
Matt:
Not sure Joe follows your logic there. Games are only blacked out in a team’s primary and secondary market. Anyone with NFL Sunday Ticket outside of central Florida can watch the game. More people outside central Florida (read: nationally) see Bucs home games.
To be honest, Joe has never heard of players in any sport buying tens of thousands of tickets just to ensure a sellout.
September 6th, 2011 at 12:08 am
Joe H.:
Much better idea (not Joe’s): Since Selmon meant so much to the Bucs and USF, put a statue of Selmon outside the south entrance to the stadium and call it “Selmon Plaza.”
BTW, why isn’t there a statue of Phil Esposito outside the Ice Palace? If not for him, there would not be a Tampa Bay Lightning.
Also, can we put up some plaque outside the Fruitdome where pigeons will sh!t all over it and call it “Naimoli’s Hole?”
September 6th, 2011 at 1:54 am
Pete, it is called a gravitar.