Whats up with NFL blackouts? Is there any research to prove this will somehow help ticket sales? Why the fuck do they even do this?

They have been blacking out games a lot here in the last few years, save your teasing comments goddamit i know the Jags suck, this is about the blackouts.

Is this just a direct fuck you to the city that has the team? What about the recession? Unemployment? How come these motherfuckers make millions on the team, owning the team, etc etc but they can black out games if the ticket sales arent good enough? How can a team grow or keep fans if they not only suck, but black out the games as well?

What method is there to this madness? I wanted to see how we looked against Arizona today, im sitting maybe 6 blocks from the stadium but unable to watch. Ridiculous.

I thought the NFL was run by a government commision. Should i write these assholes for bailout money for the Jaguars so i can watch a fucking game?

Anybody know who started this or what purpose it serves other than to give fans in that city the giant middle finger? Educate me.

Was developed by the NFL, but was probably a brainchild of alot of the team owners out there. Basically, if you don't sell out 72 hours before the game starts, game can't be shown within a 60 mile radius or something like that. In theory, its supposed to encourage fans to purchase tickets so they can see their team. In actuality, it puts all the pressure on fans who have the means to buy them. They end up getting stuck with having to buy more expensive ticket packages and bundles, without any incentive, especially if the product on the field is lackluster.

Small media markets always get the shaft in professional sports. With things like this in place, the markets stay small or get smaller. Detroit, with its winless season last year, dropped ticket prices only 1 %. You think they would have done a little more for the fans in what is considered one of the worst economic climates in the nation.

I've been watching the Jacksonville game and the crowd is pretty much nonexistant. There's almost no noise at all.

Hard to cheer when you're down 17-3.

It was like this from kickoff. I didn't realize though that the stadium was barely half filled. I knew they were having problems selling tickets but I didn't realize it was that bad.

Blackouts have been around for a long time, son

NFL run by a government commission? You one of them socialists that Glen Beck has been talking about?

I heard a blurb on NPR about this this week

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...oryId=112488275

Jacksonville was hit hard by the housing fallout, all my buddies that do dry-walling, framing, shit like that, have to travel out of town for work, pressure wash houses and shit on the weekends, give handjobs, whatever to make ends meet.

Seems pretty shitty to black out games especially with a mediocre team. Well, i mean we were working towards being mediocre, its a long road to the top you know. What a crock of shit.

Blackouts are nothing new. Been doing it for YEARS. I think the Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Oilers playoff game where the Bills made that historic comeback was also blacked out.

DAnger, this is the reason your city might not have a football team very soon. Jacksonville has poor ticket sales. Even playoff games don't sell out.

sorry about calling you "son"

Yah, it's sh1tty, no doubt.

Can you still get the game if you have Direct TV or if you are a Sports Bar? I think so.

I remember back when the Raiders were in the Coliseum they never sold out. Were they ever on TV there?

Im in the same boat as you, wanna support the jags. but cant watch a game withou paying 15 for parking 50 for a ticket 100 for hot dog lol. I hate this shit wanted to watch the game today couldnt even find a stream . o well something is telling we might not have a team next year

If LA can get some money to get a stadium built that would be a nice place to move the team to. The other owners would love that too.

Yeah Jacksonville is in serious trouble,I live about 2 hours from the stadium and they have next to no support in my area. Not good.

i didnt take offense.

Rarely. I remember a playoff game being blacked out when I was a kid and listening to the game on the radio.

The other blackout rule that's fucked is not allowing the competing network to show a game while the "local" game is on. I've never understood the parameters of that rule, but a bunch of times we miss out on the double header game because the local boys are on. I understand this really sucks (or at least used to) in the NY / NJ area

While not the cause or result of blackouts, I don't like having to watch the Texans game week in and week out just cause I live in TX.

That is exactly why I hope the NFL doesn't come back to LA.

Sunday ticket is the answer. It pays for itself when you think about what you would spend at a sports bar.

I hear you, I always hated it as a Cards fan (although it was merciful at times not being able to watch them) because up until 3 years ago with the new stadium EVERY game since i lived in Phoenix since 94 was blacked out except for a Cowboys game or two. What they should do these days is offer it on PPV cheap like the used to do with home B-ball games back in the 90's. 5.99 or something and make up that lost revenue that way. People will buy it. They probably won't ever do away with it but that might be a reasonable alternative.

Maybe they black out the games because NFL is garbage and all the young dudes are watching Rooney in the Premier League.

Yes, the more I think about it thats probably it.

Well done me.

Article on the Jacksonville situation:

NFL has no business being...

Yes, and NBA League Pass. They are both the shit. You get so much extra content beyond the games too.

Boxing NEEDS a network like this.

Sunday Ticket ruined my interest in football. I got it thrown in with the Dish a few years back and I couldn't stop flipping the damn channel. I would have to leave the house and go do something else.

Once I got rid of the Dish I got back in the groove. The Steelers always sell out so it's a non issue

Yup, the Ravens sell out no matter what our record is. I do remember as a kid having to listen to games on the radio because Memorial stadium was desolate. But that was the faggot ass Colts, so it doesn't count.

having lived in no cal for 8 years, I always saw raider fans that lived in L.A as poor misguided ignorant souls....

so what difference would it make if they could'nt see them play ?

49ers games never blacked out, even during the shit periods post-Steve Young under Erickson and Nolan.

Raiders games blacked out often, and it seemed during those times a lot more people I know were going to the games because of that so it seemed to serve its purpose.

Man it must suck to be so big a fan of a team that's so bad it gets blacked out, that you shell out a nice piece of change to go to the game and watch them get shitted on live and uncut.

FYI, if you have the DirecTV Sunday Ticket, your local game will still be blacked out if it doesn't sell:

DirecTV Sunday Ticket Blackout Rules

Bummer

The week 1 game was almost blacked out in Phoenix but the NFL gave us an extension. Kind of sad for a team that has a new stadium and just played in the Superbowl.

The fans really need to put up the dough when that happens. They have an out if their team's shitty, but a super bowl runner-up?

Doesn't bother me since I'm a Raider fan and live in LA. Go to the home games in Oak and the away games get televised on Sunday Ticket.

with the state of the economy it does make the league look selfish !

Agreed I don't see how they get away with this shit I love the NFL but this is just wrong it's gotta suck to be in those markets

Another thing is that NFL needs to make the experience of going to the game better. Everyone has a HDTV now, which makes watching the game better at home. Why go to the game when you can watch it on HD and flip around to other games and not have to pay $10 for a beer.

Well if you remember right you will remember we had to get an extension for the Atlanta game as well during the playoffs.

Lot's of what happens in Phoenix esp with the cards is how many people are from the other state. Like with Green Bay, Vikings, Eagles, Dallas and stuff 1/3 of the stadium will be fans of those teams are more. I went to the Dallas game last year and it was about 60/40 red to blue.

I usually go to one game a year, it is about all I can afford. We have had 3 straight sellout years though since the new stadium owned so not so bad and that includes the last year Green was there.