Football McCain and fans take up the issue of NFL game blackouts

ClevelandBronco · 07-06-2013, 10:56 AM

(Could be politics; could be football.)

Sen. John McCain, fans battle NFL over blackout rule

By Brian Murphy, St. Paul Pioneer-Press

Tim Stroth grew up one town over from Ralph Wilson Stadium outside Buffalo. He bought Bills season tickets in 1989 as a Father's Day gift and estimates he has invested $30,000 watching the ups and downs of his favorite team -- four Super Bowl appearances followed by a 13-year playoff drought.

Limited mobility has prevented Norman Stroth, 86, from attending games with his son the past three seasons, during which the NFL has blacked out eight Buffalo home games because the Bills could not sell out a stadium that state and local taxpayers are subsidizing over the next 10 years to the tune of $226 million.

"Woe is me, but I don't see the logic or justification for punishing fans like my dad who can't afford the high cost of attending games or who simply want to watch their home team on TV, considering my local tax dollars are paying to operate it," Tim Stroth said in a recent interview.

"At the very least, the federal government should not be in the business of propping up blackouts."...

"..."I think that's outrageous," McCain testified May 14 during a Senate subcommittee hearing. "Now, if that stadium is not taxpayer-financed, then that owner can do anything they want to. But if the taxpayers paid for them then, by God, I think the taxpayers ought to be able to see the game whether they sell out the stadium or not..."

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/c...-over-blackout

Hydrae · 07-06-2013, 10:58 AM

**notorious** · 07-06-2013, 10:58 AM

He's right.

Mojo Jojo · 07-06-2013, 11:00 AM

Very interesting line McCain is willing to draw. Makes sense, but owners will flip out. On the flip side tax payers may be more willing to pass stadium issues knowing they will be able to see all the games. Hmmmm

ClevelandBronco · 07-06-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

He's right.

Agreed. I'm opposed to taxpayer financing of stadiums that are used almost exclusively for the benefit of a private business. Unfortunately, my opposing vote was in the minority when the taxpayers decided to rebuild Mile High/Invesco/Sports Authority Field. I don't pay for a ticket, but I am helping to pay for the presence of that team in Denver. Now, I don't particularly care that they or any other professional team are here, but IMO the repayment should be that everyone who is paying for the stadium gets to watch the games.

**petegz28** · 07-06-2013, 11:09 AM

Have to say that's a most excellent post. Tax payer stadium? Well, we get to watch on TV. Otherwise, go play in the Hunt's backyard.

**J Diddy** · 07-06-2013, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Agreed. I'm opposed to taxpayer financing of stadiums that are used almost exclusively for the benefit of a private business. Unfortunately, my opposing vote was in the minority when the taxpayers decided to rebuild Mile High/Invesco/Sports Authority Field. I don't pay for a ticket, but I am helping to pay for the presence of that team in Denver. Now, I don't particularly care that they or any other professional team are here, but IMO the repayment should be that everyone who is paying for the stadium gets to watch the games.

You don't feel that the presence of the team generates tax revenue that is used to provide services that you use?

ClevelandBronco · 07-06-2013, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

You don't feel that the presence of the team generates tax revenue that is used to provide services that you use?

Yes, the team's presence generates tax revenue and the economic ripple effect of the games is the make-or-break reason that some other businesses survive.

On the other hand, it also consumes tax resources in the form of infrastructure that wouldn't have to be built around the stadium, police presence, I don't know what the list might be.

Additionally, I believe that virtually every consumer dollar that is now spent in support of the team or the surrounding businesses that feed off the presence of the team would be spent anyway on some other form of entertainment. Perhaps we'd see the failure of businesses that exist now because of the presence of the team, but other businesses would arise to fill the vacuum, collect those available dollars and produce their own ripple effects of support businesses and tax revenue generation.

Coogs · 07-06-2013, 11:26 AM

At the very worst, they should make Sunday Ticket available to every satellite and cable outlet. Then if you have purchased the Ticket you get the game even if you live in the blackout area.

**BigMeatballDave** · 07-06-2013, 12:03 PM

The FCC is a big pile of shit.

Is there a more useless entity?

**BigMeatballDave** · 07-06-2013, 12:09 PM

Wait. Is the Blackout rule an NFL, or FCC. I assumed it was FCC.

Eh, I'm an idiot. Someone inform me.

**007** · 07-06-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

At the very worst, they should make Sunday Ticket available to every satellite and cable outlet. Then if you have purchased the Ticket you get the game even if you live in the blackout area.

It should be that way in the first place. I couldn't believe it when I found out that Sunday Ticket is still subject to local blackouts.

ClevelandBronco · 07-06-2013, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

Wait. Is the Blackout rule an NFL, or FCC. I assumed it was FCC.

Eh, I'm an idiot. Someone inform me.

It's an NFL rule.

**petegz28** · 07-06-2013, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

The FCC is a big pile of shit.

Is there a more useless entity?

**notorious** · 07-06-2013, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

It should be that way in the first place. I couldn't believe it when I found out that Sunday Ticket is still subject to local blackouts.

That's bullshit. If you pay for a product you should receive it.

07-06-2013, 10:56 AM
ClevelandBronco I'm with the banned. Join Date: Sep 2006 Casino cash: $5658955	McCain and fans take up the issue of NFL game blackouts (Could be politics; could be football.) Sen. John McCain, fans battle NFL over blackout rule By Brian Murphy, St. Paul Pioneer-Press Tim Stroth grew up one town over from Ralph Wilson Stadium outside Buffalo. He bought Bills season tickets in 1989 as a Father's Day gift and estimates he has invested $30,000 watching the ups and downs of his favorite team -- four Super Bowl appearances followed by a 13-year playoff drought. Limited mobility has prevented Norman Stroth, 86, from attending games with his son the past three seasons, during which the NFL has blacked out eight Buffalo home games because the Bills could not sell out a stadium that state and local taxpayers are subsidizing over the next 10 years to the tune of $226 million. "Woe is me, but I don't see the logic or justification for punishing fans like my dad who can't afford the high cost of attending games or who simply want to watch their home team on TV, considering my local tax dollars are paying to operate it," Tim Stroth said in a recent interview. "At the very least, the federal government should not be in the business of propping up blackouts."... "..."I think that's outrageous," McCain testified May 14 during a Senate subcommittee hearing. "Now, if that stadium is not taxpayer-financed, then that owner can do anything they want to. But if the taxpayers paid for them then, by God, I think the taxpayers ought to be able to see the game whether they sell out the stadium or not..." http://www.denverpost.com/politics/c...-over-blackout
Posts: 28,113

07-06-2013, 10:58 AM	#2
Hydrae Sandbox: Leander Lasercats Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, Tx Casino cash: $2347000
Posts: 14,686

07-06-2013, 10:58 AM	#3
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2945884	He's right.
Posts: 83,357

07-06-2013, 11:00 AM	#4
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $10013802	Very interesting line McCain is willing to draw. Makes sense, but owners will flip out. On the flip side tax payers may be more willing to pass stadium issues knowing they will be able to see all the games. Hmmmm
Posts: 3,341

07-06-2013, 11:09 AM	#6
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $2814127	Have to say that's a most excellent post. Tax payer stadium? Well, we get to watch on TV. Otherwise, go play in the Hunt's backyard.
Posts: 127,998

07-06-2013, 11:26 AM	#9
Coogs In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northern Kansas Casino cash: $1624349	At the very worst, they should make Sunday Ticket available to every satellite and cable outlet. Then if you have purchased the Ticket you get the game even if you live in the blackout area.
Posts: 21,608

07-06-2013, 12:03 PM	#10
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	The FCC is a big pile of shit. Is there a more useless entity?
Posts: 59,997

07-06-2013, 12:09 PM	#11
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	Wait. Is the Blackout rule an NFL, or FCC. I assumed it was FCC. Eh, I'm an idiot. Someone inform me.
Posts: 59,997