Blackout this Sunday? Per 810

[DeezNutz]

Frank Boal: Fox being told to prepare to put the Saint-Falcons on at noon.

Translation: The KC game will be blacked out.

[Hammock Parties]

Carl Peterson > Scott Pioli

[BigRedChief]

you knew it was coming.

[HemiEd]

That should get some of the right people's attention.

[KCUnited]

Sweet, the other team I'm rooting for - whoever is playing Atlanta!

[Iowanian]

So they're finally giving the locals a break from the beating.


This is kind of like the ref stepping in and stopping Bones Jones from dropping elbow hammers to the face of Matt Hammil.

Mercy.....mercy...

[Renegade]

Fox wouldn't show the game, it is a CBS televised game. How would this work in black out?

[Buck]

No Comment.

[the Talking Can]

the atlanta game is more relevant to our future anyways

[Dark Horse]

finaly some positive Chiefs news.

[Frazod]

Fox wouldn't show the game, it is a CBS televised game. How would this work in black out?

Basically it means there will be no CBS game because of the blackout. The Fox game probably wouldn't have been aired, but now it will just so there will be a football game on at noon.

[Reerun_KC]

Thank you Sunday Ticket! I am stoked about the game coming up...

[CoMoChief]

Well, can't say that I'm surprised. We're fucking garbage of a team, so are the Bills, it's getting colder, no one wants to go to Arrowhead and spend shit tons of money to watch shitty football when they can watch it on HDTV at home for free. HDTV is also hurting season ticket sales as well in this economy

[CoMoChief]

Thank you Sunday Ticket! I am stoked about the game coming up...

Sunday Ticket would have the game blacked out too you know.

[DeezNutz]

Basically it means there will be no CBS game because of the blackout. The Fox game probably wouldn't have been aired, but now it will just so there will be a football game on at noon.

Yep. It's a CBS double-header, and Fox wouldn't compete against the Chiefs game.

If the Chiefs were on, Fox could televise Oakland or STL in the afternoon.

[DeezNutz]

Oh, and remember that nothing is definite, yet. Early speculation and rumblings about what FOX4 has heard. Thus the question mark in the thread title.

[007]

fear mongering.

[alpha_omega]

Oh well, i have other things to do this Sunday anyway....

[Frazod]

The sad part is they'll probably win.

[HemiEd]

Sunday Ticket would have the game blacked out too you know.

In Guthrie, Oklahoma? I would be surprised by that. How big do they consider the KC market? Dallas would be the only one blacked out in Oklahoma, I would think.

[Cardinal Ry]

If you have the Ticket SuperFan, you can get it on your computer or your cell phone. Not that it would be worth the trouble.

[Reerun_KC]

Sunday Ticket would have the game blacked out too you know.

Maybe in KC, but not in OKC....:D

[penguinz]

It won't be blacked out.

[HMc]

Sunday Ticket would have the game blacked out too you know.

350 miles away in Guthrie. OK?

[morphius]

I thought I heard them say 3500 tickets need to be sold, who knows if that will happen though.

[Stinger]

Not for those of us outside the local station radius, but still close enought to get the game.

[Cannibal]

Arrowhead home games have been half empty for the better part of a decade.

[Renegade]

Well it appears that CBS has the double header, with the entire country seeing SD@ the cowgirls. Fox has only one game, and for most of us it the Rams. That would be nice to watch the Saints instead of the Rams.

This is according to the nfl coverage maps. Sorry I can't post the link, as I don't have the rights to yet.

[|Zach|]

Chiefs still need to sell 3,500 tickets for Sunday's game vs. Buffalo to avoid local TV blackout - http://bit.ly/7q9xVP

[CaliforniaChief]

The way it works, as best I understand, is that any CBS affiliate who broadcast to homes within 75 miles of the stadium would not be able to show the game. So for instance, if Wichita had an affiliate who reached households within 75 miles of Arrowhead, NONE of the Wichita affiliate's viewers (including Sunday Ticket Subscribers) could watch the game.

I researched this when the Chiefs Chargers game was nearly blacked out. Even in northern LA county I couldn't have watched the game because we are covered by the Los Angeles affiliate who broadcasts to within 75 miles of Crapcomm Stadium.

[Donger]

Chiefs still need to sell 3,500 tickets for Sunday's game vs. Buffalo to avoid local TV blackout - http://bit.ly/7q9xVP

Why wouldn't they just give them away at this point to avoid that?

[gblowfish]

AFC vs AFC games are on CBS, so KCTV channel 5 would probably buy up any extra tix to make sure the game plays. Otherwise, they lose all the sponsorship dollars.

[Buck]

Why wouldn't they just give them away at this point to avoid that?

And upset the 70,000 other fans who paid full price?

Plus NFL laws say you cannot. Someone has to purchase them.

[Phobia]

Why wouldn't they just give them away at this point to avoid that?

Heh heh. That's what they'll do but they don't want anybody to know that. The tix I had last week were comps.

[Bob Dole]

Sunday Ticket would have the game blacked out too you know.

Not outside of the KC market.

[DeezNutz]

If the 3500 number is accurate, no chance this game is off air.

[SDChiefs]

So they're finally giving the locals a break from the beating.


This is kind of like the ref stepping in and stopping Bones Jones from dropping elbow hammers to the face of Matt Hammil.

Mercy.....mercy...

That was brutal. Ive never seen the Hammer get pounded like that. Should have been a no contest though. Don't think they should have DQd Jones.

[Spott]

The good news it that it's a low profile game and it will be better to watch online because the bandwidth gets taken up when they play a bigger opponent like Dallas or Pittsburgh. I'm going to miss it anyways because I'll be at the blacked out Dolphins/Jags game on Sunday which is their 9th blackout this year.

[googlegoogle]

Carl Peterson > Scott Pioli

close to getting neg rep there.

[Buck]

Heh heh. That's what they'll do but they don't want anybody to know that. The tix I had last week were comps.

Technically they would have to purchase the tickets from themselves to do that.

I know a little too much about Blackout Rules living in San Diego.

[Fish]

Why wouldn't they just give them away at this point to avoid that?

And give fans the idea that if the product sucks, the price goes down?

That's a scary seed to plant for those making money off the team....

[Micjones]

It's Tuesday... I doubt seriously that this is in stone.
The deadline is Thursday isn't it?

[FAX]

I'm curious as to the ramifications of a blackout. The Chiefs lose revenue, correct? I mean, other than the ticket sales, right? They generate revenue from the television advertising?

I'm wondering what pressure (if any) blackouts might exert on Clark & Pioli to ramp up and renew their efforts to improve the team? Anyone know?

FAX

[ChiefsCountry]

KCTV is the big loser in a blackout. Chiefs games are the highest rated programs in the market, thus they have the highest advertising rates. KCTV would lose a ton of a money if the Chiefs are off the air, they lose ratings thus they lose advertising dollars as well, since they can't replace the game with another NFL game.

[Donger]

Heh heh. That's what they'll do but they don't want anybody to know that. The tix I had last week were comps.

Tickets that someone had purchased and gave you? I'd think that the Chiefs could just buy them.

[Phobia]

I'm curious as to the ramifications of a blackout. The Chiefs lose revenue, correct? I mean, other than the ticket sales, right? They generate revenue from the television advertising?

I'm wondering what pressure (if any) blackouts might exert on Clark & Pioli to ramp up and renew their efforts to improve the team? Anyone know?

FAX

The Chiefs don't lose any revenue. CBS has already bought and paid for the rights NFL-wide. But the Chiefs have and will cooperate with CBS to make sure it airs.

[Phobia]

Tickets that someone had purchased and gave you? I'd think that the Chiefs could just buy them.

No. The tickets had $00.00 face value on them. That means they're comps. They're comping tickets to their sponsors to prevent blackouts. I ended up with 7 of them.

[Donger]

No. The tickets had $00.00 face value on them. That means they're comps. They're comping tickets to their sponsors to prevent blackouts. I ended up with 7 of them.

Someone just told me that was against NFL rules.

[kcfanXIII]

well, i wish they'd quit teasing us, and just black this shit out already. i'd love to watch good teams play at this point rather than watching the chiefs shart all over themselves week in and week out.

[Frazod]

Someone just told me that was against NFL rules.

It should be against NFL rules to actually charge people to watch this shit team in the first place.

[Phobia]

Someone just told me that was against NFL rules.
Heh. Of course it is. So are a lot of other things.

[memyselfI]

Sad. When was the last blackout? I remember the stadium being nearly empty with a few thousand people with bags on their heads and the games were on TV? Right, or is my memory failing me?

[Skip Towne]

Welcome to the party. I've missed the last 5 games.

[Mojo Jojo]

Sad. When was the last blackout? I remember the stadium being nearly empty with a few thousand people with bags on their heads and the games were on TV? Right, or is my memory failing me?

Chiefs vs. Saints second game of the 1991 season.

[HMc]

And upset the 70,000 other fans who paid full price?

Plus NFL laws say you cannot. Someone has to purchase them.

Every pro sports event in history has had at least some people comp'd.

The only thing that changes is why and how many

[Mojo Jojo]

No. The tickets had $00.00 face value on them. That means they're comps. They're comping tickets to their sponsors to prevent blackouts. I ended up with 7 of them.

Each team is allowed to comp 16,000 tickets over the course of the regular season. That is 2,000 per game, but each team can mix and match over the course of the season just so the final number doesn't go above 16,000. Those comp numbers don't go against the blackout number, so that is 3,500 that need money on the books from someone.

It was funny as Frank was talking about the Chiefs needing to sell 3,500...KK said that Tickets For Less had tickets available for Sunday for only $19.00. If someone is looking to go Sunday are going to spend $40.00 + from the Chiefs or $19.00 from a broker?

[dirk digler]

If you have the Ticket SuperFan, you can get it on your computer or your cell phone. Not that it would be worth the trouble.

I downloaded the SuperCast program and it is awesome and it doesn't black out any games. This will work out great come Sunday

[Simply Red]

I'll tune back in, in 2010. Sorry, we're that bad and am over it.

[Mr. Laz]

Carl Peterson > Scott Piolihttp://www.funnyforumpics.com/forums/attention-whore/2/AttentionWhore-poster.jpg

[Mr. Laz]

If the 3500 number is accurate, no chance this game is off air.
nah ... station has purchased 5,000 before

[Mojo Jojo]

nah ... station has purchased 5,000 before

Maybe the station has said no and that is why the Chiefs are going public. At this point it maybe cheaper for KCTV to write a check back to the advertisers than to write a check to the Chiefs. KCTV only gets 3 of the TV timeouts per game for local spots, so KCTV does not see revenue from every spot aired during the game.

[Mr. Laz]

Maybe the station has said no and that is why the Chiefs are going public. At this point it maybe cheaper for KCTV to write a check back to the advertisers than to write a check to the Chiefs. KCTV only gets 3 of the TV timeouts per game for local spots, so KCTV does not see revenue from every spot aired during the game.
maybe ... i have no idea.

I was just agreeing that 3,500 tickets on tuesday is a definite blackout situation. The weather with effect it if it stays bad but the station has purchased more than 3,500.

[Dartgod]

I remember the stadium being nearly empty with a few thousand people with bags on their heads and the games were on TV? Right, or is my memory failing me?
That was just your family wearing bags at the request of Chiefs management.

[teedubya]

No. The tickets had $00.00 face value on them. That means they're comps. They're comping tickets to their sponsors to prevent blackouts. I ended up with 7 of them.

If you stumble upon some this weekend, let me know... I will probably be able to go

[Hammock Parties]

If you stumble upon some this weekend, let me know... I will probably be able to go

Bob Dole will have your tickets ready to go!

[Dartgod]

Bob Dole will have your tickets ready to go!ROFL

[BryanBusby]

Maybe the station has said no and that is why the Chiefs are going public. At this point it maybe cheaper for KCTV to write a check back to the advertisers than to write a check to the Chiefs. KCTV only gets 3 of the TV timeouts per game for local spots, so KCTV does not see revenue from every spot aired during the game.

Probably is a scare tactic so they can spare the extra ticket funds for a week.

[BigMeatballDave]

Carl Peterson > Scott PioliGo fuck yourself with an Auger!

[BigMeatballDave]

Sunday Ticket would have the game blacked out too you know.Heh, not out of the area, tard...

[BigMeatballDave]

It should be against NFL rules to actually charge people to watch this shit team in the first place.ROFL

[Sure-Oz]

Good, i'd rather not watch us get owned.

[LaChapelle]

THis is what happens when DIck Enberg has other commitments

[Hammock Parties]

THis is what happens when DIck Enberg has other commitments

Dick Enberg will still be there, and the game will still be broadcast.

Just not to KC.

[LaChapelle]

Dick Enberg will still be there, and the game will still be broadcast.

Just not to KC.

Enberg said he and Fouts were following the Broncos to Indy
been then he didn't know where he was Sunday

[BryanBusby]

Not this week! CBS has pulled out all the stops and unleashed the Juggernaut team of two people I've never heard of to call upon this thrilling match up consisting of two beastly teams.

[teedubya]

Bob Dole will have your tickets ready to go!

AWESOME!! Ill just wait out there by Monte!

[stlchiefs]

Can they black it out on my slingbox set up in Wichita so I don't have to sit through the agonizing 3 hours? Please, just give me an excuse.

[GloryDayz]

So they're finally giving the locals a break from the beating.


This is kind of like the ref stepping in and stopping Bones Jones from dropping elbow hammers to the face of Matt Hammil.

Mercy.....mercy...

Yeah, but Matt won because of the beating...

[GloryDayz]

No. The tickets had $00.00 face value on them. That means they're comps. They're comping tickets to their sponsors to prevent blackouts. I ended up with 7 of them.

How'd you get them? I'd like about 10 for the Browns game. Yes, we're going to go!! Sure would like to do it on the cheap!!

[Titty Meat]

Hopefully work schedules me to work sunday

[GloryDayz]

Hopefully work schedules me to work sunday

Cr@p, if you work at the stadium, do you have to show up, or can you pull the conscientious objector deal?

[Titty Meat]

Cr@p, if you work at the stadium, do you have to show up, or can you pull the conscientious objector deal?

I don't work at the stadium. It seems like those people do slave work.

[2bikemike]

It's Tuesday... I doubt seriously that this is in stone.
The deadline is Thursday isn't it?

And they usually give Teams at least a day extension. Hell I think San Diego had a 2 game extension for a prime time game.

Considering how long the sell out streak has been I would be surprised if there was not an extension. But then again the level of suckiness displayed by the Chiefs the last 2 weeks the league just might decide to save the poor souls in KC.

[GloryDayz]

I don't work at the stadium. It seems like those people do slave work.

Well you're lucky then. If you were worked like a slave, and had to watch these guys, that'd be F'in cruel...

[soundmind]

Going last week was just sad. So much so that I don't feel like going until there's a respectable team on the field. We've shown flashes of things this season, but what I saw in last week's debacle from about 20 rows up was worse than JV ball. And it was equal parts everything.

Talent, coaching, play, heart, vision, speed, power...fans....all lacking. At best the honest numbers had to be 2:1 Chiefs fans to Donkey lovers, with about 35% empty when it the crowd was at it's peak?

They have so very far to go, and the last two weeks have sealed the deal. If you think of it in terms of steps, let's say 100 for ease of use, a reasonable man would expect to have made 10 steps in a single year and under these conditions. A couple short and you're not surprised. Hit 15-20 somehow and you throw a damn party. But it seems like hell this team takes more strides backward than it does forward. I'd say right now we're maybe.....MAYBE...2 steps better than we were at the beginning of the season. 2/100. 2/10. 2 is not acceptable.

They should be blacked out, and they should be penalized for running an NFL team into the ground. Hunt should have to give Kansas City $50M, toward education, to remind them that you can't go through life with your head up your ass.

[Titty Meat]

Well you're lucky then. If you were worked like a slave, and had to watch these guys, that'd be F'in cruel...

No, but watching little league basketball games isn't much better. 11-10 games suck.

[GloryDayz]

No, but watching little league basketball games isn't much better. 11-10 games suck.

Agreed, that's why a choose to coach wrestling...

[Reerun_KC]

This is going to be a great game this sunday, too bad everyone will miss it...

[T-post Tom]

"The possibility of a blackout is caused by a combination of the current economic climate, inclement weather in December, a non-divisional opponent and our record." ~Chiefs COO Mark Donovan

ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFL

[memyselfI]

"The possibility of a blackout is caused by a combination of the current economic climate, inclement weather in December, a non-divisional opponent and our record." ~Chiefs COO Mark Donovan


http://bigpicture.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/07/26/bagdad_bob_large.gif

[FloridaMan88]

Clark will finally pay attention now.

[cjp27]

Clark was hopefully paying attention a long time ago. I don't care if you call it a sellout or not, there have been 10K + empty seats at about the last 10 home games. I think the last true sellout, not this made up sellout shit was the Green Bay game in 07.

[DaneMcCloud]

Clark will finally pay attention now.

Would you care to explain?

[Sure-Oz]

Clark will finally pay attention now.

He probably won't, i doubt he'd even know the game was blacked out.

i believe they need 4000 tickets sold by thurs or friday

[Mojo Jojo]

I heard this morning that KCTV is willing to buy some tickets for Sunday, but the Chiefs are 3,500 short of the number they need to reach for KCTV to finish the sellout. That is why there is panic at One Arrowhead Drive.

[BigRedChief]

Posted on Wed, Dec. 09, 2009
Chiefs' streak of sellouts appears doomed



By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The date was Dec. 16, 1990, when Warren Moon and the Houston Oilers rolled up 527 passing yards against the Chiefs.

A crowd of 61,756 at Arrowhead Stadium on a gray day witnessed the second-greatest passing game in NFL history. But no one else in Kansas City saw it.

The game failed to sell out, and the telecast was blacked out.
It was the last time the telecast of a Chiefs game had been blacked out locally. Until this week.

Unless Santa Claus shows up by noon today and buys the remaining 3,500 tickets for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, it will be blacked out within a 75-mile radius of Kansas City, including satellite services at sports bars. That would end a streak of 155 consecutive Chiefs games, regular-season and postseason, that have been televised locally.

It’s possible the Chiefs could ask the NFL for a 24-hour extension in an effort to preserve the streak, but it most certainly would end next week when even more tickets will be available for the final home game of the season against the one-win Cleveland Browns.

During the last few years, as the Chiefs’ fortunes on the field have faded and the season-ticket base waned, corporate sponsors and either KCTV-5 or Fox-4, whichever station had the local rights to the game, would pick up the remaining seats to assure a sellout when needed.

Every week of the season, the Chiefs telecasts are the highest-rated television show of the week in Kansas City, which justifies the stations’ decision. Even this year, during a 3-9 season, Chiefs games attract an average 54 share of all televisions in use, or 14 percent better than this time a year ago.

So again this week, KCTV took on its share of tickets, but that still left the game 3,500 shy of a sellout at the start of the week.

Consequently, the Chiefs may join four other teams — Jacksonville (six), Oakland (five), Detroit (three), and St. Louis (one) — as playing home games blacked out this season. Several others, including division-leading San Diego, Cincinnati and Arizona, have had to request 24-hour extensions from the league at different times this year to sell remaining seats for some games and avoid the blackouts.

“It’s as much the economy as it is the Chiefs,” said Robert Totsch, vice president/general manager of KCTV. “My counterparts in the television industry are facing similar blackout situations.

“From my perspective, and KCTV, we certainly don’t want to lose a Chiefs game and the audience it brings. We’ve helped them as much as we can. As unfortunate as it is, there is only so much folks can do. The underlying problem is the economy. If the Chiefs had a better record, and the weather was better and the economy was better, you’d probably see the streak continue.”

A sellout is defined by selling all non-premium and club seats. The Chiefs list Arrowhead’s capacity as 74,777 including 7,462 club and 1,771 suite/boxes, leaving 65,544 as the threshold for a sellout, less some complimentary seats, visiting-team allocation and ADA seating.
Because of the economy, the issue of blackouts throughout the NFL was a hot-button topic before the season began. A year ago, there were just nine blackouts all season, or 4 percent of the games. This year’s 15 blackouts through 13 weeks is 8 percent. That percentage is likely to rise as Jacksonville and Oakland have two more home games, including this weekend; as do Detroit and St. Louis during the final two weeks.
If all are blacked out, including the Chiefs’ last two home games, that would bring the total to 25 for the year, or about 10 percent of the 256 league games.
Brian McCarthy, NFL vice president/corporate communications, points out that as recently as 2004, 11 percent of the league’s games were blacked out; and in 1999, 16 percent were blacked out. Shortly before the Chiefs began their 155-game sellout streak, 38 percent of the league’s games were blacked out in 1989. And, McCarthy said, during 1980-85, every Chiefs home game was blacked out.

“Don’t get caught up on blackout figures,” McCarthy said. “The better question to ask is how is attendance overall? We’re down a couple of percentage points, which is in line with what we anticipated.

“Once again, it reflects the value of NFL games. In these tough economic times, the fans understand there is no better entertainment option than going to the stadium and tailgating for a couple of hours and enjoying the game with 70,000 screaming fans. And people at home are watching in record numbers. Our ratings are the most viewers in 15 years.”

Those television ratings explain why the NFL is unlikely to change the blackout policy, which went into effect in 1973. Commissioner Roger Goodell told The Star during his visit to Kansas City in October that having the blackout policy makes it possible for the NFL to televise every team’s games on free television.

NBC, CBS and Fox pony up billions of dollars in rights fees because they’re confident stadiums will be filled, which translates into appealing telecasts. NFL games on ESPN and the NFL Network are made available on over-the-air television in the cities of the participating two teams.

Royals games, in contrast, except for a rare appearance on a national network, are available in Kansas City only on a cable outlet, as are most Big 12 college football and basketball games.

“The blackout policy itself has been around for decades,” Goodell said. “It has been good for everybody. It has allowed us to keep our games on free television and reach hundreds of millions. The challenge is now staying on free television so people don’t have to buy a cable service. We’re the only league to be able to continue to do that.
“It’s a balance of trying to keep our game available on free TV to the broadest possible audience, and balance it with attracting people coming into your stadium, and to support it. We want our stadiums full. It’s great for television.”

The NFL made one concession this year to cities where games are blacked out by showing them on NFL.com on a delayed basis beginning at midnight on the day of the game, and they will remain available for 72 hours (except during the ESPN Monday night telecast).

So this Sunday, if the Chiefs are blacked out, the over-the-air games available to Kansas City viewers will be New Orleans at Atlanta at noon (Fox) and Dallas at San Diego (CBS) at 3:15.

KCTV’s Totsch is confident the blackout issue is just temporary.
“I’m confident the Chiefs will get it turned around.,” he said, “and when they do, the passion for buying those tickets and being in that stadium is going to come right back. I don’t see this as a long-term thing.”

[MVChiefFan]

Posted on Wed, Dec. 09, 2009
Chiefs' streak of sellouts appears doomed



By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The date was Dec. 16, 1990, when Warren Moon and the Houston Oilers rolled up 527 passing yards against the Chiefs.

A crowd of 61,756 at Arrowhead Stadium on a gray day witnessed the second-greatest passing game in NFL history. But no one else in Kansas City saw it.

The game failed to sell out, and the telecast was blacked out.
It was the last time the telecast of a Chiefs game had been blacked out locally. Until this week.

Unless Santa Claus shows up by noon today and buys the remaining 3,500 tickets for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, it will be blacked out within a 75-mile radius of Kansas City, including satellite services at sports bars. That would end a streak of 155 consecutive Chiefs games, regular-season and postseason, that have been televised locally.

It’s possible the Chiefs could ask the NFL for a 24-hour extension in an effort to preserve the streak, but it most certainly would end next week when even more tickets will be available for the final home game of the season against the one-win Cleveland Browns.

During the last few years, as the Chiefs’ fortunes on the field have faded and the season-ticket base waned, corporate sponsors and either KCTV-5 or Fox-4, whichever station had the local rights to the game, would pick up the remaining seats to assure a sellout when needed.

Every week of the season, the Chiefs telecasts are the highest-rated television show of the week in Kansas City, which justifies the stations’ decision. Even this year, during a 3-9 season, Chiefs games attract an average 54 share of all televisions in use, or 14 percent better than this time a year ago.

So again this week, KCTV took on its share of tickets, but that still left the game 3,500 shy of a sellout at the start of the week.

Consequently, the Chiefs may join four other teams — Jacksonville (six), Oakland (five), Detroit (three), and St. Louis (one) — as playing home games blacked out this season. Several others, including division-leading San Diego, Cincinnati and Arizona, have had to request 24-hour extensions from the league at different times this year to sell remaining seats for some games and avoid the blackouts.

“It’s as much the economy as it is the Chiefs,” said Robert Totsch, vice president/general manager of KCTV. “My counterparts in the television industry are facing similar blackout situations.

“From my perspective, and KCTV, we certainly don’t want to lose a Chiefs game and the audience it brings. We’ve helped them as much as we can. As unfortunate as it is, there is only so much folks can do. The underlying problem is the economy. If the Chiefs had a better record, and the weather was better and the economy was better, you’d probably see the streak continue.”

A sellout is defined by selling all non-premium and club seats. The Chiefs list Arrowhead’s capacity as 74,777 including 7,462 club and 1,771 suite/boxes, leaving 65,544 as the threshold for a sellout, less some complimentary seats, visiting-team allocation and ADA seating.
Because of the economy, the issue of blackouts throughout the NFL was a hot-button topic before the season began. A year ago, there were just nine blackouts all season, or 4 percent of the games. This year’s 15 blackouts through 13 weeks is 8 percent. That percentage is likely to rise as Jacksonville and Oakland have two more home games, including this weekend; as do Detroit and St. Louis during the final two weeks.
If all are blacked out, including the Chiefs’ last two home games, that would bring the total to 25 for the year, or about 10 percent of the 256 league games.
Brian McCarthy, NFL vice president/corporate communications, points out that as recently as 2004, 11 percent of the league’s games were blacked out; and in 1999, 16 percent were blacked out. Shortly before the Chiefs began their 155-game sellout streak, 38 percent of the league’s games were blacked out in 1989. And, McCarthy said, during 1980-85, every Chiefs home game was blacked out.

“Don’t get caught up on blackout figures,” McCarthy said. “The better question to ask is how is attendance overall? We’re down a couple of percentage points, which is in line with what we anticipated.

“Once again, it reflects the value of NFL games. In these tough economic times, the fans understand there is no better entertainment option than going to the stadium and tailgating for a couple of hours and enjoying the game with 70,000 screaming fans. And people at home are watching in record numbers. Our ratings are the most viewers in 15 years.”

Those television ratings explain why the NFL is unlikely to change the blackout policy, which went into effect in 1973. Commissioner Roger Goodell told The Star during his visit to Kansas City in October that having the blackout policy makes it possible for the NFL to televise every team’s games on free television.

NBC, CBS and Fox pony up billions of dollars in rights fees because they’re confident stadiums will be filled, which translates into appealing telecasts. NFL games on ESPN and the NFL Network are made available on over-the-air television in the cities of the participating two teams.

Royals games, in contrast, except for a rare appearance on a national network, are available in Kansas City only on a cable outlet, as are most Big 12 college football and basketball games.

“The blackout policy itself has been around for decades,” Goodell said. “It has been good for everybody. It has allowed us to keep our games on free television and reach hundreds of millions. The challenge is now staying on free television so people don’t have to buy a cable service. We’re the only league to be able to continue to do that.
“It’s a balance of trying to keep our game available on free TV to the broadest possible audience, and balance it with attracting people coming into your stadium, and to support it. We want our stadiums full. It’s great for television.”

The NFL made one concession this year to cities where games are blacked out by showing them on NFL.com on a delayed basis beginning at midnight on the day of the game, and they will remain available for 72 hours (except during the ESPN Monday night telecast).

So this Sunday, if the Chiefs are blacked out, the over-the-air games available to Kansas City viewers will be New Orleans at Atlanta at noon (Fox) and Dallas at San Diego (CBS) at 3:15.

KCTV’s Totsch is confident the blackout issue is just temporary.
“I’m confident the Chiefs will get it turned around.,” he said, “and when they do, the passion for buying those tickets and being in that stadium is going to come right back. I don’t see this as a long-term thing.”

I hate it for folks in KC but I guess this means we'll see it here in Springfield. I wasn't so sure about it, but now I'm happy...yeah I know I'm a glutton for punishment.

[soundmind]

"Everybody has heard of the salary cap but there is also a salary floor. The Chiefs have barely made the salary floor. With the exception of 6 winning years in the early 90's and 3 years under Vermeil in the 2000's, this organization has been Clipper-esque in their futility for 40 years. Lamar Hunt got a complete free pass because he was portrayed as a gentile old man that you can't criticize. These owners are going to kill the golden goose. They have priced the tickets out of range for their most passionate fans. The Chiefs are among the worst of the culprits and now they got the perfect storm on their hands. They've kept raising prices despite being awful. Next season their refurbished stadium (taxpayer funded because dumb ass Jackson County voters approved it, believing the Chiefs scare-tactics) will be done and they will really raise the ticket prices in this economy and despite the fact they will suck for the foreseeable future. The GREED of NFL owners knows no bounds and they are on their way to becoming the MLB."
- reader comment @ PFT thread about KC Blackout. (http://www.profootballtalk.com)

I read this and just kind of thought...."yep".

[GloryDayz]

I heard this morning that KCTV is willing to buy some tickets for Sunday, but the Chiefs are 3,500 short of the number they need to reach for KCTV to finish the sellout. That is why there is panic at One Arrowhead Drive.

Yeah, they've got a lot more to panic about than 3,500 tickets though.

[Stewie]

So again this week, KCTV took on its share of tickets, but that still left the game 3,500 shy of a sellout at the start of the week.


Wow! Channel 5 bought their allotment and they're still short? That would be a double-whammy. A bunch of expensive tickets bought and no ad revenue if it's blacked out. Ouch!

[BigRedChief]

So again this week, KCTV took on its share of tickets, but that still left the game 3,500 shy of a sellout at the start of the week.


Wow! Channel 5 bought their allotment and they're still short? That would be a double-whammy. A bunch of expensive tickets bought and no ad revenue if it's blacked out. Ouch!
thats a bunch in the gut of the financial bottom line.

[keg in kc]

Years and years overdue.

[MMXcalibur]

Good....hopefully there's a total of 12 people in the stands when they play the Browns next week.

Unfortunately, I can't say "no" to watching a Chiefs game....so I'll be at a sports bar here in the Colorado Springs area with my Joe Montana jersey on....crying in my chili cheese fries......

[soundmind]

So again this week, KCTV took on its share of tickets, but that still left the game 3,500 shy of a sellout at the start of the week.

Wow! Channel 5 bought their allotment and they're still short? That would be a double-whammy. A bunch of expensive tickets bought and no ad revenue if it's blacked out. Ouch!

Yep. Whoever okayed that move was just fired, or at a minimum threatened like hell. They know what they can spend and did so before they new it would seal the deal.

I don't give a f*ck about CBS though, who cares? Lose $30M, it won't change anything for them. What I think should be done however, boycott the damn stadium. Don't give them a dime until they do something to better that damn team. They want to blackout the game as a strongarm to the fan? Fine, then I'll watch all the other games from the warmth of my home....and so will all my friends and family....and we won't spend a dime anywhere near Arrowhead. Clark will "get the hint" when retards stop paying his bills.

[Demonpenz]

people were giving up their tickets in 03 and 04 and it's just now getting to black out status

[BigRedChief]

Went and looked at ticketmaster and they have publically available tickets on the 50 yard line, 28 rows back in the lower level for sale.

Section
Row
Seats
Description
101
28
23 - 24
Price Level 3
LOWER LEVEL
VISITOR'S BENCH SIDE

Type
All tickets

Ticket Price
US $145.00 x 2

https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/905/10m/origin.media.ticketmaster.com/en-us/css/img/sys/common_new/edp/icn_close.gif Price Details



Convenience Charge
US $10.30 x 2


SUBTOTAL
US $310.60

[soundmind]

Went and looked at ticketmaster and they have publically available tickets on the 50 yard line, 28 rows back in the lower level for sale.

Section
Row
Seats
Description
101
28
23 - 24
Price Level 3
LOWER LEVEL
VISITOR'S BENCH SIDE

Type
All tickets

Ticket Price
US $145.00 x 2

https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/905/10m/origin.media.ticketmaster.com/en-us/css/img/sys/common_new/edp/icn_close.gif Price Details



Convenience Charge
US $10.30 x 2


SUBTOTAL
US $310.60

I wouldn't pay $40 for those tickets, so that I could pay $20 to park, and another $7/beverage, so that I could freeze while watching a team I love die. We are officially a "once-proud" franchise....as in, don't hold your breath, they're busy building the team in the image of the Royals.

F*ck em, let Clark pay the bill this week.

[Bearcat]

Eh, the blackout rules have enough extensions and loopholes that I won't be surprised at all if it's on TV... and when they're out of loopholes and extensions, they seem to just look the other way... and I don't think KCTV would have bought the tickets if they weren't sure it would be televised. Of course, it's all about selling tickets, so they aren't going to tell you that...

[BigRedChief]

Ebay:
http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif<WBR>2 Tickets Bills @ Chiefs Lower Level Sideline Seats (http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Tickets-Bills-Chiefs-Lower-Level-Sideline-Seats_W0QQitemZ270498809814QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Tickets_all_in_one?hash=item3efafc47d6)
Bench Seating Lowers Buffalo Bills @ KC Tix Midfield!


Number of Tickets: 2

Seating: Section 132, Row 3

$45 for both and no takers.

[Bearcat]

I wouldn't pay $40 for those tickets, so that I could pay $20 to park, and another $7/beverage, so that I could freeze while watching a team I love die. We are officially a "once-proud" franchise....as in, don't hold your breath, they're busy building the team in the image of the Royals.

F*ck em, let Clark pay the bill this week.

They're now saying 46 degrees Sunday, so at least you won't freeze. ;)

I paid face value for mine, but it's contributing to the higher education of others, so it's okay...

[Bearcat]

Ebay:
http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif<WBR>2 Tickets Bills @ Chiefs Lower Level Sideline Seats (http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Tickets-Bills-Chiefs-Lower-Level-Sideline-Seats_W0QQitemZ270498809814QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Tickets_all_in_one?hash=item3efafc47d6)
Bench Seating Lowers Buffalo Bills @ KC Tix Midfield!


Number of Tickets: 2

Seating: Section 132, Row 3

$45 for both and no takers.

LOL... they're midfield, we'll even show you the seating chart! Just don't look at it!

[soundmind]

LOL... they're midfield, we'll even show you the seating chart! Just don't look at it!

"2 Tickets Buffalo Bills @ Chiefs Lower Level Seats...Terrell Owens"

Why in the hell would you advertise Terrible Owens if you were trying to actually sell the tickets? Unless of course you're marketing toward ninja assassins.....

[Mojo Jojo]

Eh, the blackout rules have enough extensions and loopholes that I won't be surprised at all if it's on TV... and when they're out of loopholes and extensions, they seem to just look the other way... and I don't think KCTV would have bought the tickets if they weren't sure it would be televised. Of course, it's all about selling tickets, so they aren't going to tell you that...

KCTV isn't on the hook for the tickets or money UNTIL the Chiefs sell a certain number. At that point KCTV buys the tickets to guarantee the sell out. So as of right now KCTV hasn't spent a dime on Sunday.

[BigRedChief]

KCTV isn't on the hook for the tickets or money UNTIL the Chiefs sell a certain number. At that point KCTV buys the tickets to guarantee the sell out. So as of right now KCTV hasn't spent a dime on Sunday.That would make sense. If you sell X # of tickets we will buy X # of tickets to put it over the top.

[Bearcat]

KCTV isn't on the hook for the tickets or money UNTIL the Chiefs sell a certain number. At that point KCTV buys the tickets to guarantee the sell out. So as of right now KCTV hasn't spent a dime on Sunday.

That makes sense... I knew it had to be more logical than "KCTV bought a bunch of tickets, but still might not televise the game."

[GloryDayz]

people were giving up their tickets in 03 and 04 and it's just now getting to black out status

I was one of those who gave them up. However I'm not surprised. Unlike many other cities, there's not as much (I didn't say nothing!!!) to do in the KC area on Sunday afternoons. So the fans end up being very loyal, in some part due to lack of choice. Add to that if this team is great, you get some super fans. I hope they do the right thing and bring in a head coach who isn't washed up, but has a proven track record of playoff wins, and let him loose. But I won't really know if the game is blacked-out, I had already made other plans. Wow, what a difference a few years makes...

[Mojo Jojo]

I was one of those who gave them up. However I'm not surprised. Unlike many other cities, there's not as much (I didn't say nothing!!!) to do in the KC area on Sunday afternoons. So the fans end up being very loyal, in some part due to lack of choice. Add to that if this team is great, you get some super fans. I hope they do the right thing and bring in a head coach who isn't washed up, but has a proven track record of playoff wins, and let him loose. But I won't really know if the game is blacked-out, I had already made other plans. Wow, what a difference a few years makes...

Not that I don't agree with a lot of what you said, but between 1972 and late 1989 people in KC found plenty of things to do on Sunday's besides go to Arrowhead. Let's be honest...KC is not a great sports town...we follow winners and ignore losers. The "great Chiefs fans" that national media talks(ed) about were a product of Carl's business model and Marty's coaching. Without those two we would be behind Jax in attendance.

[BigRedChief]

Not that I don't agree with a lot of what you said, but between 1972 and late 1989 people in KC found plenty of things to do on Sunday's besides go to Arrowhead. Let's be honest...KC is not a great sports town...we follow winners and ignore losers. The "great Chiefs fans" that national media talks(ed) about were a product of Carl's business model and Marty's coaching. Without those two we would be behind Jax in attendance.sorry, but thats just not true.

[journeyscarab]

Chiefs granted extension per Looney on Twitter.

[Monty]

AWESOME!! Ill just wait out there by Monte!

Heh.....you'll be SOL as I'm watching the game this weekend from the comfort of the Man Cave.... :toast:

[Mojo Jojo]

sorry, but thats just not true.

Sorry, but it is. The Chiefs were a laughing stock on the field...had no business plan or direction and had turnstile attendance below 10,000 at times during the 80's.

A new business attitude and winning came to town and suddenly KC became a football destination.