Chiefs Up to 12 teams (including KC) may face blackouts

MMXcalibur · 09-01-2009, 12:32 PM

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/63444

Quote:

Up to 12 NFL teams may face blackouts
Print This Story By DANIEL KAPLAN
Staff Writer

Published August 31, 2009 : Page 01
Up to four times the number of NFL teams are at risk of having at least one of their games blacked out locally when the season begins next week compared with last year, the latest sign the down economy is taking a toll on even America’s most popular sport.

According to NFL and team sources, the league showed club owners at their meeting in Chicago on Aug. 19 a video slide with the names of 10 to 12 teams that may not sell out every game. A game that is not sold out within 72 hours of kickoff cannot be broadcast locally.

Last year, only three teams — Oakland, Detroit and St. Louis — suffered blackouts. Collectively, those three teams had nine games blacked out, just one more than the eight regular-season games the Jacksonville Jaguars alone are expecting to contribute to this year’s total. The Jaguars have already said that in all likelihood no contest in their eight-game home schedule will sell out this season.

Despite the difficulty that one-third of the league’s teams is having selling out, the NFL is not contemplating amending the blackout rule, which has been in place 36 years.

“There is no consideration being given to amending the blackout policy,” wrote NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, in an e-mail. “The policy is important in supporting the ability of the clubs to sell tickets and keeping our games attractive as television programming with large crowds so we can keep all our games on free TV.”

NFL on TV
The NFL last year saw 96 percent of its games broadcast locally, with only nine of 256 regular-season games being blacked out.

Sean McManus, president of CBS Sports and CBS News, said last week that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told him that “he is not going to make any major adjustment to a rule that has lasted a long time just because of a short-term economic problem.”

When asked if CBS had concerns about blacked-out games, McManus said, “I don’t think there is any way they are going to change it, so it is pointless to talk to them about it.”

The identity of all the teams that were on the list displayed to owners is unclear, though certainly the Jaguars, Lions, Raiders and Rams have challenges. Other teams that have shown signs of struggling to sell out games ahead of the start of this season include San Diego, Miami and Minnesota, though less so now for the Vikings since the signing of Brett Favre.

What is also is surprising is the number of teams that historically have had long waiting lists and been locks for sellouts that have not fully moved all their tickets. The New York Jets just last week launched a viral marketing campaign sent to prospective ticket buyers that inserts a fan’s name into a personalized video of players and executives talking about that fan as the team’s prized acquisition. The video pitch is also accessible online, via jointhejets.com. The Dolphins have sent a similar video to potential ticket buyers.

The Kansas City Chiefs, another team with deep fan ties, also has not fully sold out all their games.

Many teams avoided blackouts in past years by having local sponsors or other companies buy up any remaining inventory, but some of those companies may not be able to afford to do so in these economic times. In addition, in some cases, the number of tickets available is more than just a few thousand.

While the prospects for this season may be dampened, historically the league is still in great shape. Only in 2002 did the league first reach the 90 percent mark for games selling out. In the 1970s, when the blackout rule was first established, more than half of the games routinely did not sell out. The league did better in the 1980s, and by the 1990s, on average about six to seven games out of 10 made their way onto local TV. By 2007, the league hit its high water mark of 97 percent, with 13 out of 17 weeks entirely sold out and only seven of the regular season’s 256 games blacked out.

, it's Chiefs related.....kinda.

**gblowfish** · 09-01-2009, 12:33 PM

By the time December rolls around and we're three and ten, this might not be a bad thing.

Demonpenz · 09-01-2009, 12:35 PM

luckily the royals sell out all their home games

CoMoChief · 09-01-2009, 12:39 PM

With the economy the way it is.....I just don't understand why people would spend lots of money to actually go to the game, drink and eat overpriced consessions and pay out the ass for parking. Yes it's a good time, but money wise, especially now, it doesn't make sense. Especially the way HDTV and DVR has impacted television and sporting events.

Mojo Jojo · 09-01-2009, 12:50 PM

The past 6 seasons the Chiefs have needed Price Chopper, Sprint and KCTV to step up and buy tickets to keep the "sell out" streak alive. Price Chopper has been replaced by Hy Vee, Sprint keeps laying off people and KCTV has a new GM coming in with no ties to the Chiefs. You have to wonder in this economy if any of these companies will be willing to buy a few thousand tickets just so a game can be on TV.

Mr. Krab · 09-01-2009, 12:51 PM

I heard the other day that the Chiefs have sold 50,000 season tickets this year.

CoMoChief · 09-01-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

The past 6 seasons the Chiefs have needed Price Chopper, Sprint and KCTV to step up and buy tickets to keep the "sell out" streak alive. Price Chopper has been replaced by Hy Vee, Sprint keeps laying off people and KCTV has a new GM coming in with no ties to the Chiefs. You have to wonder in this economy if any of these companies will be willing to buy a few thousand tickets just so a game can be on TV.

The advertising during these time blocks are huge though. But still the economy is in really bad shape so who knows.

Demonpenz · 09-01-2009, 12:52 PM

I hope they get blacked out to send a message to clark and hailey. Firing chan is NOT acceptable

**Bearcat** · 09-01-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

With the economy the way it is.....I just don't understand why people would spend lots of money to actually go to the game, drink and eat overpriced consessions and pay out the ass for parking. Yes it's a good time, but money wise, especially now, it doesn't make sense. Especially the way HDTV and DVR has impacted television and sporting events.

Yeah, the article talks about changing the blackout rule.... uh, what about lowering f***ing ticket prices?!?!

Then again, I guess as long as people are willing to throw money at the NFL...

Mojo Jojo · 09-01-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

The advertising during these time blocks are huge though. But still the economy is in really bad shape so who knows.

It isn't that much. KCTV only gets three total local breaks (@12 spots) throughout the game. The other 17 breaks (@68 spots) are national and that money goes to the network not the local affiliate or team.

modocsot · 09-01-2009, 02:03 PM

If it's blacked out locally, it's blacked out on Sunday Ticket too, right?

**morphius** · 09-01-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modocsot

If it's blacked out locally, it's blacked out on Sunday Ticket too, right?

Yes, I believe so.

Mojo Jojo · 09-01-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modocsot

If it's blacked out locally, it's blacked out on Sunday Ticket too, right?

Only if you are in the "home market". If the Chiefs are blacked out then if you have Sunday Ticket it will be blacked out in KC, Lawrence, Topeka, Columbia...
but outside of that you will still get the game.

**Bob Dole** · 09-01-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modocsot

If it's blacked out locally, it's blacked out on Sunday Ticket too, right?

Not it you are outside the network blackout area.

MVChiefFan · 09-01-2009, 02:56 PM

Is Springfield in the blackout area?

09-01-2009, 12:33 PM	#2
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16886178 VARSITY	By the time December rolls around and we're three and ten, this might not be a bad thing.
Posts: 41,016

09-01-2009, 12:35 PM	#3
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $-413864	luckily the royals sell out all their home games __________________
Posts: 54,957

09-01-2009, 12:39 PM	#4
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $7672254	With the economy the way it is.....I just don't understand why people would spend lots of money to actually go to the game, drink and eat overpriced consessions and pay out the ass for parking. Yes it's a good time, but money wise, especially now, it doesn't make sense. Especially the way HDTV and DVR has impacted television and sporting events.
Posts: 39,245

09-01-2009, 12:50 PM	#5
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $10013802	The past 6 seasons the Chiefs have needed Price Chopper, Sprint and KCTV to step up and buy tickets to keep the "sell out" streak alive. Price Chopper has been replaced by Hy Vee, Sprint keeps laying off people and KCTV has a new GM coming in with no ties to the Chiefs. You have to wonder in this economy if any of these companies will be willing to buy a few thousand tickets just so a game can be on TV.
Posts: 3,341

09-01-2009, 12:52 PM	#8
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $-413864	I hope they get blacked out to send a message to clark and hailey. Firing chan is NOT acceptable __________________
Posts: 54,957

09-01-2009, 02:03 PM	#11
modocsot Starter Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Jax, FL (Southbank) Casino cash: $3889244	If it's blacked out locally, it's blacked out on Sunday Ticket too, right?
Posts: 252

09-01-2009, 02:56 PM	#15
MVChiefFan Veteran Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Here Casino cash: $-2197525	Is Springfield in the blackout area? __________________ I haven’t slept for ten days straight… because that would be way too long.
Posts: 3,797