What does the blackout rule mean?

[dargonking999]

All Kickoff Weekend games sold out
(Sept. 8, 2006) -- For the second consecutive year, all 16 games of the NFL's Kickoff Weekend have sold out in advance of the local TV blackout deadline, enabling every game to be televised in the home-team market, the NFL announced.
The Miami at Pittsburgh game on Sept. 7 was sold out and televised by NBC's Pittsburgh affiliate WPXI-TV.
This will be the third Kickoff Weekend in NFL history to have blackouts lifted for all games. They were lifted on the weekend of Sept. 6-7 in 1998, and last year on Sept. 8, 11-12.
It will be the 14th time in NFL history that blackouts have been lifted for all games on a single weekend since the blackout policy took effect in 1973. The previous 13 times have been on Kickoff Weekend in 1998; three times in 2000; once in 2001; and four times in 2002 and 2005.
The NFL blackout policy states that games sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff can be televised in the home city.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9647089

So if a team doenst sell out, you cant see them on TV? Man thats some BS

 

[DragonCowboy]

All Kickoff Weekend games sold out [URL="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/sponsorships.nfl.com/fs/stories;arena=nfl;feat=stories;type=psa;user=Anonymous;cust=no;vip=no;sz=150x30;tile=5;ord=476891157769398?"]http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/sponsorships.nfl.com/fs/stories;arena=nfl;feat=stories;type=psa;user=Anonymous;cust=no;vip=no;sz=150x30;tile=5;ord=476891157769398?[/URL]
(Sept. 8, 2006) -- For the second consecutive year, all 16 games of the NFL's Kickoff Weekend have sold out in advance of the local TV blackout deadline, enabling every game to be televised in the home-team market, the NFL announced.
The Miami at Pittsburgh game on Sept. 7 was sold out and televised by NBC's Pittsburgh affiliate WPXI-TV.
This will be the third Kickoff Weekend in NFL history to have blackouts lifted for all games. They were lifted on the weekend of Sept. 6-7 in 1998, and last year on Sept. 8, 11-12.
It will be the 14th time in NFL history that blackouts have been lifted for all games on a single weekend since the blackout policy took effect in 1973. The previous 13 times have been on Kickoff Weekend in 1998; three times in 2000; once in 2001; and four times in 2002 and 2005.
The NFL blackout policy states that games sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff can be televised in the home city.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9647089

So if a team doenst sell out, you cant see them on TV? Man thats some BS

Yeah, I remember wanting to see some game when I was little, and it was blacked out.

 

[Glenn Carano]

All Kickoff Weekend games sold out [URL="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/sponsorships.nfl.com/fs/stories;arena=nfl;feat=stories;type=psa;user=Anonymous;cust=no;vip=no;sz=150x30;tile=5;ord=476891157769398?"]http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/sponsorships.nfl.com/fs/stories;arena=nfl;feat=stories;type=psa;user=Anonymous;cust=no;vip=no;sz=150x30;tile=5;ord=476891157769398?[/URL]
(Sept. 8, 2006) -- For the second consecutive year, all 16 games of the NFL's Kickoff Weekend have sold out in advance of the local TV blackout deadline, enabling every game to be televised in the home-team market, the NFL announced.
The Miami at Pittsburgh game on Sept. 7 was sold out and televised by NBC's Pittsburgh affiliate WPXI-TV.
This will be the third Kickoff Weekend in NFL history to have blackouts lifted for all games. They were lifted on the weekend of Sept. 6-7 in 1998, and last year on Sept. 8, 11-12.
It will be the 14th time in NFL history that blackouts have been lifted for all games on a single weekend since the blackout policy took effect in 1973. The previous 13 times have been on Kickoff Weekend in 1998; three times in 2000; once in 2001; and four times in 2002 and 2005.
The NFL blackout policy states that games sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff can be televised in the home city.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9647089

So if a team doenst sell out, you cant see them on TV? Man thats some BS

Yep, that's it. For example, if the Bills don't sell out their 80,000 seat stadium 72 hours before kickoff, they're blacked out in the Buffalo area and will not be shown on TV. Same for all teams.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Yep, it happened one time or another in the 80s I remember. Most of the time the Cowboys will just buy the difference to prevent a blackout.

- Mike G.

 

[bobtheflob]

It happened in Arizona a lot last year I think, I guess the new stadium + Edge solved that for now at least.

 

[cowboygolfer]

It happened in Arizona a lot last year I think, I guess the new stadium + Edge solved that for now at least.

Which means fewer Cowboys games this year without the Ticket.

I love me some Arizona Cardinal Blackout. (not this year I guess)

 

[big dog cowboy]

So if a team doenst sell out, you cant see them on TV? Man thats some BS

Why should the game be on TV if it doesn't sell out?

 

[StevenOtero]

If you want more information. Here is an article on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_(broadcasting)

 

[dargonking999]

what does winkpedia answer everything now jeez :

 

[DragonCowboy]

I guess they're saying, "If you're in the area, why don't you just go buy a ticket?"

For those who aren't local, it's possible to see the game, because they can't possibly go to the game.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

I like the blackout rule. I wish it was actually not lifted.

If you cant sell out your stadium for the first game of the season, your city shouldnt have a team.

Once fans started realizing that they wouldnt be able to see the game unless they went to a sports bar or had the ticket, they might actually put their butts in the seats and support the team (if they can afford to of course).

 

[EastDallasCowboy]

It's a nice theory.

But with $50 being the basic minimum for an NFL game per a person, plus $10 for parking....it gets so damn expensive. Especially for a venue as horribly uncomfortable and inconvenient as Texas Stadium.

I'm sure I'll do my 1 game this year, but that's it for me. I love the legend of Texas Stadium, but I freaking hate going to it.

 

[Smith22]

It's a nice theory.

But with $50 being the basic minimum for an NFL game per a person, plus $10 for parking....it gets so damn expensive. Especially for a venue as horribly uncomfortable and inconvenient as Texas Stadium.

I'm sure I'll do my 1 game this year, but that's it for me. I love the legend of Texas Stadium, but I freaking hate going to it.

And ticket prices just continue to go up. I think the skins lead the league in raising prices this year, by 17.2% or something like that.

 

[EastDallasCowboy]

To be honest, I wouldn't mind paying $100 for a ticket if it was a comfortable seat, with good sight lines, and without a 2 mile walk to the stadium.

I've never been to FedEx, so I'm not sure about the facilities there.

Basically, to me, it comes down to this.

At home, my only cost is $10 for a 12 pack and $10 for some fried chicken or other gameday food. For that, I get the early game, the late game, and the night game. I also have the games on the other network. And on top of that, I have ready access to all the chat rooms, messageboards, and most importantly fantasy football scores I could want.

I want the stadium to give me an experience better than that, if they want $60 from me (plus drinks). I go once a year for the live experience and tailgating, but ultimately I always end up wishing I'd just enjoyed it at home.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

And ticket prices just continue to go up. I think the skins lead the league in raising prices this year, by 17.2% or something like that.

They do, but they are still not as expensive as going to a Patriots game. Nor is the place as inconvenient. Commanders havent raised prices for about 5 years or so also.

You can get seats at FedEx for 30 bucks or so (lower level, partially obstructed view), but still parking is 30 bucks or so per game.

 

[EastDallasCowboy]

Thirty Dollar Parking?!?!???

 

[Smith22]

They do, but they are still not as expensive as going to a Patriots game. Nor is the place as inconvenient. Commanders havent raised prices for about 5 years or so also.

You can get seats at FedEx for 30 bucks or so (lower level, partially obstructed view), but still parking is 30 bucks or so per game.

NE is the only team above you my friend.

New England $90.89
Washington $79.13
Chicago $77.78
N.Y. Giants $76.59
N.Y. Jets $74.96
Minnesota $71.32
Philadelphia $69.00
Denver $68.55
Tampa Bay $67.97
Kansas City $67.33
Dallas $66.12
St. Louis $63.71
San Francisco $63.70
San Diego $62.82

NFL Average $62.38

Oakland $62.23
Baltimore $62.01
Cincinnati $60.85
Carolina $60.44
Atlanta $60.34
Indianapolis $60.06
Miami $59.35
Pittsburgh $59.19
Green Bay $58.39
Houston $56.97
Detroit $56.90
New Orleans $54.86
Arizona $51.32
Seattle $50.46
Cleveland $48.79
Tennessee $47.82
Jacksonville $45.08
Buffalo $41.29

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Thirty Dollar Parking?!?!???

:laugh2:

Yes indeed. Actually they sell for 45 bucks a game and more sometimes.

The difference is you are right at the stadium. At Foxboro you pay 30 bucks to park and walk 1-2 miles to get to the stadium. And getting in and out of Foxboro sucks compared to FedEx. There are just so many more options.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

NE is the only team above you my friend.

New England $90.89
Washington $79.13
Chicago $77.78
N.Y. Giants $76.59
N.Y. Jets $74.96
Philadelphia $69.00

NFL Average $62.38

Baltimore $62.01
Carolina $60.44
Atlanta $60.34
Seattle $50.46
Tennessee $47.82

I knew that NE was more expensive and thats why I mentioned them.
I have been to all of these places multiple times and a few of the others (TB, MIN, DET, etc.), it was my experience that NE was the most expensive and you have proved my point valid thanks (not being sarcastic BTW).

I tell people this story all the time about Fairweather Atlanta Fans. When Vick was a rookie I went to the NE (Brady's first SB appearance) game in ATL, and bought tickets the day of the game on the 30 yard line lower level from the stadium walk up window. On the window (taped) there was a hand written note to try to provoke sales for the next Falcons home game (ironically) Vs. the Cowboys. I lived in ATL for a few years and they are the worst fans in the NFL. At the time the Falcons were only a year removed from their own SB appearance. I was shocked.

 

[Smith22]

I tell people this story all the time about Fairweather Atlanta Fans. When Vick was a rookie I went to the NE (Brady's first SB appearance) game in ATL, and bought tickets the day of the game on the 30 yard line lower level from the stadium walk up window. On the window (taped) there was a hand written note to try to provoke sales for the next Falcons home game (ironically) Vs. the Cowboys. I lived in ATL for a few years and they are the worst fans in the NFL. At the time the Falcons were only a year removed from their own SB appearance. I was shocked.

I have a friend who lives in ATL and he says the same, the fans are awful and don't really like to go to games. I believe he told me a few years back they reduced prices drastically to get fans to come to the games. May be a bit better with Vick there now, who knows...