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We’re only two weeks into the 2010 season and already fans from three teams have suffered blackouts.? That’s more than half the number of teams with the same fate in 2009 (which was five, by the way).
So, do us all a favor, Commissioner Goodell, and abandon the antiquated blackout policy.
First off, blacking out a game does not cause it to sell out.? I’ve never had someone say to me, “Hey, did you hear they blacked out the [insert team name here]’s game?? We’ve gotta get tickets!”? Fans simply choose to watch other games, other sports, or, in a city like San Diego, they go enjoy the millions of other things their city has to offer.
Meanwhile, gate receipts from even the most popular NFL franchises pale in comparison.? The Dallas Cowboys, who?got a shiny new stadium last year?and are arguably the most popular team in the league, only brought in $112 million in gate receipt revenue last year,nfl jerseys cheap, according to Forbes.? Then you have a team like the Detroit Lions, whose combination of poor performance on the field and location in a city hit hard by the recession left their gate receipt revenue at a?sad?$37 million.
At the time, many teams blacked out home games in their local market.? In fact, several Super Bowl games were blacked out.? Owners feared that local television would hamper ticket sales – a seemingly logical and valid concern.

This article offers the personal observations of Kristi Dosh, and does not represent the views of her law firm or its clients. Any information contained herein does not constitute legal advice. Consult your own attorney for legal advice on these matters.
The current blackout policy dates back to 1973 when President Nixon signed a law into effect that prevented owners from blacking out games unless tickets remained 72 hours prior to the game.? The intent of the law was actually to prevent owners from blacking out games that were sold out.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Second, and most interestingly, NFL owners actually make more money from television than gate receipts!? The league’s revenue from contracts with CBS, NBC, ESPN and Fox bring in approximately $95.8 million per team,nfl mens jerseys, and non-network media contracts with providers like Comcast and DirecTV give teams around another $45.8 million each.? That’s roughly $141.6 million just from television revenue.
Clearly it doesn’t look good to have a half-empty stadium on television, but the answer is not a blackout.? Punishing fans in a down economy is downright deplorable.? Did a blackout last week cause Bucs fans to flock to buy tickets?? No.? Tampa has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country right now, and has suffered the league’s largest unemployment increase in the past?five years.? Pair that with a 3-13?record in 2009, and many fans simply aren’t going to use what little discretionary money they have to go see a game.? Have the game blacked out in the local market and you only risk losing those fans forever.? You do not sell more tickets.
As the NFL stares down an uncertain future where a lockout in 2011 is a very real possibility, now is not the time to alienate fans.? The NFL will not suffer if it lifts the blackout rule, instead it will stand to gain gratitude and loyalty from fans and?stability for?its franchises.
Everyone asks, “Why does the NFL blackout games?”? The often-heard answer is “To sell tickets,football jerseys,” but it’s not the truth.
The law expired in 1975, but the NFL has been voluntarily enforcing it ever since.? Congress had the good sense to limit the lifespan of the law, whereas the NFL has not.
*Follow Kristi on Twitter @SportsBizMiss