NFL Teams Warning Of Local Game Blackouts This Season

09.03.09 | FL News Team

Football fans may have a tough time seeing their home team on television this football season. The sour economy is blamed for a drop in ticket sales, making game blackouts more likely. During a visit to the Washington Redskins, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters, quote, "it's all part of the challenges that we're seeing in the economy." NFL rules require games be blacked out in local markets if stadium seats aren't sold out 72-hours before kickoff. That's one thing the commissioner says won't change.

 

Some teams, like the San Diego Chargers, didn't even sell out pre-season games and announced this week there are still a "significant" number of tickets to be sold for regular season games. The "Sports Business Journal" said there are up to a dozen teams that may not sell out every game. Last year, only nine of 256 games weren't aired locally. That number is expected to be significantly higher this season.