Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, citing the dismal economy, calls on the NFL to revise its blackout policy.
Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, citing the continuing effects of the recession gripping the nation, has called on the NFL to revise its blackout policy.Brown's hometown Cleveland Browns are playing in Tampa Bay on Sunday; the Buccaneers announced Thursday that the game would be blacked out within a 75-mile radius of Tampa as it did not sell out 72 hours in advance of kickoff, as required by the policy.
(NFL Commissioner Roger) Goodell defended the blackout policy this week as good for the league as USA today reported that as many as 11 teams -- including the Cincinnati Bengals -- could face them this season.
"During these difficult times, working families are struggling to make ends meet," Brown said. "Although appealing, attending a football game is simply cost prohibitive for too many Ohioans. The average price for an NFL game ticket is $77 – nearly ten times the hourly minimum wage. The problem will only become worse, as 18 teams have increased ticket prices for the upcoming 2010 season."
There were 22 blackouts last season, a five-year high that was up from nine the previous season.
As recently as last November, the Browns came within proverbial inches of facing a blackout when their Nov. 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland didn't sell out. ESPN, which was broadcasting the game nationally, and WJW-Channel 8, which had the local rights, teamed with sponsor Bud Light to purchase the remaining tickets so the game could make the local airwaves, according to broadcastingcable.com.