NFL should be alarmed that three of four playoff games still not sold out

[fansince'76]

...It is supposed to be a high of four degrees in Green Bay on Sunday, when the Packers play the 49ers, with a low of minus-15 degrees. Would you rather spend a few hundred dollars to sit in miserable conditions or stay at home and watch on TV, where the high-definition view is a heck of a lot better than it is better than any vantage point in the stadium?...

NFL should be alarmed that three of four playoff games, including Green Bay's home game, still not sold out

Looks like the chickens are finally beginning to come home to roost. The author can blame HDTV technology (which has been around for well over a decade now) for the reduced demand for tickets all he wants, but this is what happens when you cater to fantasy football fans at the expense of fans who actually give a damn.

It's one thing for a playoff game in Cincy to struggle to sell out, but it's a different story entirely when it happens in Green Bay, regardless of weather. Fact is, fantasy football enthusiasts who couldn't care less otherwise aren't the ones who plunk down $200+ a head for seats. I only hope that this becomes a trend that leads to the asshat getting canned as commissioner.

[Devilsdancefloor]

The News around here are all in awe that the game isnt sold out, but i really think most people know 1 and done for the colts

[Count Steeler]

The Green Bay non sell out is a head scratcher. AND Aaron is back.

[st33lersguy]

Hope it continues and leads to Goofdell getting canned

[tube517]

Good job Der Kommisar. Your flag football league is just soooooooo popular.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk

[ALLD]

Tickets are too expensive and the weather in Green Bay is forecast below zero F.

[LLT]

NFL should be alarmed that three of four playoff games, including Green Bay's home game, still not sold out

Looks like the chickens are finally beginning to come home to roost. The author can blame HDTV technology (which has been around for well over a decade now) for the reduced demand for tickets all he wants, but this is what happens when you cater to fantasy football fans at the expense of fans who actually give a damn.

It's one thing for a playoff game in Cincy to struggle to sell out, but it's a different story entirely when it happens in Green Bay, regardless of weather. Fact is, fantasy football enthusiasts who couldn't care less otherwise aren't the ones who plunk down $200+ a head for seats. I only hope that this becomes a trend that leads to the asshat getting canned as commissioner.

You and I had this conversation a few years back and we both predicted that it was just a matter of time that the true fans...who are the morter that holds the NFL fanbase together...would back away from this version of Goodellball.
The non-vested fans...and the tag-alongs...loved the passion that we had for the game....loved going to our football parties... and loved being in our fantasy football leagues.

Many of the real fans are so disgruntled that they have now backed away from those leagues... (For me it was because of the new onslaught of fans who knew NOTHING about the game but pretended to)...they have stopped watching all the NFL games and might not even watch every game of their favorite team...and rarely get together with friends to watch the games.

The tag-alongs are NOT going to drop a few hundred bucks on a game that they dont understand. And the real fans ahve gigured out theat the game has changed and the outcome is just as much in the hands of refs trying to umpire a game that is bogged down with silly rules as it is in the hands of talented players

[Spike]

NHL sells 105,500 tickets for Winter Classic

obviously, hockey fans are much tougher than football fans

[X-Terminator]

Yeah, and it was cold/snowed the entire game. The tickets also aren't much cheaper than NFL playoff tickets, and yet, not only did they sell the place out, it looked like there were no empty seats. So it's BS that it's simply because of HDTV that fans don't want to go to the playoff games. It's because, as has been said, the NFL has sold out to the casual fans so much that the real fans don't give a shit anymore. The fact that they can't sell out a playoff game in GREEN BAY, where fans are used to conditions like that, is very, VERY telling.

[fansince'76]

Tickets are too expensive and the weather in Green Bay is forecast below zero F.

Indy is having the same problem and they play in a dome. And one of the reasons they drafted Luck was to keep butts in the seats. No, there's more to it than that.

[fansince'76]

You and I had this conversation a few years back and we both predicted that it was just a matter of time that the true fans...who are the morter that holds the NFL fanbase together...would back away from this version of Goodellball.
The non-vested fans...and the tag-alongs...loved the passion that we had for the game....loved going to our football parties... and loved being in our fantasy football leagues.

Many of the real fans are so disgruntled that they have now backed away from those leagues... (For me it was because of the new onslaught of fans who knew NOTHING about the game but pretended to)...they have stopped watching all the NFL games and might not even watch every game of their favorite team...and rarely get together with friends to watch the games.

The tag-alongs are NOT going to drop a few hundred bucks on a game that they dont understand. And the real fans ahve gigured out theat the game has changed and the outcome is just as much in the hands of refs trying to umpire a game that is bogged down with silly rules as it is in the hands of talented players

I know I won't be watching the postseason. I didn't last year, either. If the Steelers aren't involved, I simply don't care anymore. It didn't used to be like that. And I never got into fantasy football at all.

[Shoes]

I might watch SD & Cin, just to see how many interceptions Andy Dalton throws.

[salamander]

Fantasy football ruined the game of American football.

[BnG_Hevn]

So are any of them still not sold out? Some had extensions, but I think Cincy had until yesterday.

The owners I'm sure would step up and buy them anyway, I can't see (although I would love it) the games not being sold out.

I guarantee you that if the Steelers were playing it would be sold out.

[LLT]

So are any of them still not sold out? Some had extensions, but I think Cincy had until yesterday.

The owners I'm sure would step up and buy them anyway, I can't see (although I would love it) the games not being sold out.

I guarantee you that if the Steelers were playing it would be sold out.

Meijer corporation stepped in and bought the remaining tickets to bail out the Colts.....Just saw that the Milwaukee and Green Bay Fox television affiliates (who now get to broadcast the game locally) bought up the remaining tickets at Green bay.

[Psycho Ward 86]

I just read on Yahoo that the packers/49ers game is suppose to be a high of -5 degrees and a low of -20 degrees. Plus a windchill of -51 degrees. Thats colder than the Ice Bowl, coldest game in NFL history.

I cant see that game getting sold out if tickets were a dollar.

[ALLD]

Indy is having the same problem and they play in a dome. And one of the reasons they drafted Luck was to keep butts in the seats. No, there's more to it than that.

It is going to be cold in that dome. Seriously, I would not spend big money on tickets for a playoff game in a watered down league.

- - - Updated - - -

Indy is having the same problem and they play in a dome. And one of the reasons they drafted Luck was to keep butts in the seats. No, there's more to it than that.

It is going to be cold in that dome. Seriously, I would not spend big money on tickets for a playoff game in a watered down league.

- - - Updated - - -

The Steelers help sell out Jacksonville and turn it into a home game. Yet we get screwed over most of the time by the league.

[steelerdude15]

I'm shocked that the Green Bay and Indianapolis games were not sold out, especially the Green Bay game. I think there are many factors into why people wouldn't go the games, but if its a playoff game, you would think that no matter the circumstances, people would go. I mean, I just went to the Steelers game against Cleveland and sat through the entire thing while it rained most of the game.

[Psycho Ward 86]

I'm shocked that the Green Bay and Indianapolis games were not sold out, especially the Green Bay game. I think there are many factors into why people wouldn't go the games, but if its a playoff game, you would think that no matter the circumstances, people would go. I mean, I just went to the Steelers game against Cleveland and sat through the entire thing while it rained most of the game.

to be fair, ive been born and raised in wisconsin my entire life and ive always shrugged off the cold fine. But even i dont know what -20 degrees and -51 wind chill feels like.

[stillers4me]

to be fair, ive been born and raised in wisconsin my entire life and ive always shrugged off the cold fine. But even i dont know what -20 degrees and -51 wind chill feels like.

I would think temperatures that cold would be considered unsafe for both the players and the fans.

[Mamaduck43]

There was one article on one of the local (GB) TV stations that intimated that the expansion of seats this season at Lambeau was one of the problems... I went back to look for it, and couldn't find it - - news is like that in GB - - - very controlled... Sunday's high is supposed to be 10°and the low is forecast for -10° - - - heck, even the outside recesses at the local elementary schools were moved into the gyms this week... And the real zinger is that the local Catholic Church's bingo for Monday evening has been cancelled... Now that is serious business in Wisconsin!!!! Bellen Health and the local Fox TV station bought out the necessary seats for the sell-out, and they are giving the tix out to school kids.... And the ticketmaster prices have dropped on their remaining tickets quite a bit - - yesterday cheapest was $111, today $80......

I hate the emphasis on FF - - - - I played one season in a league, and couldn't find any enjoyment in rooting for other teams' players.... And I won that league that season... It will be interesting watching the real life FF Pro-Bowl this year... The death knell of any hope of Hawaii fans from getting to see real players.... Sigh.....

My season is over - - I have a loaded Kindle and I am not afraid to use it..... Stay warm, folks...

Edited to add some info that I just found out..... Normally, GB would offer post season game tix to the season ticket holders late in the season, and if they didn't make playoffs, the money from the deposits of said tix would be returned to the buyers - - this season, they changed their process to keep the deposit to place toward next seasons regular season tickets... A lot of the 'owners' among the season ticket holders refused to pay a deposit and have it held over.... My son in law, who is a lifelong Packer Backer said that there is no way he is going to freeze his buns off... And, the added seats this year are at a premium, since they have hot water piped under the seats and they are among the most comfortable in Lambeau, even though they are in nosebleed land....

[steelerdiva]

Yeah, and it was cold/snowed the entire game. The tickets also aren't much cheaper than NFL playoff tickets, and yet, not only did they sell the place out, it looked like there were no empty seats. So it's BS that it's simply because of HDTV that fans don't want to go to the playoff games. It's because, as has been said, the NFL has sold out to the casual fans so much that the real fans don't give a shit anymore. The fact that they can't sell out a playoff game in GREEN BAY, where fans are used to conditions like that, is very, VERY telling.

What he said.
And I just heard on the radio that there won't be blackouts because local companies stepped forward and bought the tickets. That's pretty pitiful.

[Psycho Ward 86]

I would think temperatures that cold would be considered unsafe for both the players and the fans.

yeah i mean the shitty thing about a game like that is you cant even get hammered at the game to stay warm. Your beer will be a popsicle by the time you get to your seat

[86WARD]

The NHL games are a novelty...of course they'll sell tickets for that...

[86WARD]

What he said.
And I just heard on the radio that there won't be blackouts because local companies stepped forward and bought the tickets. That's pretty pitiful.

Agree...I like the idea that some companies are buying up the tickets and donating them...but couldn't have say the Colts stepped up and paid the for the tickets and donated them? Would've been a nice thing...

[T&B fan]

and keep in mind Roger Goodell: Playoff expansion a possibility for 2015 . more unsoldout games by more crappy teams .

[Count Steeler]

But the fans want an 18 game season.

[steelerdude15]

to be fair, ive been born and raised in wisconsin my entire life and ive always shrugged off the cold fine. But even i dont know what -20 degrees and -51 wind chill feels like.

Yeah that is true. Point taken.

[fansince'76]

The NHL games are a novelty...of course they'll sell tickets for that...

NFL postseason games are still a relative novelty for Cincy too.

[zulater]

I would think temperatures that cold would be considered unsafe for both the players and the fans.

You would think. Safety is such a priority for the league and all.

Seriously the league should do 3 things to prove that they value the safety of the players and fans.

1. Change the kick off time to 12.35 local. Severe weather is bad enough in the day, but anyone will tell you that once the sun goes down the chance of succumbing to exposure goes up tenfold. Yes I know it conflicts with the other game. Too bad, give the network a little rebate and or future consideration and do what's right. They've changed kickoffs times for severe storms before. So kicking off earlier isn't without precedent.

2. Limit and shorten commercial time. Get the game over with. You don't have to take a time out after a score and then take another one after the subsequent kickoff. If done right you could knock off 30 minutes to an hour off the total game time. The shorter the game the less exposure suffered.

3. Lift the blackout. Demanding the local populace subject themselves to severe weather in order to see their home town team play is the moral equivilent of extortion. Show the fans you care, tell them there's no threat of a blackout in the case of an extreme weather playoff game.