It sounds good on paper. Detroit Free Press Bill would ban Lions TV blackouts February 26, 2002 Even if the Lions don't sell out their games at Ford Field next season, a state lawmaker said Monday he wants to prevent them from being blacked out on television. Rep. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, is working on a bill that would prohibit any professional team playing in a stadium built with the help of taxpayer funds from denying local telecast rights. The NFL prevents TV stations within 75 miles of a stadium from telecasting a game if it isn't sold out 72 hours before kickoff. NFL officials have said the league needs blackouts to sell tickets because fewer fans would come to games if they knew they could watch on television. About $145 million of the $300-million cost for Ford Field comes from public funds, Richardville said. "Taxpayers are helping foot the bill for Ford Field," he said. "It's only right that everyone get a chance to see a game." After 27 seasons in the Silverdome, the Lions will open the 2002 season at Ford Field, a domed stadium in Detroit. Richardville plans to introduce his bill in the coming weeks. The Washington House recently approved a similar bill that would end blackouts of Seattle Seahawks games. Washington taxpayers contributed $300 million for the team's new stadium in downtown Seattle.
While I like it as a fan, I think this is ridiculous from a legal and business standpoint. As a business, the NFL has every right to negotiate TV contracts as they see fit. The taxpayers funded those stadiums with full knowledge of the local blackout restrictions -- if they wanted it changed, they should have dealt with that in the arena agreement. <B>About $145 million of the $300-million cost for Ford Field comes from public funds, Richardville said. "Taxpayers are helping foot the bill for Ford Field," he said. "It's only right that everyone get a chance to see a game." </B> They CAN see the freaking game by buying a ticket. If there are no tickets available, they can watch the game on TV. It seems fair to me. Now, the 72-hour thing may be a bit much -- I could see lowering it to 24 or 48 hours, but if people want to see the game, there either will be tickets available with 72 hours left or it will be on TV.
Major -- I agree...I'm not sure how this stands up...certainly seems to limit the right of the NFL to make contracts with broadcasting companies... i think you're right...if this were included in the original deals worked out between county/city and team, that would be one thing. but i'm not certain this can be put on them in some sort of ex post facto way.... however...that's just the legal reality...the practical reality is that the NFL might find that these pieces of legislation really get people thinking about the issue as it relates to public funding of new stadiums...they MAY cave on the issue in a quasi-P.R. move
It's kind of hard if you're a fan who can't afford a ticket to be able to buy a ticket. I applaud these lawmakers because, if anything else, it'll probably force the NFL to give in for PR reasons if nothing else.
If I was an NFL owner, I'd be in favor of tape delay broadcasts. I remember watching blacked out Oilers preseason games at midnight. That's the only concession I'd make.
I think it's another rotten example of the govt interfering with private business. If the fans thought a no-blackout rule was important they should have made sure it was included before they voted. And hell, it's not like the NFL just started this blackout rule last year, so it's not exactly a surprise that blackouts happen. Personally I would never vote on a referedum that gave taxpayer money to build a stadium, but if I were going to I would accept what I voted for...
But sports and gov't are by nature intertwined due to the fact that taxes help fund stadiums. I can see both sides. It is just as a citizen and sports fan, you are usually presented with a packaged deal. Either vote yes or no. I understand the person who negotiates the deal has been selected by an elected figure anyway, so in the end you are getting what you vote for, but, in the end, citizens dont get to go to the voting booth and say I like the deal but only if it includes [blank]. This shouldnt be a problem in Houston as I'm sure a majority of the first season or two (or three) will be sold out. But, I would be very mad if sometime in the first few seasons I cant go to the game and cant watch it on tv because it's blacked out.
I was under the impression that it was Federal Law that governed blackouts in regard to the NFL. But I'm often wrong on a lot of things. Personally, I don't care about the blackout rule as it is currently configured. They'll only be blacking out the Cowboys for me, and I don't watch them anyway. I'll have to get NFL Sunday Ticket to see the Texans consistently anyway. In the modern age when television money is such a huge part of the revenue of each NFL team, doing away with the blackout rule probably makes good business sense. They should at least put it on the table during the next broadcast negotiation. Maybe the rights would be worth more with guarantees that games would be shown in local markets. I don't personally think that having games on TV prevents people from going to the games in any great numbers. If anything, I think having the teams on TV consistently can help build a more rabid local fan base that may well be more tied to the team and more likely to attend a game every once in a while. But that's just what I think.
interesting..you maybe right...i really have no idea...just assumed the blackout rule was created entirely through contractual agreement between the NFL and the broadcast companies.
One thing I can guarantee is all 5 Texans preseason games will be televised in Austin. I just hope all 16 regular season games are shown as well. This is Texan country...screw the cowgirls It will be good to spend a Sunday afternoon watching football again. I stopped after the Oilers left.
