Get Ya Tickets Here!

Yesterday, Roger Goodell and the NFL brain trust announced that a number of cities, 12 to be exact, were in danger of blackouts due to low ticket sales. The Jaguars, Chargers, Lions, Browns and Chiefs are the teams I've heard, please feel free to send in ones I have not mentioned. By rule, the league blacks out games that are not sellouts...translation: 95% of the seats have not been sold by the Thursday leading up to the game (they will sometimes push that to Friday). No matter what way you slice this issue, the result is lose/lose. The NFL loses because their product is pulled from the air and the fans lose because they don't get to watch their favorite team on TV. The NFL needs to wake up here...no matter how under or overstated you believe this economic depression is, the reality is many, many people have lost their jobs and there will surely be more to come.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out a solution here Mr. Goodell. Now as a man with a background in business, I understand and appreciate that revenue and profit are the undeniable kings of any company...I don't want to hear about goodwill in the community, helping a non-profit organization or donating money to charity...the bottom line is money and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Last I checked, the NFL, who has multi-million, if not billion, dollar contracts with CBS, NBC, FOX and ESPN, and oh by the way, owns it's own network, isn't on line waiting for food stamps.

With that in mind, how about these suggestions:

- After announcing to the world it's understanding of the current economic landscape, the NFL purchases the remaining tickets needed to make the game(s) a sellout and donates them to a local charity in that city

- Workout a deal with the aforementioned teams to announce NOW, that season tickets for this year will remain the same, but next year they will be reduced, even if only slightly (likely would encourage alot of former season ticket holders who may have lost their jobs to consider purchasing their tickets back)

- Purchase a select number of seats and have the teams run a "Free Ticket(s) for the Best Fan" Contest...have the fans prove how loyal they are and reward them with a free ticket

- Hire interested fans to volunteer to help cleanup the stadium in preparation of or following the game, each fan that does gets a free ticket (you could do the same with a local park in that city that needs repair)

- Workout an "NFL Economic Loan Plan," like any bank, have the season ticket holders pay a certain designated amount up front, and then give them a certain amount of time to pay the rest (of course, charge them some interest)...unlike our friends at Lehman Brothers, Bear Sterns and AIG, make sure these people actually have the money or at least, some substantial plan, to repay the loan!

- Host an NFL job fair...I'm sure various teams could use some cheap labor or interns...throw a few tickets to these guys as compensation

Are any of these solutions going to push the NFL further into the black...well, maybe, maybe not...perhaps, their willingness to go above and beyond for their loyal fans results in an increase of viewership, attendance, etc. On the other hand, maybe the only result is that a handful of fans get to watch their favorite team in person and is that really a bad thing...the NFL's product isn't blacked out and fans are happy.

Come on Roger...wake up and look around your neighborhood! Do the right thing!

More Ticket Issues
As reported today in Newsday (Newsday Everyday!), a little over 700 tickets will be sold to the general public for Yankee playoff games at the New Stadium. Why so low? According to the report, 37,000 tickets are reserved for their season ticket holders, 9,500 for MLB officials and the remaining are split amongst the media and player's families and friends.

Yankee fans...you can't have it both ways. Many of you bitched and moaned when tickets were too expensive months ago (I don't disagree with you), but you all were given the opportunity to buy them...now come playoff time, those that did take advantage will be rewarded first. Now, the nearly 10,000 tics to MLB officials? I'm with you on that, seems pretty ridiculous. But let's remember, despite what our esteemed President is trying to do, this great country is built on capitalism...if you want something, go ahead and get it, no one is stopping you! Should you choose to wait, however, there's a good chance that something will be gone.