PR ALERT: BUCS DON'T ANTICIPATE BLACKOUT FOR HOME OPENER

[TheKeyStoneBucs]

If Bucs lay an egg Sunday, then you'll see plenty of Blackouts.

DKWEST.   looking back, my club seats were a waste of money when both my wife and I were working.  Now that Im the only one working, its just stupid to renew my tickets.  But Im locked in and am afraid to get sued by the very football team that Im so passionate about.

[DKWEST]

This might be the first year since 1976 that I don't go to a game.  I just can't afford it.  I'm a Realtor and went from making $105,000 in 2005,  $89,000 in 2007, to $29,000 last year and am only at $21,000 so far this year.  And on top of that a divorce, child support based on my 2005-06 income,...   I just can't afford to go or else I would be there.

[cyberdude557]

The fact that this game is having trouble selling shows that this will be a constant week-to-week struggle. We will have a few blackouts.

[Tampa Bay Todd]

And PR guys, is that the best pic you could find to accompany this story? The Bears beating the Bucs 12-0 at that point? Not exactly helping the cause there.

[Tampa Bay Todd]

I don't think there will be any blackouts this season since I truly believe all the games will be sellouts. But, the crowd won't all be Bucs fans. Tampa is a nice spot to visit anytime, but especially when the weather's bad in other parts of the country. Just saying it could be a return to the old days of the Big Sombrero with a lot of tourists, so to speak.

[BerubesBucs]

good.

[PewterReportJF]

http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/5863

[CurtR1995]

This might be the first year since 1976 that I don't go to a game.  I just can't afford it.  I'm a Realtor and went from making $105,000 in 2005,  $89,000 in 2007, to $29,000 last year and am only at $21,000 so far this year.  And on top of that a divorce, child support based on my 2005-06 income,...   I just can't afford to go or else I would be there.

I would say your priorities are correct.  That being said, I'm sure that if things pick up you can get excellent tickets below face value in various methods. 

[AcuraT]

The Bucs did not raise rates for the first time in years because of the economy - the reason stated.  It probably was not done because the Glazer's realized many of the moves they made may not be very popular.  The fact this first game against the Cowboys, a team that sells more merchandise nationally than just about any other team is still not sold out with the 72 hour deadline nearing, indicates that unless this team wins a few games early, there is no way the blackout will be lifted for the entire season (even if the first game miraculously sells out today).

However, if the team is not winning games, those who want to go probably will be able to by showing up in the parking lot on game day and getting tickets from scalpers trying to dump their tickets for less than $50 on game day.  I hope it does not come to this more than anything but if it does, it will not surprise me.

Now the Glazers look intelligent for shipping one of their home games out of town to London.  They get the revenue but pay less for the stadium use - isn't that correct?