It is more of a surprise when they actually get to the “sellout” number. I know people here at PR are aware how severely the season ticket base has dwindled down. Having to sell nearly 10,000 seats per game is a tall task no matter how well the team on the field is doing. Truth is Buc’s fans; it will continue to be this way until they can re-build the season ticket numbers back up to pre-2008 levels.

Kenlola: There are really two separate issues here. One, should the NFL black-out games? Let me be clear, I don't think they should! Two, why are area football fans so apathetic? Neither has anything to do with the stadium or your apparent disdain for anyone who has achieved a level of success in his life. Since you're into research. How about looking up the communities who built a stadium for their team in other venues and how much it cost them. That $168,000,000 one on Dale Mabry is a bargain compared to others. I'll bet our politicians don't think they "got screwed." By your philosophy, the games should be played on a movie set with a cheer sound track and a boo sound track and played on the government furnished plasma TV. I think blacking out games is detrimental to the NFL, especially in areas where people relocate because the fans simply decide to do other things like go to Disney World or the beaches. But more likely, they watch their former team on NFL Sunday Ticket in a bar as they spend their hard-earned money on beer. Yes the tickets and other luxury items are too expensive for many; but it will always be that way. The problem here is that the businesses who used to buy tickets stopped when the 10 year commitment expired and the snob fans no longer thought the game was the "place to be." I contend that if the team continues to win and stars develop as they did in the late 90's the fans will once again buy tickets. Maybe even Kenlola.

Scubog, I hope you are right.

Scubog, I hope you are right.

I agree BucDiesel , georgehicks,FAITHB 20 And some more of you. I live in the middle Tennessee area, the Titans games are always sold out . The Tampa area is a lot more populated than the Nashville area. The unemployment rate in the Tampa area is a little higher than the Nashville area , but the higher population in the Tampa area should be more than enough to make up for it. GO BUCS, LETS KICK BUTT.

Can you imagine, at a staff meeting, the sales manager, when asked why sales were off this year, replies it's not my fault its the fault of our customer base. He would be fired on the spot. It is never the customers fault. It is either the product, marketing or the pricing. No one will say it's the product. Tampa has one of the worst economies in the country, yet the Glazers are still pricing the tickets like we are still a Superbowl team. We have the 17th most expensive tickets in the league. We have sold out 2 or 3 games in the last 2 years. Our tickets should be among the lowest in the league. As far as marketing, it is almost non existent. So come on Bucs, stop blaming the fans, lower the prices and hire a marketing team. If you start selling out the games maybe the fans will forgive you for screwing the people of Hillsborough County with the stadium deal you got. Boy am I glad the bucs stayed in Tampa. I have higher taxes to pay for a stadium that only benefits the Glazers and because they suck at marketing we don't even get to see the games that are played in the stadium we paid for. Boy am I glad the Bucs stayed in Tampa.

I always enjoy every one's opinion on here. This definitely saddens me to know that the lack of support in the Florida area is so low. I am an avid bucs fan, No where near as long as most of you, but I am a huge Miami hurricanes fan and once Warren Sapp got drafted I started taking notice and following this team. I currently live in South Carolina and I drive 6 hours every year to see them play the panthers, and let me say this year was so great to shut those cocky Cam Fans up! I wish the support was bigger in other states as well. When I go to any bar there's never any other bucs fans celebrating this kick *censored* year with me. We are exciting and I can't wait to see Sundays game. Support your team people! These young bucs deserve it. GO BUCS

Hoping the Hawks fans would put us over.

Bottom line, it's sad to say what once was a thriving fan base is now the very worst in the entire NFL. Sucks, dosen't it. This team deserves better.

Horse: The owners and players do give away tickets!!!!! BucDiesel is right, these people, who always want something for free, seem to have enough money for beer, cigarettes and tattoos. This season ticket base is made up up a lot of businesses who, as my buddy Horse demands, give the tickets away to clients and to reward employees. Problem is, when the team was lousy and the 10 year commitment expired they couldn't even (wait for it Horse)....give the tickets away because nobody wanted to go. So the high-priced tickets end up sitting in the boss' drawer. Not smart business. When going to the game becomes the vogue thing to do and business' customers once again request tickets, the businesses will buy them as they did in 1997. When will that be? Hopefully this off-season. I heard on TV the other night that the Romans were able to go to the Coliseum and watch the gladiators kill each other for free as a perk for being a citizen (so they wouldn't revolt). No word whether the the rest of the Roman populous demanded the invention of plasma TV's so they wouldn't have to leave the comfort of their home. Horse, by chance are you Italian?

scubog, I hear you, but that is not going to work anymore. the NFL has already lost one generation and now about to lose another. Why can't the NFL open their NFL channel up for season ticket holders and let them watch the game when there are blackouts?

Horse, you are right on with this one. In 2007 the NFL sold 99.9% of available tickets. From 2007- 2011 attendance has dropped 5 consecutive years and now is 93.8% of available tickets sold. There are many reasons for attendance going down not only here but other areas as well. Overall it is still relatively high but 5 years of decline IS concerning the NFL and they know it is not a Bucs problem exclusively but a league problem. The people on this post like scubog, diesel, and gruden should educate themselves a little better and do a simple search on the internet regarding this. I did "nfl attendance" and found quite a few and they provided some good information. If this declining trend continues 5 more years it will be very evident to everyone. Quit blaming our community exclusively.This may be my last year as a season ticket holder since '81 and it isn't because of not winning. There are so many other enjoyable ways of watching the games today (cheaper as well) and horse has pointed some out. I believe this blackout rule will end up hurting the NFL if they do not abolish it soon as people will lose interest.

It is really ashame that the Bucs can't even sell out the best game on this Sunday. When I saw today when Dallas Cowboys loss to the Redskins 38-31 and they still sold out. I just can't understand-Example-Parking at new Texas stadium is between 25-50 dollars per car, A family of four avg tickets are $50.00 each plus example $ beers at $10.00 per cup, Hot dogs $7.50 Hamburgers are $8.50 each-Soda are $6.50 each. times 2 around $75.00 plus 50.00 and $50.00 for misc that runs at example of 175.00 per family. And the fans ar worried about ITS TOO EXPENSIVE TO SUPPORT THE BUCS. I'll say this Bucs fans If I was there I would be there each week.FANS IF YOU START SUPPORTING THE TEAM-TAMPA TEAM MAY MOVED-I HATE TO SAY IT-LOOK AT THE RAYS. THEY HAVE A GREAT TEAM BUT THE AREA DON'T SUPPORT THE RAYS, MARLINS DOWN IN MIAMI AND JAGUARS UP IN JACKSONVILLE. What in the world are you waiting for-Support ther bucs Just because Iam not down their I do spend money on shirts hats etc-GO BUCS

Okay I hear some of you allon the fans. You just keep thinking that way and see how much it really changes anything. Don't look at the past because the answers are not in the past. Look at the now and the future. The NFL attendance is as good as it is going to get? Cable prices continue to climb and the NFL knows where all the big money is. It is not with the stadium fans as a make or break anymore. That's just extra gravey. Do the math before some of you spout off. The average paid attendance to make the 85% is around 55,000. We usually put about 50,000 paid attendance in the stadium anyway. The difference is 5,000 x average ticket of those particular seats is $75 each = $375,000 a game. Are you trying to tell me that the owners can't give those tickets away and take the write off?

I have been a season tix holder in Tampa from 85-92 so I speak my opinion through my experience I know how dispoyal our fan base is in Tampa I have had many of Tampa Fans admit to this unfortunately. Scobog is a loyal fan who has been going to games since 76' if we had more fans like him we wouldn't have blackouts period.

Faithb I'm in the same boat. Every year I make the trip from Boston to Tampa for a game and meet up with family that come from Atlanta. This year it's the Eagles I can't wait. I hate how a team this fun to watch isn't shown in its own market I really hope bud fans outnumber the falcon ones this week

I have said many times before on here we have one of the worst fan bases in the NFL and this is proof

Why is it someone always wants them to give away tickets for free? The Glazers did their part by spending their money the fans aren't doing their part. Everyone always talks about put a winning team on the field but still don't show up to the games. The thing I have a problem with the blackout rule is the deadline. It should be saturday at 1 to give people enough time. The games cost a lot if money to put together so why should you get for free what some of the locals spend their hard earned money for? They say the economy is bad but I bet beer, alcohol and cigarette sales haven't been hurting. People always make excuses. When Seattle was as bad as we were they sold out all their games. If the locals won't support the home team then you don't deserve it. Maybe the Bucs and the Rays should move .

The Owners continue to do the Blackouts and they will continue to lose support. I can't believe the denial with some of these owners in the NFL. Worse case is that it is watched on the NFL Red Zone that shows almost all of the Buc action. Don't they get it yet? You have to win the next generation of ticket buyers and so far this isn't working. You can't buy the tickets yourself and hand them out to kids free if a parent buys a ticket? You can't give the tickets to our military that live in the area (MacDill AFB, National Guard, Coast Guard)? You can't give the tickets to high schools football teams in the area?

I live in Boston, Ma but fly down one wkend to watch the Bucs once a year (recent grad school grad btw) C'mon Tampa lets support our team more. They bought talent and doing their part. It's now time for us to do our Part! Lets Go Bucs!!!