Rounding Up All the Chiefs Blackout Talk

by Joel Thorman on Dec 10, 2009 7:45 AM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

The deadline for the Kansas City Chiefs to sell enough tickets to satisfy the NFL's definition of a sellout is coming at 12:00 PM (CST) today. A report today from Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star suggests the lifting of the blackout is unlikely.

As of 4:00 PM on Tuesday, the Chiefs had 3,500 tickets remaining according to a press release. It appears that number is what remained after KCTV5 bought a chunk.

If the Chiefs do NOT sell the necessary tickets, the NFL could grant a 24 hour extension. The NFL will generally only grant an extension if there is a high likelihood of selling the remaining tickets. If the Chiefs do sell out the game this weekend, it will mark the 156th consecutive sellout. A streak dating back to December 16th, 1990.

Similar if not more problems selling tickets are expected next week against the Browns.

After the jump, I've compiled all the stories on the blackout that we've had. If your boss catches you reading at work, just tell him you're searching for information on KC's leading businessman. Or Wolf.

Chiefs Blackout Alert: 3,500 Tickets Remaining for Bills
Tuesday, December 8th: The Kansas City Chiefs have announced that the club has 3,500 tickets remaining for Sunday's home contest against the Buffalo Bills. Per NFL rules, a certain percentage of non-premium seats need to be sold in order to televise the game locally.

Rembering the last blackout | Kansas City Star
Tuesday, December 8th: The last time a Chiefs home game was blacked out might surprise you. It did me. It was Dec. 16, 1990 against the Houston Oilers. That's the day Houston quarterback Warren Moon riddled the Chiefs for 527 passing yards, which still ranks as the second-best single-game passing day in NFL history.

What Happened the Last Time the Chiefs' Game was Blacked Out? - Arrowhead Pride
Wednesday, December 9th: The Chiefs have flirted with blackouts in recent years, especially at the end of the season as the losses rose and the temperatures dropped. I know for most of us that a blackout would be a signal that the fan base is truly downtrodden. It would be a story in the franchise's history that we as fans would point to to show others just how bad it was to be a Chiefs fan late in this decade. For a little perspective, let's take a look at the last time the Chiefs game was blacked out - December 16th, 1990.

Chiefs Owner Hunt Warned of Blackouts for Bills, Browns Games
Wednesday, December 9th: "The ones that have been a challenge for us in recent years have been the December games,’’ he said then. The Kansas City Star spoke with Mr. Hunt before the Chargers game on October 25th, a sellout. "Denver is traditionally one of our most popular games. Since (Buffalo and Cleveland) are not division rivals or nationally prominent teams, they would logically be the ones we struggle with."

Haley Knows Chiefs Will Have to Earn the Fans Back to Arrowhead
Wednesday, December 9th: Today, as the pressure builds of a possible blackout if not this Sunday then next, Haley said he can't be concerned with a blackout right now. The normal line, 'I'm just concerned about the Buffalo Bills" came out but he followed that up acknowledging that the Chiefs will have to start winning to bring the fans back. "I said at the beginning we were going to have to earn the fans back," Haley told reporters today.

KCTV-5: 'We've helped the Chiefs as much as we can'

"From my perspective, and KCTV, we certainly don’t want to lose a Chiefs game and the audience it brings," Totsch told the Star. "We’ve helped them as much as we can. As unfortunate as it is, there is only so much folks can do. The underlying problem is the economy. If the Chiefs had a better record, and the weather was better and the economy was better, you’d probably see the streak continue."

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Forgot I scheduled this post

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Dec 10, 2009 7:49 AM CST reply actions

Never had to deal with this before, maybe a stupid question but will it be blacked out down here in Springfield Mo??

by SKyNYrDCHiEF44 on Dec 10, 2009 8:22 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Nope

75 mile radius. If it’s supposed to be aired there, it’ll be aired.

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Dec 10, 2009 8:24 AM CST up reply actions

During the dark days of the early 80s

I was going to school in Rolla. While lot’s of my friends in KC were getting aggravated by the blackouts, I watched every game because I got broadcasts out of Springfield, mainly on KY3, since NBC was carrying the AFC back then. I think that the fan base in the Springfield area may have been more devoted during those years than a lot of the fans around KC because they could see all the games.

-"A man may be a fool and not know it, but not if he is married." - H.L. Mencken

by Big Chief on Dec 10, 2009 8:57 AM CST up reply actions

Always airs in Springfield!

"I’d go to battle with him every day of the week." Todd Haley on Matt Cassel

This statement is why I am on the Cassel train, drinkin the Kool-Aid!

by KC4Life on Dec 10, 2009 9:04 AM CST up reply actions

Can the Chiefs org. themselves

buy the tickets? I know it does not make a lot of sense for the to do it, but it would show good faith to the fans.

Good move by the Chiefs org, glad to see LJ gone.

by Eric Allen on Dec 10, 2009 8:27 AM CST reply actions

They can not

However, Clark could make an arrangement with Hunt Oil. This is highly unlikely.

This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.

by KCSatchmo on Dec 10, 2009 9:01 AM CST up reply actions

Is it the worse thing in the world--

…if they don’t sell out and if people stay home? Doesn’t that spur management to step it up? I know people want to see but…

by FrankPitts on Dec 10, 2009 8:51 AM CST reply actions

Maybe we need to let go of this whole "Sell out" streak...

And realize that there’s just too many factors to consider:
- The team’s record of course can affect people’s desire to want to go out and watch a team that hasn’t been winning much. But as we’ve seen from San Diego, you can still have a black out even though you’re team is currently winning.
- Die hard fans of course are willing to put up with the cold weather, but even so we have to take in account that every December it is hard to sell tickets, especially when the other team doesn’t have a large fan base in the area. It gets even harder when that opposing team is also burdened with a losing season. It’s times like these that make me think maybe we should’ve passed that rolling roof initiative.
- And last is that 800lbs gorilla also known as the economy. We’re all having to watch how we spend our money and right now the cost of tickets is just a little too high.

I’m sure there are other factors but these seem to be the big three for me. The cold weather will always be constant in any season but had the economy been better, the team won a couple of more games earlier in the season, perhaps we wouldn’t be looking at an inevitable black out or at least there wouldn’t have been as many tickets still available. Either way we need to stop seeing the end of this streak as some sign of impending doom. Maybe we should look at it as a fresh start, a new beginning for a new regime? A chance for them to start their own “sell out” record?

by RA_ChiefsFan on Dec 10, 2009 9:05 AM CST reply actions