Kansas City Politician Files Bill To Reverse NFL Blackout Policy

I know I personally subsidize the stadium year after year.
Whether I can attend a game or not.

I’d vote for this guy. Solid policy objectives.

big gov’t trying to take more control, I actually find the reasoning for this to be rational and not just a power grab.

now, i’m not sure i’d go as far as to say that every home game should be guaranteed, but perhaps a smaller percentage of ticktets sold to be considered for the blackout? or some similar workings. but he does make a good point.

But, he actually makes a really good point. The NFL benefits greatly from local taxpayers, both individuals and businesses, and it harms those businesses (whether bars or local broadcast outlets) when they lose money because the game is blacked out.

I’m for it.

Holsman also makes a plea for the small business around the metro. He argues that many bars and restaurants, which pay the 3/8th cent sales tax to the renovation of Arrowhead Stadium, plan entire Sundays around the Chiefs game.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of restaurants in KC make considerably more money on Sundays when the Chiefs are on TV. Go out to eat for lunch on Sunday on the bye week and it will become clear ;)

But 156 consecutive sellouts and all of a sudden there aren’t 5,000 “new buyers” who cannot afford tickets in a metro of 1,500,000 when ticket prices didn’t increase more than and inflation rate of 4% from one year to the next (and flat this year)? I mean, the guy is blaming the economy for the shortfall of tickets sold and therefore the blackout. Perhaps it’s apathy of the fans?

Guess i should include a poll of the number of season ticket holders who didn’t renew because of the Chief’s record, not because of the ticket prices.

If we were perennial playoff team, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.

And, even though i’m not local, i believe Jackson Co residents get a few opportunities before everyone else (doesn’t count for much). Better economic times plus the team’s success will bring it back. We are on the right path.

The writing was on the wall even before Steve was down 15..that’s why CP was asked to leave the building IMO.

I would be OK with this if it just lowered the restrictions on getting out of a blackout. But if they were forced to show all the local games no matter how many tickets were sold you can say good bye to the NFL in Missouri. If the teams can’t be guarantied a certain level of ticket sales before they have to show their product for less money the teams will go out of business. TV money is huge for the teams but it doesn’t make up for everything (ticket sales, parking, concessions) paid at the games.

This Idea is great for the consumer but horrible for the business of the NFL. And if there is no business there is no NFL so ultimately the fan loses out in the long run when his team moves to a more lucrative area.

The blackout rules aren’t exactly new. The city knew what the rules were when they decided on things such as tax hikes and who gets what money. I personally think the rules are stupid, but if the NFL thinks it helps them than they should be able to go for it. In the end if it hurts them that much (including relationship-wise with the people of the city) the organization and the NFL will do something about the rules on their own.