As I wrote before on here, the Blackout rules that govorn NFL games are not NFL rules, or Network rules, they are laws enacted by congress, and only congress can change them. As they stand now, an NFL game must sell out 72 hours prior to game time before the blackout can be lifted. If your close, you can request an exemption to get another 24 hours.
The main reason the NFL supports this is they feel this rule helps people purchase tickets to games and keeps attendence high. That may have been true in some cases, but the landscape has changed over the years, and times are different.
Originally the rule was designed with the fans in mind! Owners NEVER broadcasted a home game, whether it sold out or not. Then congress came in and said you can only blackout home games if they dont sell out in 72 hours prior to kickoff. The reason owners never put home games on TV, they felt people would wait till the last minute before buying tickets. That argument doesnt hold water any more, and neither do the others.
Whats changed? TV money goes to NFL owners now, and selling out a game really makes little difference. You make money just being a team.
Plus, a lot of new stadiums, especially Raymond James, were built with taxpayer dollars.
Then there are other issues at hand, such as, how much does your product grow when your home games are exposed to the local community? Doesnt showing what a fun time a game can be do more for sales than not showing it?
So go on over to the FCC site with the link at top of this article, and find out more information.
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