Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Try 85% Black Out Rule Again
By Mike Dyce
We saw the Tennessee Titans have one guy line up to buy single game tickets when they went on sale. And they’re not the only team struggling to sell out their home games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking the league up on an offer to set the blackout limit at 85% of non-premium tickets.
Last year the Bucs, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders all took advantage of the rule.
“We’re one of the few teams that took full advantage of the league’s lower manifest last year and we’re doing it again,” Bucs chief operating officer Brian Ford said, via the Tampa Tribune. “That shows our commitment to the community that we will do everything we can within our power.”
The Bucs have been blacked out 19 times in the last 3 seasons. They haven’t raised ticket prices either. For the fifth year they’ve kept prices steady and cut the prices of 35% of their seats. Now they haven’t had their single game tickets go on sale yet, that happens Wednesday.
“Our [season ticket] renewal rate is equal to the glory years, back in the day, so it’s not like we’re digging out of a hole,” Ford said. “It helps we’ve got the best home schedule. Two prime-time games, one on a Monday night against Miami when Warren Sapp goes into our Ring of Honor, and a Thursday night game against a division rival [Carolina]. . . .”
According to Ford ticket sales are up 60% compared to this point last year. Big free agent signings and adding Darrelle Revis certainly bolstered interest in the franchise.
“Our No. 1 goal is tied to selling out that New Orleans game because that’s where it starts. That’s why we put it on sale early. We know we’re in the entertainment business. People have a choice. It’s not a necessity. So we want to make our game-day experience compelling.”