ESPN and other sponsors save Chargers from blackout
According to a
from the Associated Press, ESPN and other sponsors have saved the San Diego Chargers from having a local TV blackout for their Monday Night Football game against the Indianapolis Colts.
ESPN purchased 8,500 tickets for the game, and “says it will give a portion of the tickets to military and charitable organizations.”
As was reported by multiple outlets, the NFL gave the Chargers a 24 hour window to secure a sellout for the game and avoid the blackout.
San Diego sits at two wins and three losses and appears on track to have a similar record to last year’s 7-9. The Chargers had four blackouts last season, according to the report.
Last Sunday on super late Thursday Night Football –wait, what? – the Chargers lost 27-17 at the hands of the Oakland Raiders. Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for over 400 yards on 36 of 48 passing, but also had three interceptions in the loss. They ran for just 36 yards as a team on 19 carries in a game that saw running back Ryan Matthews go down with a concussion.
Matthews has passed all of the NFL mandated concussion tests and is probable to play in the now non-blackout game.