Bills owner Ralph Wilson buys remaining tickets to avoid TV blackout

Aug 16, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; A view of the Heads Up Football logo on a Buffalo Bills players helmet before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

If you’re the owner of an NFL franchise, one thing that you desperately want to avoid is the dreaded blackout in your local TV market. If your game doesn’t sell out, then you’re not going to be afforded the luxury of being broadcast on television sets in the local area.

This week, for the second time this season, the Buffalo Bills came dangerously close to feeling that punishment. On Thursday, the NFL gave the Bills a one-day extension to try to get rid of the 3,500 tickets that they still had left to avoid the blackout.

On Friday, though, Bills president and CEO Russ Brandon announced that all will be well because, again for the second time this season, Bills owner Ralph Wilson will buy up the remaining tickets to make the game a sellout, on paper at least.

This is the second time this season that Wilson has had to reach into his own pocket to save his team’s television fate. Back on Oct. 13, he had to buy 5,300 tickets to avoid being blacked out.

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