Local TV Blackouts to Resume in 2009

After a more than five-year run, the string of consecutive home games shown on local TV will come to an end in September 2009.

And unless the Bengals play the Steelers, Browns, or a prime-time game...it will happen in the '09 home opener.

Prior to 2004, the last time the Bengals sold-out an entire season was 1992, left-over from the 'glory' days of 1988-1990. 

Albeit a different era now, with personal seat licenses to consider (COA's to Bengals fans), expect to see the days of 'announced' attendance in the 50,000 range to return.  Fans who have season tickets in the least expensive COA zone (corners of the upper deck and the 2nd level north endzone) will be the first to jump ship this off-season. At the bargain basement price of $300 per seat license, I think season-ticket holders will not have a problem forfeiting this money after watching the pathetic turd of a product that has been on display so far in four games.  Of course, these seat licenses are property of the season ticket holder, so they could sell them to the highest bidder.  But, seat licenses are generally worthless when the team is playing like garbage.  Only those in the lower level, between the 20-yard lines have seat licenses that might fetch an amount over face value. 

Face it guys, the COA is basically a sunk cost right now and subjecting yourself to another 20 years of punishment isn't worth $300 a seat.

Let's look at the average announced attendance during the lean years from 1993-2002.  If the past is the best predictor of the future, let's see what awaits us when the new Lost Decade comes to fruition:

Keep in mind that capacity at Riverfront/Cinergy was around 56,000 before the Reds season ended and then a little north of 60,000 when the stadium was in full football configuration.

Paul Brown Stadium's capacity is listed as 65,535.

(Year - Total Regular Season Attendance - Average Attendance Per Game)

1993 - 353,273 - 44,159

1994 - 415,638 - 51,954

1995 - 385,071 - 48,133

1996 - 382,774 - 47,846

1997 - 439,831 - 54,978

1998 - 444,335 - 55,541

1999 - 404,679 - 50,584

2000 - 469,992 - 58,749 (first year in PBS)

2001 - 453,449 - 56,681

2002 - 422,235 - 52,779

As you might expect, it comes down to money.  In the NFL, teams must share their gate with the other 31 teams.  All gate receipts EXCEPT premium club seats and luxury boxes.  The reason why Mike Brown hired Marvin Lewis in 2003 wasn't so much because the team was 2-14, but because he stood to lose millions of dollars from club seat holders not renewing their commitments.  When Paul Brown Stadium opened, those who wanted premium club seats had to sign a three-year commitment.  Since PBS opened in 2000, the end of the 2002 season marked the end of their contract.  Again, all the money generated from club seat holders is 100% for the Bengals to keep.  This is another reason why it was so crucial for the Bengals to move out of Riverfront/Cinergy and into a new stadium.

Thus, it is really hard to imagine a dismissal of Marvin Lewis, adding additional scouts, etc. unless the premium seating patrons of the Bengals abandon ship.  Firing Marvin Lewis means paying him the amount of money owed to him on his remaining years, plus the public relations disaster of promoting Bob Bratkowski from within the organization (if you don't believe that is happening, I feel sorry for you). 

Unless Lewis quits, it's business as usual down on the riverfront.  Starting next season, we'll find out who is down there to actually witness this disaster.

 

Comments

[Klinglered]

My family has had tickets to the Bengals since they came to cinci and played in Nippert. I think over the years we peaked at something like 16 season tickets but by 2002 we were down to 2 and i think it will be down to ZERO sooner rather than later.

[Stanley Wilson]

I love it when I hear people say Marvin should be fired. I challenge you to name a better candidate for the job that would willingly coach in Cincinnati? You guys are kidding yourselves. This is like Bengals.com redux.

[Scott Dunham]

I feel like it is 2002 all over again. Time to send Mike Brown another message that we are finished filling his bank account. This time I won't be willing to give in so easily when they call me and beg me to buy my season tickets back like they did in 2003. I absolutely dred the thought of showing up anymore this season with the weather getting cold and watching the worst team in the NFL. They will be lucky to get 20,000 people in the place after the Pittsburgh game.

[ort dagudderguye]

well i look at it this way it came down to either marvin lewis or tom coughlins marine corp attitude and well marvin won and tom coughlins marine corp attitude won a super bowl.maybe tom should have been herethe whole time and this garbage they throw out here never would have happened.money talks bs walks and this team walks it's full of bs.

[ort dagudderguye]

anybody say bill"the chin"cowher as this teams coach he'll set things staright ...oh i forgot he's not a yes man ...he's a winner.thank god i'm a yellow and black attacker i bleed steelers- let's count em 5 1,2,3,4,5, time superbowl champions.

[RickNMd]

Cowher is waiting for the Carolina job, since he now lives in the Raleigh area to save his marriage. He could've had the Redskins or Ravens jobs. Both way better than the Bengals. Even though I do not like Lewis as a head coach, I fear his removal could mean a return to the likes of David Shula. Think about it, what's the difference in the way Al Davis runs things and the way the Browns run things? The Browns appear to be nicer people. Otherwise, nothing.

[Sleeping With Bieniemy]

Stanley Wilson - I suggest you reread the post above because nowhere does it call for Marvin to be fired. We here at WDR are all too aware that his replacement will inevitably be worse.

It is similar to 2002 again, I agree. I also agree this time people will not buy in again unless Mike Brown actually formally agrees to abdicate power. If only...