DDP: Approx 8 sections of seating removed in upper deck endzone - more removed as of 2012 DDP, LL Endzone in 2013

[courier2003]

Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but if the stadium doesn't sell out, then they face the threat of local blackouts of the games. I always thought that's how it worked, unless the NFL has changed that rule recently. For 12 years, this team and its fan base have struggled, and it has no doubt affected ticket sales. Once upon a time, FedEx Field had 91,000 seats, and there were even whispers that a Super Bowl might be played in it one day. Since last year, 12,000 seats have been removed from FedEx Field and are being replaced by party decks. I can't help but wonder if the reason for that is because of the dwindling ticket sales. The front office would never admit if ticket sales were down so much that they were forced to remove seats from the stadium. Can you imagine how angry fans would become if they couldn't even watch the game at home?

[DC9]

Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but if the stadium doesn't sell out, then they face the threat of local blackouts of the games. I always thought that's how it worked, unless the NFL has changed that rule recently. For 12 years, this team and its fan base have struggled, and it has no doubt affected ticket sales. Once upon a time, FedEx Field had 91,000 seats, and there were even whispers that a Super Bowl might be played in it one day. Since last year, 12,000 seats have been removed from FedEx Field and are being replaced by party decks. I can't help but wonder if the reason for that is because of the dwindling ticket sales. The front office would never admit if ticket sales were down so much that they were forced to remove seats from the stadium. Can you imagine how angry fans would become if they couldn't even watch the game at home?

Are you serious? Have you read any other posts within this thread at all?

[courier2003]

Are you serious? Have you read any other posts within this thread at all?

With all due respect, DC9. This thread was started over a year ago, and it has over 1300 posts, so pardon me if I missed something. I didn't have a chance to look over but so many of them.

[hail2skins]

The front office would never admit if ticket sales were down so much that they were forced to remove seats from the stadium.

Last summer a Skins official (Lon Rosenburg) basically admitted as such on the radio, saying (in regard to the upper level end zone sections), "Nobody is buying those seats."

I think there are ways for owners to get around the blackout rule, and anyone who goes to games on a regular basis was able to see that the Redskins have had trouble seliing those upper end zone and corner seats for a while. I just think it was a matter of the degree of the problem, and it got to a point where Snyder felt the way that made the most sense was to remove the seats.

[chipwhich]

With all due respect, DC9. This thread was started over a year ago, and it has over 1300 posts, so pardon me if I missed something. I didn't have a chance to look over but so many of them.

Your question is basically the theme of the entire thread.

[SonnyandSam]

First, the blackout rule is only affected by the sale of general admission seats. That excludes all premium seats such as dream seats, club seats, loge seats and suite seats. Owners can buy up all unsold GA seats for 34 cents on the dollar to avoid a blackout. The 34 cents represents the visiting team share of ticket revenue. Snyder has likely been buying up unsold GA seats based on the number of empty seats. The removal of GA seats will lower the likelihood Snyder has to buy up unsold GA tickets.

Also, ticket sales are audited by a CPA firm as required by the NFL. The NFL does not just take the word of the owner or ticket office.

[RFKFedEx]

But remember, every game (including preseason) has been sold out since 1966. The Redskins Post Game Notes reminds us each week, it must be true.

[SonnyandSam]

But remember, every game (including preseason) has been sold out since 1966. The Redskins Post Game Notes reminds us each week, it must be true.

So if Danny is buying up unsold tickets then "someone" has bought them and the game is sold out....which keeps his streak alive.....

Let's hope with fewer seats and a more competitive team, we get "real" sellouts with loud fans.

[Crazy Levi]

The only idea I can think of to prevent this, is instead of printing individual tickets, that you get a season pass, kind of like at six flags. Then at the gate, you just swipe your card every week. You wouldn't be able to transfer it and you would be forced to go, or lose your money. If the whole stadium is sold out to season tickets holders like they say, this would work. I would definitely be down for this idea. Maybe they could make like the 4 corner sections in the upper deck general admission that you could actually buy tickets for, and then of course the standing room only you could buy individual tickets for, but as far as the rest of the stadium goes, it would be 100% Redskins season ticket holders.

This is a terrible idea. We got a team struggling to sell season tickets - let's burden buyers with a ridiculous "paperless ticket" they cannot sell or give away. This would result in a fan revolt that would make the Zorn era look like a love-in.

[skinfan57]

The only idea I can think of to prevent this, is instead of printing individual tickets, that you get a season pass, kind of like at six flags. Then at the gate, you just swipe your card every week. You wouldn't be able to transfer it and you would be forced to go, or lose your money.

If they did this I'd close my season ticket account.

Although I hated games like the Steeler invasion, having a few opposing fans makes for a better game experience as long as the interactions don't get out of hand. I'm looking forward to less traffic this year and shorter lines.

[balki1867]

This is a terrible idea. We got a team struggling to sell season tickets - let's burden buyers with a ridiculous "paperless ticket" they cannot sell or give away. This would result in a fan revolt that would make the Zorn era look like a love-in.

I'm not a fan of this idea per se, but it would be nice to have a system where fans who use their season tickets get rewarded for going (e.g.: quicker seats upgrades for STHes). It would keep the REAL/actual Redskins fans in the best seats. Maybe something like a "check in" app like MLB has. (I got a free Orioles T-shirt last year for being one of the first 50 people to check in at OPACY using the MLB iPhone app).

[tshile]

i think the ticket office has plenty of other things to fix before they start worrying about that

like getting all the brokers out of the lower level

a price cut that reflects the economy and terrible team would also be nice (lol)

[worstSeat]

That excludes all premium seats such as dream seats, club seats, loge seats and suite seats.

Doesn't that also exclude seats behind posts? Seems like I've read here that OV doesn't count.

Owners can buy up all unsold GA seats for 34 cents on the dollar to avoid a blackout. The 34 cents represents the visiting team share of ticket revenue.

Didn't realize that. It all makes a lot more sense now. Where did you find that info?

[SonnyandSam]

Doesn't that also exclude seats behind posts? Seems like I've read here that OV doesn't count.
Didn't realize that. It all makes a lot more sense now. Where did you find that info?

Well, that's a good question. OV seats are not premium seats. They may actually count as General Admission seats. Not sure how obstructed view seats are counted. Owners get all revenue from premium seats. That is why owners want lots of suites and expensive premium seats in their new stadiums. They get to keep all of the associated revenue.

Gosh...the visitor share and payment to avoid blackout was first reported in one of the Florida papers...maybe a Jacksonville paper? I think it was two years ago now. I remember reading it online. Florio over at ProFootball Talk likes to reference it every chance he gets when talking about possible blackouts for games. I'm sure if you Google it you would find it. It is true.

[balki1867]

Well, that's a good question. OV seats are not premium seats. They may actually count as General Admission seats. Not sure how obstructed view seats are counted. Owners get all revenue from premium seats. That is why owners want lots of suites and expensive premium seats in their new stadiums. They get to keep all of the associated revenue.

Gosh...the visitor share and payment to avoid blackout was first reported in one of the Florida papers...maybe a Jacksonville paper? I think it was two years ago now. I remember reading it online. Florio over at ProFootball Talk likes to reference it every chance he gets when talking about possible blackouts for games. I'm sure if you Google it you would find it. It is true.

OV seats don't need to sell out from what I've been told. I was a student at Illinois when the Bears played there while Soldier Field was being renovated. Because of the obstructed views in the stadium, the official sellout capacity was actually pretty small.