^It's because season tickets are still down from where they were when we sold out for like 5 years straight. They've been granted an extension to try to get the sellout, which teams are only granted if they are close to selling out.  I think the sellout rule is pretty dumb, though. I watched part of the Cleveland game last week and the place looked half empty (don't blame the fans for not coming out in the cold to watch J. Campbell and co.), yet I bet it was 'officially' a sell out.

 

Also, a Clevelander should be the last person to express shock over lackluster attendance. I believe the Indians were drawing dismal attendance up until the playoff game, no?

^It's because season tickets are still down from where they were when we sold out for like 5 years straight. They've been granted an extension to try to get the sellout, which teams are only granted if they are close to selling out.  I think the sellout rule is pretty dumb, though. I watched part of the Cleveland game last week and the place looked half empty (don't blame the fans for not coming out in the cold to watch J. Campbell and co.), yet I bet it was 'officially' a sell out.

 

Also, a Clevelander should be the last person to express shock over lackluster attendance. I believe the Indians were drawing dismal attendance up until the playoff game, no?

 

There's a difference between a game every night and one a week, financially speaking.

 

It surprised me.  Here, if the Browns were contending the place would be packed and nuts.

Is this a complaint? It is the Christmas weekend.

^It's because season tickets are still down from where they were when we sold out for like 5 years straight. They've been granted an extension to try to get the sellout, which teams are only granted if they are close to selling out.  I think the sellout rule is pretty dumb, though. I watched part of the Cleveland game last week and the place looked half empty (don't blame the fans for not coming out in the cold to watch J. Campbell and co.), yet I bet it was 'officially' a sell out.

 

Also, a Clevelander should be the last person to express shock over lackluster attendance. I believe the Indians were drawing dismal attendance up until the playoff game, no?

 

There's a difference between a game every night and one a week, financially speaking.

 

It surprised me.  Here, if the Browns were contending the place would be packed and nuts.

 

Doesn't that also show the cities' sports priories? The Browns are the favorite in Cleveland and the Bengals are second to the Reds in Cincinnati

Sold out. So how is that a problem?

He's just trolling. He's bitter that the Browns aren't successful and the Bengals are.

There is no consolation prize to sell out years ahead of time or at the last minute. As long as it is sold out. Many people may have thought it was already sold out. Now that the word was put out it sold out.

He's just trolling. He's bitter that the Browns aren't successful and the Bengals are.

 

U mad, Hoss?  (sorry if that ain't the right lingo) 

 

Tastes bitter doesn't it? :)

 

 

 

It surprised me.  Here, if the Browns were contending the place would be packed and nuts.

 

Well I guess I'll have to take your word on that purely hypothetical scenario... :evil:

He's just trolling. He's bitter that the Browns aren't successful and the Bengals are.

 

U mad, Hoss?  (sorry if that ain't the right lingo) 

 

Tastes bitter doesn't it? :)

 

Not as bitter as a losing season.

lol oh come on now cut it out my fellow bitter brownie fans. this is always the time of year where every browns fan becomes a bengals fan, at least when they dont meet up. its an annual tradition, like it or not because the bengals almost always have something going on and our brown clowns are out of it. so go bengals! ok sure its tepid faint praise, but you know, they do earn their one shoutout per season, haha!

 

this is always the time of year where every browns fan becomes a bengals fan

 

lol oh come on now cut it out my fellow bitter brownie fans. this is always the time of year where every browns fan becomes a bengals fan, at least when they dont meet up. its an annual tradition, like it or not because the bengals almost always have something going on and our brown clowns are out of it. so go bengals! ok sure its tepid faint praise, but you know, they do earn their one shoutout per season, haha!

 

 

Great big not...LOL.  I very slightly hope the Bengals beat the blackandyellow team or the purpleprisongang, but root for anyone else against them.   

 

Even New England.

I root for the Browns unless they are playing against the Bengals.

2 records today. 4 straight home games scoring 40+ points. And the first Bengals team to goto the playoffs 3 years in a row.

this is always the time of year where every browns fan becomes a bengals fan

 

 

lol - exactly!

 

AFC North Champs 2013. Now let's win a damn playoff game!

I root for the Browns unless they are playing against the Bengals.

 

Who doesn't root for 'Rudy'?

AFC North Champs 2013. Now let's win a damn playoff game!

 

They'd better win the last game to get a home game in the playoffs, because they can't play on the road.

Division champs always get a home game.

I'm okay with the Chargers in the first round.  I mostly didn't want the Steelers to make it, quite honestly.  I hope it's cold and snowy next Sunday for the game.  Chargers have a good offense and a defense that has played some inspired games the second half of the season (especially against Denver), but overall it's a defense the Bengals should be able to score against. 

 

Also, allow me to sing the praises of Marvin Lewis, second longest-tenured coach in the league (behind Belichick).  Overall leader in wins as a coach, five playoff appearances, and three (or is that two?) division titles.  Now just go get a playoff win, or preferably four. 

Will it or won't the playoff game sellout countdown is on. Heard Canley will be at Marvin's press conference!?

 

Belichick... where he get his start in the NFL hmm... what was THAT team thinking.

If I undestood your (not too) subtle jab correctly..... THAT team was led by an owner who was thinking about being bad enough to attempt to alienate an unwavering fanbase so as to 'justify' a move of one of the league's most storied franchises to Baltimore (where Belichik started his coaching career, ironically). 

If I undestood your (not too) subtle jab correctly..... THAT team was led by an owner who was thinking about being bad enough to attempt to alienate an unwavering fanbase so as to 'justify' a move of one of the league's most storied franchises to Baltimore (where Belichik started his coaching career, ironically). 

 

Belichick also didn't have very good "people skills".  He still doesn't, for that matter, but it's far more important when you have an owner's son undercutting your team discipline.

 

Ironically, you seemed to do better when the founder's son got less involved.

 

Belichick... where he get his start in the NFL hmm... what was THAT team thinking.

 

:wtf: :wtf:

Mayor Awkward Cranley. He only mentioned Gold Star once.

 

http://www.bengals.com/media-lounge/videos/Mayor_John_Cranley_Support_Cincinnati/7ab114cd-3333-4eba-b223-7472c76e3909

 

Belichick... where he get his start in the NFL hmm... what was THAT team thinking.

 

:wtf: :wtf:

 

I know it's too easy, but I couldn't resist a shot at the northerners.

what's this I hear??  As of today the Bengals are 10,000 tickets short of a sell-out and the pay-off game on Sunday may be blacked-out to the local market?  Deadline is 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. 

Chad Johnson is buying the rest.

what's this I hear??  As of today the Bengals are 10,000 tickets short of a sell-out and the pay-off game on Sunday may be blacked-out to the local market?  Deadline is 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. 

 

Really interesting right now. Indy is 6000 away from a sellout, and Green Bay--which has what otherwise appaers to be a rabid fan base--is 11,000 away from a sellout. 

 

Tickets are expensive.  I think it's almost 90 bucks for the cheapest ticket or whatever. 

Won't the local bars and advertisers buy up any shortfall to prevent a blackout?

I think they will get an extension, and then some kind of people stepping in to buy tickets. 

Chad Johnson says he will buy them.

Chad Johnson says he will buy them.

 

Chad Johnson can't pay his child support.  There's almost a million bucks of tickets unsold.

 

They're lucky they aren't playing Pittsburgh or Cleveland in the first round, from a PR standpoint.  if that was the case those tickets would be sold, but...

I really don't understand the Packers situation.  Don't they have like some massive wait list for season tickets???

^Maybe, but charging super bowl prices for a play off game is crazy. I saw it was over $300 they wanted. If this is the sign of the future. I see bad news for the NFL.

 

I know the Bengals tickets was averaging over $140. With a low of $95. What was it in the 2005 and 2009 home play off games? Also back then the games was over a week after the holidays not the same week as new years.

I don't think the Bengals had this problem in 2005 and 2010. We've been in the playoffs so often I've might not have the right years.

 

I was surprised to hear about Green Bay too, but from what I understand the NFL determines ticket prices and keeps ALL the revenue.

 

The Bengals tickets are $96 and $106 including fees. Indy and GB have much wider prices ranges.

^ Add in parking and you're getting close to $300 for a couple of tickets. Want to take a family of four and maybe buy some food and drinks? You're probably going to be dropping $500, and it's only a week after Christmas. It also doesn't help that the low Sunday is 5 and it's going to rain and snow all day long.

 

Plus, Bengals fans are used to cheap tickets. There were $20 tickets on stubhub for the Vikings game. 

The game could still be a sellout, but not shown on local tv. You can however view it on the first ever internet NFL stream from CBS.com.

What kinda crock is this? Apparently you have to buy two tickets. One for this game and the next game if it's played in Cincinnati. If there is no other game played at home that second ticket s not refunded, but applied to next year games. IS THAT TRUE???

The game could still be a sellout, but not shown on local tv. You can however view it on the first ever internet NFL stream from CBS.com.

 

Actually the live stream would be blacked out in our market as well.

What kinda crock is this? Apparently you have to buy two tickets. One for this game and the next game if it's played in Cincinnati. If there is no other game played at home that second ticket s not refunded, but applied to next year games. IS THAT TRUE???

 

I've not heard the same thing. I think that is a rumor. I have gone to the checkout page without purchasing tickets and it is only charging me for the single game. Where did you hear this?

I read it on a blog. Were you a season ticket holder?

^nope. I just went on the website and looked for tickets. Found 2 tickets around the 40 yard line (fairly high up) for about $192 total after taxes.

When was the last time, regular season or playoffs, that a Bengals game was blacked out locally?

Bengals sold out all home games this year. They sold out 6 of 8 last year. Baltimore at Miami in 2001 is the last time a playoff game has been blacked out.

 

So far only the Saints have sold out their game. Bengals, Colts, and Packers still haven't.

^nope. I just went on the website and looked for tickets. Found 2 tickets around the 40 yard line (fairly high up) for about $192 total after taxes.

 

That's the real problem right there. A lot of people who'd like to go can't really afford to blow $100 on a ticket, myself included.

Jeff Ruby bought 100 tickets

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20140102/BIZ/301020062

Bengals sold out all home games this year. They sold out 6 of 8 last year.

 

Were the two games last year blacked out?  I only asked because I didn't even think blackouts were an issue anymore in the NFL until reading this....

 

The cities most affected by blackouts are Buffalo, Cincinnati, San Diego and Tampa. Owners continuously fail to sell enough tickets to home games, which trigger the blackouts.

 

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/nfl-blackouts-what-it-means-for-sports-fans

 

When push comes to shove in most markets, the local interests who profit from the games being televised step up and buy the remaining seats.  However, I also learned from another site that the regular season rule which allow tickets to be bought up at 1/3 cost to prevent a blackout doesn't apply to playoff games....... so I guess it is more of a legit threat than I earlier presumed. 

They changed the rule to allow cities to show local games if they sell out 85% of tickets to a game. Teams can also ask for extensions.

 

One problem is if the team doesn't sell out the game until after the deadline, but it still sells out, the local broadcasts can't show the game (for whatever reason). The deadline is usually the Wednesday before the Sunday game. They got an extension for this game to Thursday because of the holidays. I would guess the Bengals have asked for an extension through Friday, but I don't know.

 

I also don't know if those two games last year were blacked out locally or not, though I think they were.