"In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

[YardRat]

http://packers.scout.com/2/607707.html

In Buffalo, a trend could be developing. The Bills failed to sell out their final four games despite being in playoff pouncing position and facing intriguing foes: Jacksonville, 'LT' and San Diego, arch-rival Miami, and Vince Young’s Tennessee Titans.

So how do a slew of blackouts sweep through a competitive team?
Just a hunch but maybe fans are growing sick of paying outrageous ticket prices to see players pump their chests after gaining a first down while their team trails by 14. The quality of the game hasn’t eroded, rather fans’ perception of the NFL attitude. Maybe throwing a whole Sunday away simply isn’t worth it anymore. With the media in full force today, fans don’t need to attend a game. They can simply log on to the Internet and have the score fall in their lap.
Have blue-collar Bills fans really grown disgusted by the way players act and taken a stand? Could be. If the NFL isn’t careful, this trend will continue into more markets. Harsher fines and suspensions for off-field crimes and on-field antics are the only way to steer the NFL away from the NBA’s dismal path. Unfortunately, the actions of select athletes overshadow the good that many do like the New Orleans Saints' charity work after Hurricane Katrina, or hundreds of other athletes who work with state and local charities near their
NFL team.

[Mr. Cynical]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

Good article

[RockStar36]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

Are we sure it isn't fairweather fans?

From what I can see the Bills have a larger stadium than most and a smaller area to sell all those tickets.

The Bills/Dolphins paid attendance was higher than any of the 4 wild card games this weekend. The Jags,Fish, and Chargers game had a high paid attendance than the Colts game.

[RedEyE]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

Whatever. Or maybe it's because the majority of Buffalo can't handle buying Sabres tickets, Bills tickets and still have the money to get through the holidays.

4 ****ing home games in a row between the two biggest holidays of the year, with a hot local hockey team selling out every game.

They can stick this article up their ass.

[T-Long]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

I don't agree. I think its the fact that the product on the field has been horrible. We haven't made the playoffs in 7 seasons. I don't blame some of the fans for not coming out, b/c people are just sick and tired of losing. We are too proud of a franchise to be so average the past 7 seasons.

I doubt it has anything to do with a player pumping his chest after a first down. That is just ridiculous.

[G. Host]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

4 ****ing home games in a row between the two biggest holidays of the year, with a hot local hockey team selling out every game.

This is the third time I have seen this posted. It was not 4 games in a row for their was a Jets game in the middle. Four home games between Thanksgiving and Christmas was either poor scheduling or very good targeted scheduling by NFL.

[Typ0]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

http://packers.scout.com/2/607707.html

I've been saying this for a year now.

[Typ0]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

I don't agree. I think its the fact that the product on the field has been horrible. We haven't made the playoffs in 7 seasons. I don't blame some of the fans for not coming out, b/c people are just sick and tired of losing. We are too proud of a franchise to be so average the past 7 seasons.

I doubt it has anything to do with a player pumping his chest after a first down. That is just ridiculous.

I don't think it's rediculous. What's rediculous is seeing a player pump his chest when his team is getting blown out. What's rediculous is seeing rising expenses (not just ticket prices) and the NFL taking zero responsiblity for the status of the referring in the game. I liken the NFL to a political regime whose sole spin with the public is to cover their asses instead of being on the up and up and it is going to impact the view of the league in the consumers eyes.

[HHURRICANE]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

I think it's both. The NFL is going the way of the NBA. For example the NFL Network is an incestuous ridiculous aberation of the greedy league. Second the Bills fans were smart enough to know this wasn't a playoff team and decided to stay home. I guarantee we would have sold out a playoff game at home. Let's see how our attendance compares to teams that have gone 37-43 over the last 5 years.

[Dozerdog]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

Tired of outrageous ticket prices? $40 is outrageous?

We are disgusted over players thumping their chests every play? WTF is he talking about? What Bills players are out there showboating when we are down 14 points?


Looks like another "filler" article. Something to put up just to fill pages.

[Typ0]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

Tired of outrageous ticket prices? $40 is outrageous?

We are disgusted over players thumping their chests every play? WTF is he talking about? What Bills players are out there showboating when we are down 14 points?


Looks like another "filler" article. Something to put up just to fill pages.

the article is saying the culture of the NFL is turning off people not specific plays with "bills players beating their chests". It doesn't matter what team you are watching....when they are losing by 20 pionts and have made zero plays in the first three quarters...and then they finally make a play and have an orgasm on the field that is a very poor display of emotion.

It's this part of the NFL culture that turns people off to the NFL...and if people are turned off to the NFL that will flow right down to people being turned off to the Bills...and that is the point of the article. That since it's a smaller market team we are just seeing the effects here first but they will begin to show up in larger markets as we go forward and the NFL will have a smaller piece of the sports and entertainment marketing share unless they make adjustment.

as far as the ticket prices go...a $4 increase on a $40 ticket is ten percent which is a huge increase. As far as the bills go, didn't they double the cost of parking and increase the concessions? Yeah, it's only 40 bucks...but it's still ten percent if they raise it to 44. That might be a small part of your yearly income where you are blinded by the fact that it's ten percent which is a huge increase. at that rate tickets will be a hundred bucks before you know it.

[Ebenezer]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

Tired of outrageous ticket prices? $40 is outrageous?

We are disgusted over players thumping their chests every play? WTF is he talking about? What Bills players are out there showboating when we are down 14 points?


Looks like another "filler" article. Something to put up just to fill pages.

yet people still watch.....complete filler.

[Throne Logic]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

I'd love to see some stats related to out of town fans who chose not to plan the trip this year due to the possibility of being Flexed to a time that would be incompatible with long distance travel plans.

As I've said previously. I'll never buy a ticket for a game that has a chance to be moved. Too expensive to risk it and I can't get my small group to all take a three day weekend just in case it gets moved to the night game.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

I'd love to see some stats related to out of town fans who chose not to plan the trip this year due to the possibility of being Flexed to a time that would be incompatible with long distance travel plans.

As I've said previously. I'll never buy a ticket for a game that has a chance to be moved. Too expensive to risk it and I can't get my small group to all take a three day weekend just in case it gets moved to the night game.

I'd be willing to bet there were a few thousand other fans in the same boat. I would be one of them.

[Typ0]

Re: "In Buffalo, a trend could be developing"

yet people still watch.....complete filler.

another person who either didn't read the article or can't read one of the two...and it's a silly thing to say. Millions of people watch the NFL...of course people are going to watch you don't lose your entire customer base over night. The question is do all of these shennanigans have an impact on the amount of people who watch/support and the passion for the game the fans have?