Packers Calendar: Television Blackout Deadline Looms
Presumably, the Packers have to sellout their remaining allotment of tickets to Sunday's game against the 49ers by Thursday at 3:40 p.m. CT to avoid a blackout.
The Green Bay Packers announced on Wednesday that less than 7,500 tickets were available for Sunday's playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, keeping alive the possibility that the game could be blacked out on television locally.
According to numerous media outlets, the NFL has given teams a deadline of 72 hours before kickoff to sell out or risk a blackout, although extensions have been granted.
With kickoff slated for 3:40 p.m. CT on Sunday, the Packers presumably have until 3:40 p.m. on Thursday to sell out or request an extension.
It's difficult to say how realistic the threat of a blackout really is, because it's possible a corporate sponsor could agree to buy the remaining tickets and avoid such a situation, as has happened for other teams in the past.
As for what's happening with the coaches and players, the Packers didn't practice on Wednesday, instead opting for a walk-through in their newly constructed indoor training center inside Lambeau Field.
But on Thursday, the practice environment changes dramatically.
For starters, they'll be practicing in pads, their only one allowed each week in the postseason per NFL rules.
Even more notable, however, the Packers will be practicing outdoors on Ray Nitschke Field as they attempt to adjust to the downright freezing temperatures they'll encounter on Sunday.
The forecast for Sunday has gotten even colder in the past 24 hours with a high of zero degrees and a low of -18 degrees, according to The Weather Channel. Temperatures will be slightly warmer on Thursday with a high of 11 degrees.
Typically in cold weather, the Packers start practice inside the Don Hutson Center for individual drills and to conduct the learning phase of their walk-through portion of practice. They then go outside for the team portion as they become acclimated to what it's like playing outside.
Before the Packers hit the practice field on Thursday, head coach Mike McCarthy will presumably make his weekly appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (satellite radio) at 10:15 a.m. CT assuming the postseason hasn't changed the usual schedule.
He'll be talking to one of his former players and Packers preseason announcer Rich Gannon along with Bruce Murray on the SiriusXM Blitz.
Then in the evening wide receiver James Jones will make his weekly appearance on 101.1 FM WIXX in Green Bay for 1 on 1 with the Boys from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. CT.
The show can be streamed live online at WIXX.com and through the station's USTREAM video player.
Comments (18)
January 02, 2014 at 11:34 am
Amazing to think there are still tickets available. I lived in WI for over 30 years, only got to go to two games. Then I move to Colorado, and anyone could buy a playoff ticket for this week. Insane.
January 02, 2014 at 11:35 am
I'm baffled by this. I never thought I would see the day when GB couldn't sell out a playoff game, or any game for that matter. If I see tons of red in the stands on Sunday, I'm going to be very disappointed.
Brian Carriveau
January 02, 2014 at 11:38 am
I assume you've done your part to help keep them out. Bought a ticket even if you can use it, just to keep 49ers fans out of Lambeau?
January 02, 2014 at 01:21 pm
You're not disappointed that the Packers can't sell out a playoff game?
Brian Carriveau
January 02, 2014 at 01:40 pm
Nope. If the team went 12-4, it would be sold out. If they sold tickets for $50, it would be sold out. But to be disappointed in fans for not affording it or wanting to sit in subzero temps, I'm not disappointed in them.
January 02, 2014 at 01:58 pm
I am sympathetic to the cost argument. But there wasn't any trouble selling out last year, and the economy isn't any worse now than it was then.
That suggests that the reasons are either:
A.) The fans don't like an 8-7-1 team as much as a 12-4 team.
B.) The fans don't like the cold.
C.) The fans are afraid we will lose.
All three of those go against the whole "the Packers have the best fans" narrative that is out there. My faith in that narrative has been slowly eroded over the last six years anyway, but I'm sad to see it wash away a little bit more.
January 02, 2014 at 12:26 pm
I think its due to the fact that it is going to be freezing and the Packers will likely lose. Its just not worth $200 after all is said and done for a lot of people to see this game. Times are hard.
It angers me to no end that the NFL might blackout this game. Packers fans have supported this team by renovating their stadium and buying worthless pieces of paper. Just think, if the fans hadn't bought the 'stock' to expand the stadium the game would already be sold out. It takes some pretty massive balls to punish a city for supporting their team.
January 02, 2014 at 02:52 pm
You got to believe there is some corporate entity just sitting back waiting for zero hour to buy the remaining tickets. I read where if the team buys them, its at full value. Anyone else its like 34 cents on the dollar but those are playoff ticket prices that are also sky high.
January 02, 2014 at 02:41 pm
The city is a little more than 100k and the stadium seats over 80k. Every game has been sold out. This one will be too. People are getting soft though. A lot of them would rather sit in front of a huge 50" HD TV in their nice warm living room. I've been to the 2nd coldest game and the stormiest, a regular blizzard, was fun though. Also I was a lot younger.
January 02, 2014 at 02:55 pm
Make that a 60" plasma. My wife forced me to buy it so she could watch her Packers. OK, I like it too.
January 02, 2014 at 02:50 pm
I too was surprised of GB sales until I read the Packer Org. changed how they do playoffs games this year. Instead of refunding the money if the Packers did not make the playoffs, they were going to keep the money and put it towards next years season tickets.
All I know is I would not have bought them only to give the Packer Org. a nice little loan for 8 months.
The other thing, you've got some long term fans who aren't getting any younger and the weather is going to be pretty hard on a lot of them so they are passing this time around.
January 02, 2014 at 02:59 pm
I live 15 hrs away, but u buy me a pair of tickets n me n the woman are there. (we spent a ton of money on ninja turtle Christmas presents)
January 02, 2014 at 03:01 pm
Vic Ketchman made perfect sense of why stadiums aren't sold out yet. Packer fans didn't even know if they'd be in the playoffs until AR hit Cobb with 38 seconds left last Sunday. After that Tickets went on sale Monday Morning. They had to sell over 40k tickets in 4 days. People from out of town have to make arrangements, hotels, work , etc.
January 02, 2014 at 03:04 pm
It's alot more involved than your simplistic view.
Try this:
http://titletownsoundoff.com/uncategorized/shame-on-the-packers-organiza...
January 02, 2014 at 03:15 pm
Yes I heard about this too. Season tickets are not a bargain at any time. Just to get them you have to pay a huge deposit. And no one in their right mind would commit the way the season was going.
January 02, 2014 at 03:16 pm
Also if you read the post, it wasn't my view.
January 02, 2014 at 09:27 pm
FAIL by these franchises with unsold playoff tickets. Happened in Cincy and Indy too. Hey, refund the money if you FAIL to get in. Give the non-season ticket holders MORE TIME to buy the single game tickets. Have the Packers "jumped the shark"?
January 03, 2014 at 07:10 am
What's the Bengals and Colts excuse? They were in long before. Lions were issuing tickets weeks ago lmfao.