The Chargers Resort To Groupon – Still Get Blacked Out

The Chargers, who can’t seem to do anything right lately (I’d call them “loveable” but that’s far, far from the truth) resorted to using Groupon on Monday to try to sell out this Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Groupon was for an end zone seat priced at $68, which included a $20 voucher for use at the concession stands.  Per Ticketmaster, the price of the same ticket (plus fees and with no voucher) is $76.25.  When the deal went live there were 13,000 unsold seats for this Sunday’s matchup. As of Friday, 11,000 unsold tickets remained, which meant blackout time!  This is the 8th time in the last 16 afternoon home games that the Chargers fans at home won’t be able to watch them lose on TV.

Why are games blacked out? Here’s what Wikipedia has to say:

In June 2012, NFL blackout regulations were revised in which, for the first time in NFL history, home games will no longer require a total sellout to be televised locally; instead, teams will be allowed to set a benchmark anywhere from 85 to 100 percent of the stadium’s non-premium seats. Any seats sold beyond that benchmark will be subject to heavier revenue sharing.  However, four teams, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns, the Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers, have opted out of the new rules, as it would require the teams to pay a higher percentage of gate fees to the NFL’s revenue fund.

D’oh!  Nice move!

But the question remains, why so serious, Chargers fans? Don’t you want to go give Norv the finger one last time? Not a fan of $20 vouchers for beer and food? Trying to solidify the inevitable post-season team shake-up and seemingly more likely move to Los Angeles?

You better hope they keep losing, San Diego faithful, because if they somehow make the playoffs (and subsequently exit in embarrassing fashion) you’ll be stuck with Norv and his freshly minted 8-year deal.

via USA Today