Incomplete Pass: Jaguars, Browns Struggle With Ticket Sales

Browns Could Face First TV Blackout Since Return To NFL

The Jaguars this season "may be forced to blackout most, if not all, eight regular season home games on TV," according to Vito Stellino of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. The Jaguars need to sell 50,000 non-premium seats at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium "to lift the blackout, but they're not close to that figure after finishing their season ticket renewal campaign." The team did not disclose how many non-premium seats they have sold, but an NFL source "put the figure in the 35,000-range." Jaguars Senior VP/Business Administration Tim Connolly said avoiding blackouts is "going to be challenging." Connolly added that the team is "starting a 12-month payment plan next month for fans who want to buy tickets for the 2010 season" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/15).

MORE BARK THAN BITE? In Ohio, Steve Doerschuk noted no Browns game has been blacked out since the team returned to the NFL in '99, but "that could change in 2009 unless the Browns reach season-ticket goals." Browns President Mike Keenan said, "Based on where we're at right now, we don't expect that to be any issue whatsoever." The team's season-ticket renewal deadline was May 1, and Keenan said, "We're still following up with calls. We hope to be at that point, over 90[%] (of the season-ticket goal reached), and from that point we'll get into what we call the trips packs of three games." Keenan noted the Browns this year are "introducing another product called the nickel pack, which will be a five-ticket package" (CANTON REPOSITORY, 5/12).