[John_W]

I know tickets are cheap in Tampa. The Ravens have a preseason game in August and I found sideline tickets for $25. On the otherhand, I'm going to Baltimore later in August and a preseason game there with Carolina, the best I could find was $75.

The blackout rules have been around for a long time. I actually grew up in Tampa/St. Pete, I graduated from St. Petersburg High in 1968. I remember when the Dolphins started play they extended the blackout rules to 250 miles. So if the Dolphins didn't sell out the Orange Bowl, we had no game in Tampa.

Paul Tagliabue was responsible for the mess in Jacksonville. Even though St. Louis and Baltimore had better franchise packages in 1995, he awarded franchises to Carolina and Jacksonville. Florida certainly didn't need a third NFL team, plus the fact Jacksonville is a college town. In the end, the NFL lost the Rams in LA when they moved to St. Louis and Cleveland lost a team for three years when they moved to Baltimore. I love the NFL, but sometimes they create their own problems.

/

[rayschic]

Originally Posted by John_W

I know tickets are cheap in Tampa. The Ravens have a preseason game in August and I found sideline tickets for $25. On the otherhand, I'm going to Baltimore later in August and a preseason game there with Carolina, the best I could find was $75.

The blackout rules have been around for a long time. I actually grew up in Tampa/St. Pete, I graduated from St. Petersburg High in 1968. I remember when the Dolphins started play they extended the blackout rules to 250 miles. So if the Dolphins didn't sell out the Orange Bowl, we had no game in Tampa.

Paul Tagliabue was responsible for the mess in Jacksonville. Even though St. Louis and Baltimore had better franchise packages in 1995, he awarded franchises to Carolina and Jacksonville. Florida certainly didn't need a third NFL team, plus the fact Jacksonville is a college town. In the end, the NFL lost the Rams in LA when they moved to St. Louis and Cleveland lost a team for three years when they moved to Baltimore. I love the NFL, but sometimes they create their own problems.

/

John W..you seem to know a lot about the balckout rules, so maybe you can answer my question. I am seriously asking this question because I really want to know...(please everyone..no bashing..OK?)
My husband and I watched the Tampa Bay Rays game yesterday at home (it was broadcast on Comcast) We went to Beef O'Brady's after for a burger. Beef 's has DirectTV and pays additional for the Sports package, according to two of the waiters there. They said that they could not get the Rays game because it was blacked out on DirectTV. I understand if the team wants everyone to come to the stadium and blacks it out but it seems like the Rays or MLB did not black it out....DirectTV did and Comcast didn't. I think the same thing happens for the BUCS and other sports teams. Can you explain. Thanks

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by DougB

And so the answer is?

Well, it's 82 miles by car but it's only 68 miles as the crow flies. I'm guessing they're blacked out. Or, it's possible that they are blacked out in Brownwood but not in Orange Blossom Gardens.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by rayschic

John W..you seem to know a lot about the balckout rules, so maybe you can answer my question. I am seriously asking this question because I really want to know...(please everyone..no bashing..OK?)
My husband and I watched the Tampa Bay Rays game yesterday at home (it was broadcast on Comcast) We went to Beef O'Brady's after for a burger. Beef 's has DirectTV and pays additional for the Sports package, according to two of the waiters there. They said that they could not get the Rays game because it was blacked out on DirectTV. I understand if the team wants everyone to come to the stadium and blacks it out but it seems like the Rays or MLB did not black it out....DirectTV did and Comcast didn't. I think the same thing happens for the BUCS and other sports teams. Can you explain. Thanks

Blackout rules vary by sport.

In the case of MLB, the local tv station has priority over national, hence you get the Rays on Sun but not on Directtv or Extra Innings.

[rayschic]

Originally Posted by Bucco

Blackout rules vary by sport.

In the case of MLB, the local tv station has priority over national, hence you get the Rays on Sun but not on Directtv or Extra Innings.

Bucco, Thank you very much !

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by rayschic

Bucco, Thank you very much !

Two exceptions in baseball......ESPN on Sunday night and FOX on Saturday,but the FOX blackout rules get a little better in 2014 with the new contract.