Undesired Wishes Come True

Crazy idea Mr. Goodell, but your product has become over priced and in zero degree weather, few families can participate.  As multiple media outlets have noted including Bloomberg and ESPN, the NFL is facing a blackout of three of its four post season games this coming weekend.  Lions and tigers (well Bengals) and bears (or Packers)…oh my!

What you don’t seem to understand Roger is that your product is made for TV.  That’s right…the product you have packaged for our television screens for years to increase your revenues is more fun to watch….at home.  Have you been to Jerry World in Dallas, well, Arlington?  There is a Victoria’s Secret there.  What on God’s green Earth does that have to do with football?  You are correct…zero.  Unless of course you count the rent money which comes in to Jerry Jones who then puts a mediocre product on the field.

So your product is first made for TV, but the second reason is the post game is made for TV.  The 11:00 news.  Week after week after week I get to see about some fan assaulted in your stadium parking lots by those who have consumed too much alcohol or just awkward security types.  Sure, some of them were running their mouth and sure too much alcohol probably contributed, but this is the same league that has had its alcohol run ins again and again.  Do I need to mention Josh Brent here in Dallas?  Perhaps closer to playoff football we could mention the Minnesota Vikings and Erin Henderson’s most recent DUI arrest?  I don’t need alcohol to enjoy the game, but why am I going to expose my family to these kinds of idiots which your security turns a blind eye to until it is…too late.

Finally, oh yeah, the family.  I am father of four.  Married, two boys, two girls.  Let’s get crazy and assume I could get just three tickets because the men want to go to the show.  At $100 per ticket that is $300 to set foot in the stadium.  We haven’t paid for parking, bought a souvenir (or three), much less enjoyed a cold $6 soda…or three.

I am amazed at the hubris of the NFL.  Sure, you just got away with one with the player’s lawsuit.  Personally, I think their lawyers must have suffered multiple concussions too to settle for such a low figure, but you shouldn’t be surprised when stadiums don’t sell out when you have made your product for TV and businessmen with their corporate suites and lack of fandom.  You got your wish…so be careful next time for what you wish for may come true again.