Lack of sold out NFL play off games.

This is an addition, rather that a correction to the Blog of May 10th, 2010.

In the 1950’s, Movie theatres had a problem with declining attendance. They tried adding 3-d and taking advantage of America’s love of the automobile by letting people stay in their cars.

Sports, and in particular the NFL, is experiencing a decline in attendance at stadiums. Cheap Large screen, HD, Flat TV's are the main reason. It is not the only reason, each team has its own peculiarities, of course. But, when you look at the overall home experience, you can purchase the TV once with the cost of a single game or season ticket, depending on the size of the set, and have it without the hassle of traffic, crowds, and weather.

Like it or not, unless the weather is perfect, they aren’t going. I don’t care what people say about an open-air stadium, such as Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, they do not like the sun in their eyes and baking down on their heads. Do you want proof, I had mine during an Autograph signing and Open Public practice in August of 2012, when there were about 5,000-10,000 people in the stands and not one was sitting on the East side because the Sun was still shining. Everybody was sitting on the West side because they wanted to sit in the shade. This practice was not televised, of course, none of them are. It rained and was cancelled after about 30 minutes. Everybody went home.

The NFL will blame it on everything else, but don’t see them attacking the problem. That won’t happen. As far as they are concerned, they aren’t doing anything wrong. I can see their point. How do you “keep people safe”, when you are telling them you don’t trust the fans so you have to check everything from a glass of water to a purse they bring into the stadium, too. “Welcome to the game, we don’t trust you. If you don’t like it, stay home.”

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!