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Sellout? Not Quite, But Pretty Close

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By KATHERINE SMITH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

Updated: 01/04/2008 12:23 am

TAMPA - The NFL has proclaimed Sunday's game between the Bucs and the New York Giants a sellout. Ticketmaster says otherwise.

Approximately 500 tickets remain for the NFC wild-card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium. Those tickets are in the pricier club section. Because those are the only tickets remaining, the NFL will not impose a television blackout.

"We were never in danger of having a blackout," Bucs spokesman Jeff Kamis said.

The Bucs, however, attempted to ban non-Florida residents from purchasing tickets by imposing resident restriction with Ticketmaster. That was until New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo stepped in Thursday and pointed out possible legal problems.

"It raises issues, interstate commerce issues," Cuomo told The Associated Press. "There are constitutional prohibitions against states discriminating against other states' residents or impeding business by other states. There are possible discrimination issues."

It wasn't the first time a team had attempted to control which fans bought tickets, but the Bucs relented to Cuomo's request and removed the restriction.

"It was determined that due to our long relationship with Ticketmaster and numerous requests from our Buccaneers fans out of state, we would honor their request," Kamis said.

The Bucs are confident the remaining seats will be sold before Sunday. They have sold out every home game since RJS opened in 1998. That's 101 games, from preseason to postseason.

Based on fans' comments on message boards and on local talk radio, price seems to be the determining factor for why the Bucs have failed to sell out Sunday's game. The NFL determines the pricing for playoff tickets, and those prices have gone up since the last time Tampa Bay hosted a postseason game. In their 2006 game against the Washington Redskins, prices ranged from $67 to the most expensive club seat price of $345. Ticket prices this year ranged from $70 to $545. In both years, the Bucs required fans to purchase tickets for two home playoff games, even though the second game was not guaranteed.

Brian Kollar of St. Petersburg said that is too much money to pay to watch a football game. Kollar plans to park himself in front of his television Sunday to root on the Bucs.

"A lot of people are in the same boat as I am," he said. "I think a lot of fans are miffed that the NFL is pricing out the average fan."

For nine consecutive years as a season-ticket holder, Kollar's home game-day routine usually began with tailgating in the parking lot and concluded with a lot of cheering for the Bucs inside the stadium.

Kollar did not renew his season tickets this year and misses the stadium camaraderie, but he doesn't mind the additional money in his pocket.

"It's a good time to be with your friends, and hopefully you see a good game," Kollar said. "But it has just become too much to go to the games."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860 or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

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