Lions fans. All 13 of them.

The Detroit Lions announced on Thursday that they had once again failed to sell out Ford Field, blacking out the local broadcast for the third time in four games.  The NFL Blackout policy, in effect since 1973, states that an NFL game must be sold out within 72 hours of kickoff, or you are subject to a myriad of rules and regulations, the gist of which is that the local fans cannot watch the game.  The reason for this wonderful policy, according to the NFL, is that the threat of not being able to watch the games locally will spur fans to get out to the stadium.  Unfortunately, in the case of the Lions, the NFL is simply shooting itself in the foot.

Let’s take a look at the numbers.  A single Lions ticket will run you $42 a pop for the upper deck.  So right off the bat, you, Susie, and the kids (both of them), should you decide to actually go to the game, are out $168.  Parking anywhere downtown will run you $10.  Figure another $50 for food.  That puts the lowball estimate at $238, no small sum for any family of four.  Of course, things are a little different in Michigan.  The state’s unemployment rate is hovering well over 14%, the highest in the nation.  One in every 283 homes is in foreclosure.  Simply put, the NFL is deluding itself to think that the average football fan in Detroit can pick up and go to a game on Sunday.  This obviously doesn’t take into account the fact that our beloved Lions are a stunning 2-11.  Still not as bad as last year’s infamous winless season, but with rookie stars Matthew Stafford and Brandon Pettigrew out due to injury, along with running back Kevin Smith, there isn’t a lot of enticement to get fans in the stands.

One might say that we are in a bit of a Catch-22 here.  The NFL wants us to go to games to support the team.  No one wants to support a lousy team with little hope on the horizon of becoming competitive.  The Lions themselves are in a tough spot.  It has to be hard to put your heart and body on the line when the fans aren’t coming to see you play.  One would think the NFL would look at the situation and take action, similar to the exemption to the blackout policy during the 2005 season for the New Orleans Saints, which allowed local fans to watch the game even if New Orleans wasn’t able to sell out.  But as of late September, the NFL has no plans to revisit the policy, stating that the policy is “crucial to filling stadiums”.  They do state that you can watch the game on the NFL’s official website after the game airs, for only the nominal fee of $15 a month.  Despite threats from lawmakers to investigate the policy and try to convince the NFL to change the terms, it is unlikely that any changes will happen any time soon.

The fans used to be a critical component in professional sports.  The fans buy tickets to see the best of the best duke it out each week on the field, diamond, or arena.  The ticket money ensured that the owners put a team on the field that fans would want to see.  Now, despite lucrative TV contracts, an NFL average ticket price of nearly $75, and a salary cap that is supposed to promote equity in the league, the Lions are no closer to fielding a winning team than they were nearly ten years ago (2000 being the last season they were able to breach the .500 mark) and the fans are quickly losing interest .  One hopes that sooner or later, the NFL will come to its senses and help this team get back on track.  I just hope that when the finally do, there will be someone left here to watch.