Could the Bengals Struggle to Sellout in 2010?

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 25, 2010 1:49 PM EDT in Analysis

Thanks to Chad Ochocinco, area businesses and national sponsors, the Bengals avoided snapping their regular season and playoff sellout streak last year. Five times the NFL granted the Bengals a 24-hour extension to keep their streak going, which now stands at 53 games. Even while the Bengals were successful out of the gate with a 7-2 start, or towards the end while they were close to securing a playoff berth, the team struggled to sellout.

Even though they did maintain their home sellout streak, it was a running story all season. Will the same story resurface this year, even after coming off a playoff appearance?

One indicator of trouble could be that the team would be able to offer single-game tickets if season tickets, two-game packs and four-game packs do not sellout a majority of available tickets. Will the team sell single-game tickets? Joe Reedy says that "judging by the way this went last year, it is highly likely."

This Fox Sports team report writes that "it appears as if ticket sales will again be a problem this season"; though this could largely be based on Reedy's initial report on Wednesday. If that's the case, then they twisted Reedy's point slightly in that he's merely speculating on the trend from last year, whereas the Fox Sports report strictly states that they "will" be a problem again. But I'm being a bit trivial now.

In this day in age where you can sit on your couch with a big-screen high definition television with instant replay (and in DVR, manual replay on our own), a kitchen and bathroom only several feet from you, I find it less surprising everyday that any sporting event struggles to sellout. And in the freezing months of December and January, the couch inside a heated house kind of makes the argument of staying home stronger. And let's be honest, cost is always a factor, which includes parking.

Be honest: Who are you? Would you rather stay in the comforts of your own home without having to pay for anything? Or would do you go for the experience and the joy of watching the Bengals in person?

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Comments

Personally I think if we can't sellout these games

With a successful team then we as a city don’t deserve this NFL franchise.. Using the small market and cold weather as an excuse is only that an excuse when Green Bay the NFL’s smallest market and arguably the coldest market continually sell’s out there games season’s ahead of time.. Jacksonville is having a hard time selling out there games but to me that’s lack of history and success and obviously has nothing to do with weather.. At this point Cincinnati has history with the Bengals and is a successful team.. I’m with Ludwig on this one.. Cincinnati should be there supporting there team if they are successful…If we don’t support them when they are winning then we’re giving Mike Brown and family a legitimate argument for moving this team out of Cincinnati..

by JamesShively on Jun 25, 2010 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

first of all, screw mike brown

second of all, i can attest to the horrible economy of Dayton, with GM closing down there is much less work and people just don’t have the money they used to in order to go to these games, that being said, i have my first season ticket package this year and am ready to watch the Bengals win their first super bowl, i think that if they come out strong and show they are as good as they should be then people will come

by whodeydoc on Jun 25, 2010 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

Yea screw Mike Brown right out of Cincinnati..

The economy isn’t effecting similar size markets from selling out so why with a successful team can’t Cincinnati sell out… It’s unacceptable we should scrounging for pocket change to go see these guys win..

by JamesShively on Jun 25, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Cincinnati has a higher unemployment rate then the national average!

Plus people in this city will be hesistant to support this franchise because of the recent history of LOSING. So lets not judge people if they decide that going to the bengals game isnt worth their HARD EARNED money.

by Diesel2405 on Jun 25, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

It the majority of the city feel's that way

than how do we deserve a NFL Franchise that’s actually winning ? The unemployment rate is horrible everywhere..

by JamesShively on Jun 25, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Cincinnati has a higher unemployment rate then the national average!

by Diesel2405 on Jun 25, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

They're a Playoff Team !! They should sellout !!

by JamesShively on Jun 25, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

im not disagreeing with you Im just saying not everyone has money to go to the games

by Diesel2405 on Jun 25, 2010 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I know not everyone has the money but there's +2 million

In just the metropolitan area…If we’re winning games and not selling out it makes us look like a weak fan base .. If you have the money vs sitting at home there’s no reason not to go support a winning team..

by JamesShively on Jun 25, 2010 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Ill be attending alot of games. I also just got a really good job and a pay increase

by Diesel2405 on Jun 25, 2010 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

James, I've been unemployed for about

2 months, just in 2010. I start back to work on Tuesday. Thank God. I was also laid off last year for 5 months. The only time in 21 years I have ever been laid off. Never thought in a million years that would happen. With that being said, I would ~~assume~~ know that the unemployment rate is miscued. People go back to work then and get laid off again, a lot in construction nowadays and not to say other lines of work. I personally know of 6 people just in my field of work that had season tickets that can’t afford them now. Me being the 7th. I can’t afford them. My/our families come first not Mike Brown. Though I live the Bengals and want to go to the games I just can’t, along with thousand of other people.
Put the Mike Brown 90’s factor in the equation and you have this debate. BTW, Green Bay has a winning tradition and that factors in too. Consistency is the key for success and hopefully that’s here now.
Food for thought, there are many more middle to low class famalies that support their team, rather than well off people. That fact is across the nation. Who has been hit the hardest in this economy?

by WHYUS!! on Jun 26, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Guys I'm in now way rich or trying to be insenstive

To the economy or people’s financial situation and I’m in way shape or form a wealthy man.. I’m just simply saying that we as Bengal fan’s do not look very good when our team is kicking ass and were not at the game to see it.. Detroit, St.Louis, Oakland, and even Cleveland I can understand not selling out but we’re a winning team now.. We should be selling these games out..

by JamesShively on Jun 26, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Well I'm going to get ripped for this one.

I live in Columbus, not Cincy so the trip down is harder for me. I do go down at least once, or twice a year. I usually try to go down to either a Monday night game or a game I think Cincy can win. Last year I picked da Bears, and before that Jacksonville. It’s also tough for me b/c I have 2 kids under 5 now and leaving them at home with my wife for what equals the whole day, leave at 10 get back by 7-8, means I have to do some serious kid make-up watching. Then I have to hear the questions girlfriends ask, “Why do the Refs have yellow flags?” One of my alltime favorites. It also bugs me when between the 3rd and 4th quarter the stadium plays Hang on Sloopy and the chant O.H.I.O. is b i t c h e d about by all the U.C. bandwagon fans b/c they say it’s an tOSU song when it’s actually an OHIO song. The bluejackets, and browns play it as well. I probably won’t have to worry about the U.C. fans complaining as much this year as they will be 4-8 without Brian Kelly. So in conclusion I stay up in C-bus due to sheer logistic issues and annoyance factors. I also can’t get my kids addicted to Bengal football if I’m at the game and their mother is having them watch TLC or some crap like that.

by JoseOle on Jun 25, 2010 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Great answer!

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 25, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

UC 4-8 really? Silly OSU fan, fathers shouldnt be doing drugs

by Diesel2405 on Jun 25, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Well the team as well.. S.Holmes, David Boston, M.Clarrett.. this list goes on !

by JamesShively on Jun 25, 2010 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

It's the economy & Mike ripping off the County

I an a season tix holder and proud. But fellows this is disposable income and the entire game is not cheap especially in this economy. Also Mikey is ripping off Hamilton County at a time when the county can’t afford social services to those in need-by the way the highest since the Depression. I think Mikey needs better PR with the community. Good luck!

by rapher on Jun 26, 2010 8:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions