Bengals Fans Need to Make Noise on Blackouts ASAP

by Anthony Cosenza on Jan 20, 2012 9:00 PM EST

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals takes the field for the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on November 27, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Browns 23-20. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)

(Editor's note: Brian Frederick is Executive Director of Sports Fans Coalition and an occasional blogger at SBNation.com. Brian is passionate about the NFL's "Blackout Rule" and holds the opinion that Bengals fans have it the worst amongst any other fanbases regarding the consequences of the rule. The following is a write up that Brian did for us at Cincy Jungle about his organization. A big thanks to Brian for his contribution. Enjoy.)

The FCC’s recent decision to look at its sports blackout news should come as welcome news to Bengals fans. This season, the Bengals had the most blackouts of any city in America. While owners in other cities have made efforts to minimize blackouts, Bengals owner Mike Brown seems to have made no such efforts. The average Bengals ticket cost $72 this season, which is more than 15 other teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles. That Bengals fans should have to pay more than Eagles fans to see a game is utterly absurd. After all, the Bengals have had only 3 winning seasons in the last 20 years and the Bengals lost their first postseason game each of those 3 years.

And then there’s the enormous cost Hamilton County is paying for the stadium. Most experts consider the arrangement between the county, the team and Paul Brown Stadium to be one of the worst deals in history. Just consider the fact that five years from now, the county will have to pay the Bengals to play its games in Paul Brown Stadium. So Bengal fans will have had to pay for construction of the stadium, improvements, and eventually "reverse rent" to the Bengals, in addition to the higher than average cost of tickets. And if they don’t, the games will be blacked out. Absurd.

How Mike Brown thinks he can build a fan base by blacking out potential customers is beyond me. But let’s focus on what fans can do to do fight back.

In November, Sports Fans Coalition and four other public interest groups filed a petition asking the FCC to eliminate its sports blackout rule. The FCC’s rule says that if league rules prohibit a local broadcaster from carrying a game, then cable and satellite companies are also prohibited. That’s why even fans with DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket still can’t see the blacked out games. It’s a needless government regulation that only serves to prop up the leagues’ anti-fan blackout policies.

Sen. Sherrod Brown offered his support in November after the ridiculous Browns-Bengals blackout on Thanksgiving weekend and just last Thursday, the FCC agreed to the first review of sports blackouts in 36 years.

Here’s what FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell had to say about the agency’s action:

Taking a fresh look at this 36-year-old rule could be constructive as we look for rules to streamline and modernize. Over almost four decades, the economics and structure of both the sports and communications industries have experienced dramatic evolutions. We now live in a world with not only local broadcast stations, but also cable, satellite, the Internet and wireless, and where television and merchandizing revenues exceed ticket sales. It is appropriate for us to re-examine the rule in light of marketplace changes.

The media landscape has certainly changed drastically, even if sports broadcasting hasn’t. It’s time to reconsider how the leagues use the media, especially considering we grant them an antitrust exemption to negotiate broadcast contracts.

Anyway, for the next three weeks, the government actually wants to hear from sports fans. And nowhere is it more important that sports fans speak up than in cities like Cincinnati.

Sports Fans Coalition is trying to make it easy for fans to submit comments to the FCC. You can do so here, and soon, at EndBlackouts.com. But we also could use some help from some fans in Cincinnati who would like to get off the sidelines and into the game. If you’re interested in helping lead the Sports Fans Coalition Cincinnati chapter, drop me a line at brian@sportsfans.org.

Never have fans had a great opportunity to put an end to blackouts. Bengals fans need to make some noise!

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regardless of what PFT says

mike brown loves that lease with cincy so much, he’s been trying to sneak extensions of upwards to 20 years (2047) into meetings with Hamilton County.

Stuart Dornette, a partner in the Taft Stettinius & Hollister law firm and lawyer for the Bengals, confirmed to the Business Courier that the Bengals are seeking the county’s assurance that a new scoreboard will be installed at Paul Brown Stadium and the right to extend the lease until 2047. The lease is currently scheduled to expire in 2027 but it allows the Bengals to twice renew for five additional years. The new lease provision would add five new options for 2-year extensions each.

or you can trust mike floria on brown’s plans to move the team to LA

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Jan 21, 2012 8:56 AM EST reply actions

EndBlackouts.com.....I think the site is down..or nonexistent

Lets go guys….just think about this: “3rd and long, the pass to green in the endzone…..bufferring….buffering”……Lets end these blackouts……HATE THIS RULE….

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 21, 2012 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

Tood Portune is a joke....estimating that the Bengals concessions are "70 million"

No. They are 0. They asked for 20 million for the new scoreboard, which you agreed to.

They want to extend the lease. They only don’t owe rent payments, b/c you agreed to that. The county will never have to pay the 20 million of reverse rent so long as the time left remaining on the lease is more than 9 years.

Is this seriously how politics work in Hamilton County? I have no doubt that the Bengals receive these “concessions”. But Todd Portune is going to act like the Bengals are the bad guys, b/c it’s a story that plays well. Eff him, lying troll.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Jan 21, 2012 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

I'm still incensed by Portune.

Hamilton County signed a lease. That lease says the Bengals don’t pay rent. And that the Bengals get 20 million paid to them for occupying the stadium during the last 9 years of the lease.

Does anyone else see how much that term favors the Bengals?

Basically, it works like this: you keep extending our no rent stadium lease, and you don’t have to pay us 20 million bucks over the last 9 years of the lease. So long as there are more than 9 years left on the lease for the life of hte lease, you don’t owe us anything.

Basically, it’s a way for the Bengals to ensure that they continue to not have to pay rent. If the County wants to force them to pay rent, the County, for 9 years, first has to pay the Bengals about 2 million a year, and let this lease expire.

So bad. The only thing worse than signing a lease that bad is then lying about the real bad guy in all of this.

And final issue: who does Todd Portune think will pay rent on the stadium if the Bengals leave? He thinks someone will pay 20 million in rent for 10 years of use of PBS? Who? I’m glad he knows that there is a mysterious football team out there just dying to come in and play at PBS.

I wish that I lived in Hamilton County. I’d be leading the charge to vote this tool out.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Jan 21, 2012 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

supply and demand Grizzly

we demand football more than the owners need to supply it…at least here in Cincy…hate to use L.A. because I dont see us going there, but this city realizes that it is a privilege to have an NFL team…I am with you though on Portune…It seems like he is more concerned with demonizing the Bengals than finding common ground between the team and the city…

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 21, 2012 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

Oh I didn't mean to act like I was throwing the Bengals under the bus.

I’m a big proponent of bargaining and getting the best deal that you can. Big props to the Bengals for that.

Hamilton County got the shaft, but trying to blame that on the Bengals is reprehensible.

And still one more rant :) In a business journal, where’s the hard hitting question? The question should have been: how did this term get into the lease? The answer would have been, “well, Hamilton County agreed to it.” D’oh!

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Jan 21, 2012 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

Ive also heard this refferd to

As the worst staduim deal in the history of sport,on several occasions and different news outlets
Never want to see the Bengals move,but that speaks for itself,considering at the time the team
hadnt produced a winning team in the last 14 years

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 21, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Oh yeah no doubt.

I knew it was bad, but this whole 9 years of Hamilton County paying the Bengals just makes it awful. I didn’t know that was in there.

I don’t know who agrees to that, but ugh. At least own up.

If Hamilton County wants to accuse the Bengals of fraud in the negotiations, man up and go for it. Don’t continue this sissy baby nonsense about complaining about every term of the lease that you agreed to. Put your actions where your mouth is.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Jan 21, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

just to put my 2 cents in it

Remember Bob Bedinhaus (however you spell his name)? He worked for the county/city and worked this deal out with the Bengals. He told every one that this was a good deal for both sides and the other commissioners I guess agreed on his word. It was like nobody really read the contract and just relied on Bob Bedinhaus. After Bob left politics he was hired by Mike Brown.
Hmmmm! Makes you wonder, Eh?
But Yeah, I agree that the commissioners didn’t do their jobs and they need to stop pussy foot’n around….

by WHYUS!! on Jan 21, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

That's kind of what I was getting at. I know the county has tried to place some blame on him by naming him,

so just go for it. If you hate the lease and the Bengals as much as Todd Portune acts like he does, file a suit for fraud in court.

So over the belly aching over the lease, when it’s clearly being done just to gain political favor. The worst part is the angle doesn’t even play as well when the Bengals are playing well and Brown is starting to turn things around w/ the seat price decline for next year and the free ticket deal this year.

Wouldn’t it be crazy if in a year or two bad mouthing the lease and the Bengals is actually bad for your political fortunes? Now that would be unexpected, and welcomed.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Jan 21, 2012 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

Worst Stadium Deal...

…one of the outlets who made that conclusion was the Wall Street Journal. They may not always get macro-economics dead on, but they know micro-economics cold.

When the Wall Street Journal says you got hosed on the deal the only thing you can do is get in your car, drive to the guys house who hosed you, and take a dump on his doorstep. At least, that is how I would handle it.

by wordtrey on Jan 21, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Just win

The only reason i would see to eliminate the blackout rule,is if a successful team still cant sellout
What happened to the Bengals last year,was wrong for that team,but teams of the past created that.
If a owner is that stupid to charge so much for tickets,or not create incentives to sellout,then sorry about his luck.

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 21, 2012 9:11 AM EST reply actions

I honestly think people use the owner as an excuse

As soon as the ticket prices dropped….The stadium was full…I think we all need to stop with the “I’’m not giving one more cent to that stupid owner”….come one guys….its getting old…quick

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 21, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

Well ya,that didnt really have the effect you think though

There wasnt this big group of people who stayed away cause of MIke B.
Ticket prices,combined with the agony Bengal fans have gone through,then to top all of that off,the total disregard
for kids,or respect of the city,bringing in any and every thug you can possibly get,teamed up with the 2 look at me and
fuk my teammates WR’s,a HC who didnt want to come back,and the teams only beloved player,would rather retire than
play here.

The team is on the right path,but i cant see complaining about the blackout’s for that reason there
Of course there are other teams and situations,but here in Cincy,get over it

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 21, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

+1

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 21, 2012 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

Getting old?

I don’t see how that is possible.

I know psychology says victims often fall in love with their abusers, but jesus. Mike Brown gets richer every year while providing a sub-standard product that is only viable due to monopolistic control over the Cincinnati market.

He is a miserable, incompetent, egotistical, succubus.

Anyone is free to give him money, but I would suggest feeding dollar bills into a machine that kicks you in the balls instead.

by wordtrey on Jan 21, 2012 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

It's no wonder

the paid attendence is so low. It’s really hard to forget that Mike Brown still owns this team. Those of you that live close enough to attend a game cannot forget his misdeeds. It’s easier to stomach Brown when you watch the Bengals on your flat screen. Your comment is terribly accurate, wordtrey.

by nohops on Jan 21, 2012 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

so why did the stadium sellout in about 5 minutes when prices dropped

I agree with your analysis of Mikey…He is ALL those things…I just think people and the media used this as an excuse…The real reason that people arent coming is the economy…Almost everyone I know is either laid off or doing worse than they have the past 5 years..My point is: its not a societal or behavior reason (it may be a little), but rather a financial reason…But I am with you on Mikey being a succubus…..good word by the way

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 21, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

It is minimalizing to refer to it as a “price drop”, to say the least. It was a fifty percent reduction AND an important game for the team.
There are people against brown. The people buying those tickets were, if you recall, already season ticket holders and, ergo, not in the latter group.

And succubus isn’t applicable.

Go Reds!
(and gooooo krogering)

by supergrover on Jan 21, 2012 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

I know there is deep Mikey hatred

I know hes hurt you supergrover..your scared arent you..your scared to love again…can we break down those emotional defenses and get to the real supergrover…the crying boy screaming “someone just love me”….let go of the anger….gooosfraaabaaa

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 21, 2012 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

Agree about the economy

That was the biggest reason people stayed away,but last years team,left a bad taste in every Bengals fan
With low expectations heading into the season,most people was just waiting for the team to crumble,your average fan
didnt jump on the Bandwagon until the season was about over.

The fans here at Cincy Jungle would be considered die hard fans,not just your average fan

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 21, 2012 9:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

TV Blackouts

I live in the Dayton market and honestly I don’t want to travel to Cincy or plan my whole weekend around the game However I would purchase an Absentee Ticket that would count as attendance if I were able to Pay Per View the game with a voucher of sort. Does anyone know if this has ever been attempted or discussed.

by Backyard Bengal on Jan 22, 2012 11:48 AM EST reply actions

That's a good idea

Not sure they’d go for it unless the price of PP was the same as a Ticket plus a few beers/sodas.

by Bigcatdaddy on Jan 22, 2012 2:00 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Fans Pay for it...

Without the fans there would be no game. The fan should be able to see their favorite team anywhere when they want. In this informational age I find it hard to believe that we can’t find a way to see our favorite sports teams especially when we are more than willing to pay for it.

by Backyard Bengal on Jan 22, 2012 12:02 PM EST reply actions