Preseason finale blacked out, more blackouts on way?

The Dolphins preseason finale against Dallas at Sun Life Stadium will not be televised live because the game will not be sold out in time to lift the local TV blackout. The game will be televised on a taped delay basis.

The Dolphins will make the announcement later this afternoon so that fans wishing to watch the game live have time to get their tickets and make plans to attend. The game will be broadcast by WFOR (Channel 4 in South Florida) starting at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday on tape and then be rebroadcast on Friday on Channel 33 at 8 p.m. Friday.

That's not good news, but the more sobering news may be on the horizon.

The Dolphins also plan to make it clear to their fans that tickets sales for regular-season games are not going as well as the team would like and that could mean blackouts of several meaningful regular-season games are about to happen.

Several home games on the regular-season schedule -- starting with the Week 2 game against Houston -- are so far from being sold out that the club is warning fans the only way to see them might be to buy tickets.

Games against Buffalo, Denver, and perhaps even Dallas and Washington may not be sold out in time to lift the local TV blackout unless local fans purchase tickets at a rate not yet seen in 2011.

That means Miami's regular season streak of 102 consecutive blackout-lifting home sellouts, dating back to October 1998, is in jeopardy barring a run on tickets. The Dolphins' streak is currently at 101 consecutive home sellout but the club expects to sell out the Sept. 12 regular-season opener against New England, which would mark the 101st game of the streak.

The Dolphins overall streak of consecutive sellouts, counting playoffs, dates back to January 2002 when a playoff game against Baltimore failed to sell out in time to lift the blackout.

So what does this mean?

Some thoughts:

• Several NFL teams, including Jacksonville, Oakland, San Diego and Tampa Bay are having similar problems selling tickets. That speaks to these being tough economic times and folks being careful with their disposable income.
• The Dolphins are in a tough situation because the people of South Florida have options if they want to go to a sporting event. The Hurricanes, Panthers, and Heat all play here. Oh yeah, the Marlins are here also, although most locals avoid attending their games.
• This being South Florida, there are other activities for people to enjoy in the winter.
• The Dolphins are hurt by the fact they were 1-7 at home last season. Those losses stung. Folks didn't enjoy going home from games unhappy and are obviously guarding themselves from a similar experience this year.
• Some fans are waiting to see how the club does against the Patriots in the season opener before making a ticket buying commitment. Win the opener and the club will give people a reason for coming back. Lose, and it could be hard to convince folks to purchase seats for the following week's game against Houston -- a team the Dolphins have never beaten.
• The Dolphins don't have a recent history for playing entertaining football. Folks down here want victories and even if those don't come in droves, they definitely want points. The Dolphins have been point-challenged the last couple of seasons.
• The NFL lockout obviously hurt the club's marketing.
• The lack of big-name offseason additions hurt the club's marketing.

This news will be jarring to some South Floridians. Folks have gotten spoiled with the idea of having the Dolphins on TV every Sunday during the season. Even during the 1-15 year, all the games were sold out in time to televise them.

But those days are gone. The club is going to make that clear. No owner can absorb the cost of buying his own tickets, particularly when the number of unsold tickets hover around 13,000 as it currently does for the Houston game.

Local television stations also don't have that kind of money. Last year, for example, the total number of tickets purchased to secure sellouts was no more than 2,000 for the entire season.

So the message that is about to come from the Dolphins should be clear to local Dolphins fans: Ticket sales are lagging. And unless they improve dramatically, the Dolphins will not be on local TV every Sunday.

If fans want to make sure they see their team play, they will have to buy tickets.

Comments

[oscar canosa]

Shrewd in business? Bro, apparently Time has passed You by.

[KeyJoe]

Hehe

Keep thinking that

See how the FBI arrested those guys in Canada

And stopped oversea gambling and poker site??

Your not to smart

But most lowlife thieves aren't

[KeyJoe]

Some are feeling foolish and regretful they paid up for direct tv or season tickets. They won't be renewing their subscriptions though...

[Maine Contrarian]

I would like to read about the tonal experimentations of Philip Glass, the mathematic daring of Godel, or the linguistic and political musing of Noam Chomsky rather than this brain dead drivel.

[KeyJoe]

Facilitating A Crime

Look it up dummy

When your not ripping off your fellow fans

[KeyJoe]

See how the FBI can't stop a new site popping up every week. I haven't missed a game yet. The FBI are always 6 months behind the curve, they have much better things to do. They will give it up soon. Relocating the streaming sites is a very minor task done in a few hours.

[oscar canosa]

Well, Phillip Glass is all about tonal repetitions and.......well, allright.

[KeyJoe]

Fake Key Joe

You will one day wake up and realize who is ripping who off.

For now you continue to call me a thief yet it is you who is robbing my name. See how blind dumb you are? You are the only thief here. Thief. Afraid to recognize your own stupidity no less. Sad really.

There is no law that says I can't go to a website.

I have an extra case of root beer at home. I paid 25 bucks for it, I'll sell it to you for $2500 if you want it since you like to be foolish with your money.

[oscar canosa]

The geodesics of Time/Space continuum say...well, allright.

[oscar canosa]

Noam Chonsky is FOS.

[KeyJoe]

Fake KeyJoe

You will be banned permanently from the site for stealing my name, as Armando does not tolerate this.

While you are permanently banned, I will be streaming the NFL in high definition on the home theater.

[KeyJoe]

Got to run now. To those who can't get the games, just pass by here game day for the links to watch any NFL game you want for FREE.

[KeyJoe]

No matter what I say

I am a thief one who rips people off

No matter how I try to justify it here

I am a low life, scum who rips a legitimate business off

Along with my fellow fans

Justify all you want douchebag

Your a thief

[oscar canosa]

What is this, both KeyJoe, some kind of sabotage?

[Observation]

With stadium attendance going down, expenses ever increasing, the convenience of streaming video getting more prominent daily, the stadium experience may be disappearing. Future stadiums may be very small and attended only by the elite, while most fans watch online at home or in sports bars and avoid high stadium prices, parking, traffic.

[oscar canosa]

It comes to a point where this isn't funny anymore, you know?

[Dragonfly13]

My wife and I are not paying 300 bucks to go and sit in Joe Robbie Stadium to watch a disfunctional team. Did you see RG and Center during the Bucks game? Terrible play by both. Carey reminded me of a "turn Style" at Bass Pro Shops. Carey missed block after block..How can Ireland or Sparano justify Careys Salary? Nate Garner is a much better player and cheaper and theres Berger. Havnet heard about their injuries.

[Victor Barney]

IF THIS IS TRUE..., THIS I PROMISE: BYE-BYE MIAMI FOREVER!!! WATCH!

[The Wolf, ICU, semiconscious]

for those of u hating on ross, ireland and sparano

one of the reasons ts has changed styles is coz of ross telling him to, the other is coz he recognised the need and his own mistaken philosophy would not lead to winning

all (nearly) successful coaches take time to achieve success BUT THEY do learn from their mistakes, daboll will also benefit from his mistakes and one will be not to trust the o-line to ts in future!!

u guys may not find these past articles of interest but i do,and i post them coz at the time they gave me hope, it's still only preseason but they remind me of where we were and where we are (hoping) yes it's taking a long time but as long as the fins go 9-7 or better the fo should stay and build on their knowledge and the team we currently have,

i think sustained seasons of success are nearhttp://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-01-16/sports/fl-berardino-dolphins-tony-sparano-0120110116_1_tony-sparano-tom-coughlin-coach-coughlin

http://www.thephinsider.com/2011/3/23/2066807/miami-dolphins-tony-sparano-new-offense-is-different-but-will-still-focus-on-running

because u HAVE to trust the pilot when u get on the plane I will trust ts in his opinion of the r oline (which maybe the opposite of what he says publicly for all i know) like the plane if the the pilot crashes it i'll be dead anyway so i might as well relax and look out the window, never know i might get to where i want to be - playoffs!!

[oscar canosa]

Very good observation, Observation.

[The Wolf, ICU, semiconscious]

doesn't mean i've flipflopped on my opinion of the fins PR - it stinks like a skunky skunk!

[The Wolf, ICU, semiconscious]

oscar your observations are way more observant/absorbant

[SnoozeCity]

Its really just gotten difficult to like anything about this organization from top down. We have some interesting players, but the team, FO, management and ownership have been just so boring and uninspiring for far too long to generate much fan interest. They are lucky they even have 5 fans showing up.

[oscar canosa]

How about that, a compliment on Internet! Personally, I will accept it, ICU Wolf. Thankyou.

[Solution Man]

SOLUTIONS:

1. Move the Dolphins to the new Marlins' stadium. It has a roof and less sitting.

2. Change the Dolphins name to the Miami Mahi-Mahi it lowers the fan expectations of having a winning team. Which is what we have.

I think I should apply for the V.P. of marketing...

[ALoco]

MAHI MAHI ONE OF THE WORST FISH YOU CAN EAT .IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN .

[The Signal]

Ross mistakenly thought that a few butts(Jlo, Williams sisters) in the owners seats would lead to more butts in the cheaper seats.

Think he read the fans wrong.

[ALoco]

SEA BASS IS A GOOD FISH ..............
HALBUIT IS A GOOD FISH.

RAINBOW TROUT ,SCOTTISH SALMON ALSO ARE GOOD .

GRUPER FOR DOGS .

[oscar canosa]

In my case, I live in the Heart of Miami and Sun Life Stadium is far away from here. Not a matter of $ but of convenience. Would I go if they put a Championship Team on the Field? Sure, on occassions.

[ALoco]

WHY I FEEL OSCAR EATS ONLY ,RICE,CHICKEN,FRIED MAHI MAHI .

[oscar canosa]

I told you, Man, go to Casa Juancho, ask for Peruvian Seabass to eat and enjoy.

[ALoco]

HOW YOU MAKE PERUVIAN SEABASS ,OSCAR ?

[ALoco]

THE CUBAN MENACE LOVES TO EAT GRUPER FISH ...........

[oscar canosa]

That's beyond my skills, ALoco, but I just prepared a frittata with onions nad ground chorizo that is looking delicious.

[oscar canosa]

chorizo=pork sausage.

[ALoco]

FRITTATA IS VERY GOOD FOR THIS TIME OF THEW DAY , ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED ITALIAN DISHES .............

[odinseye]

DC mentioned Misi earlier.

I've watched pretty closely in Pre Season. Over and over reg/slo-mo forwards and backwards(not kidding-need a life).

The one thing that jumps off the screen, the obvious improvement I see with him is the speed of his first step in conjunction with his arm/hand fighting. He seems to be a lot quicker and more decisive off the snap of the ball.

This might seem like a subtlety, but I think it's a major step forward for him(hopefully). It looks to me like he's being coached up by Cox and Taylor.

I know what a lot of you are thinking but SERIOUSLY. Replay the game and watch him. ESPECIALLY on passing downs.

For strong and weakside linebackers that first step is key. Misi is obviously putting in the work and improving.

FWIW...................

[oscar canosa]

I know, Canossa name was changed to Canosa when my Italian descendants arrived in Cuba. Not that I had to do with Italians in my era but I read the excellent cookbook by the great Marcella Hazan and became attracted to it.

[ALoco]

OSCAR... DO YOU THINK ODIN EVER COOKS ?

[theDiggler]

hERS IS A PROBLEM WITH DIREC TVGUYS.
I LIVE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND WHEN THE BUCS DO NOT SELL OUT , DIRECT TV OR NOT , THE LOCAL GAME IS BLACKED OUT.
NOT EVEN A BAR CARRIES THERE GAME
IT WILL HAPPEN IN MIAMI TOO
I WILL BE GOING TO PATS GAME BUT THAT GATOR THING REALLY HAS ME NOT WANTIG TO GO BACK HOME FOR A GAME
THIS FO ARE SIMPLY CLOWN SHOES !!!!

[oscar canosa]

I don't know, but according to how odin writes, his Life looks to be in some disarray.

[Bernie Madoff]

Thief is such a strong word.

Don't let the minor details be misconstrued. Many simply overreact.

[oscar canosa]

Caribbean cooking has deep roots in Spaniard, African and Italian cuisine(some, French and England roots).

[oscar canosa]

I meant to say ancestors in my comment at 11:42. I am Old, but not that much.

[oscar canosa]

Thief is a strong word.

[oscar canosa]

The Roman Empire has had strong influences throughout Earth.

[odinseye]

I don't know, but according to how odin writes, his Life looks to be in some disarray.

Posted by: oscar canosa | August 30, 2011 at 11:48 AM

Thank You Oscar.

That's putting it very politely. I appreciate that.

I do very well, thanks to the people I choose to surround myself with(My Children and very "understanding" Girl Friends).

It's when I'm left to my own devices that the dissaray kicks in. Not to mention the severe ADHD, OCD, borderline personality disorderS, etc, etc....

Yeah, so um, as I was saying.........what was I saying? Oh yeah, THANK YOU Oscar.

Did I mention I have the attention span of a Gnat?

[Stan Carino]

Put a quality team on the field and the customers may come back.

[Arubaboy]

I live in Aruba, and own 4 season tickets. I will go to 4 home games this year (including the season opener), my friends and family in the SoFla area will use the tickets for the other games.

We WILL win this year, and Henne will be much better than last year.

[3zer05]

WELL MAYBE IF THESE LOOSERS WOULD HAVE DRAFTED RYAN MALLET AND NOT SOME CENTER THEN MAYBE NO GAMES WOULD BE BLACKD OUT! THE PPL RUNNING THIS TEAM NO NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL!.......ONE MORE THING ITS NOT THE 90s NO MORE YOU CANT THREATENED THE FANS WITH BLACK OUTS THERES WAYS TO WATCH THE GAME THANKS TO NFL SUNDAY TICKET AND THE INTERNET,...... 凸ت凸

[Chad Henne]

And when I have a great year cowkilla

And lead this team to the playoffs

Will you slink away you know nothing

Pretend Coach/GM

Douchebag??

[derek]

Is Naples, FL getting blacked out as well?

[johnsdolphins]

DONT BLAME THE FANS FOR NOT BUYING TICKETS !!! would you pay to go to a bad movie ? Well no you wouldn't!!! I BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG THAT IF THE FANS WOULD BOYCOT THE GAMES AND NO ONE GO TO THE STADIUM THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT A BETTER PRODUCT ON THE FIELD!!! we do nothing in free agency we don't make enough right choices in the draft!!! We are too conservative! We have our head coach jumping around when we kick a field goal like we just won the superbowl!!! I mean come on!!!GIVE US SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE US WANT TO BUY TICKETS TO THE GAMES DON'T THREATEN US WITH BLACKOUTS. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!!! I bet mr Ross or the coaches don't buy used cars that don't run good why should we pay for tickets for games that are no fun to watch??? What a joke it never ends with this group!!!

[Satellite Dishes]

There are couple of users who did miss this tickets, even i also missed this tickets.