The Black Out

and what would this mean to the millions that sky are pumping into the SPL to screen games?

the NFL has a huge fan base and multi millionaire owners so the odd game here and there wouldn't make that much difference.

A team like killie or st. mirren losing t.v. money for 1 game could have huge financial implications.

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attendances are dwindling for 2 reasons;

1) the product is on the whole pretty dire

2) people can't afford to go the games when so many are either out of work or don't have job security.

sadly, football is a luxary alot of people can't afford. unless they lower gate receipts not showing the games would make little or no difference. lowering receipts also costs the clubs money so there in a lose lose situation

Henry as I said very idealistic but it would potentially force the owners hands to reducing ticket prices in order for them to receive the highly coveted TV money and don't think that if the TV option was limited then it would force fans out the armchairs as well.

Also the other big thing the NFL has going for it is the fans are peaceable enough that there is no stadium segregation meaning the teams with the big national following like the Steelers the Cowboys etc can often outnumber home fans without fear of trouble.

Ginger it is indeed very interesting but as I said before is most likely a pipe dream

Given the quality on offer at many of the spl games, a t.v. blackout might actually be good for the wider image of our game.

Did anyone watch Dunfermline vs Inverness last week?

Effin grim.

I don't think we are that far off the day when even OF games are not guaranteed sell outs. Where does the SPL turn then?

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Nonsense, I know hundreds of folk who don't even bother trying to get tickets, because they know they won't be available...
An Old Firm game is never going to be at risk of not selling out. Non season-ticket holders would bite your arm off for a ticket

The problem isn't with the TV blackouts, it's the price of a ticket to watch mediocrity.
I live in Aberdeen nowadays and it's £20-30 a ticket to watch mince most weeks...
The smaller SPL clubs are stuck in the position of being unable to put much real quality on the pitch with the current TV deal and being unable to lower the cost of a ticket, because they rely on matchday revenue for operating costs.
They can't attract more fans without either lowering the ticket prices or increasing the quality and can't do either without making sure the operating costs are covered.
They're fooked either way...

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Ginger, I'm not saying that at some point many years from now, Old Firm games might not be pulling the same crowds that they currently do. Noone can predict what will happen in 20, 30, 40 years time...
I agree that if we keep signing unknowns and then punting anyone half decent to the EPL, then fans are going to get sick of it.
I think it's nonsense, only that you say "we're not far off the day".
I've not had a season book for 5 years now as I can't get down to enough games, but I can still pick up a ticket to almost any game I can make it to and I know if you're happy to pitch up and hang about outside the ground, you can usually pick up a ticket before too long.
Depends if you want to risk a wasted journey.
I know that there would still be people queueing up for tickets even if the grounds got extended by another 10k.

Price is still the problem for the quality of player on display though.

Variety is the spice of life so expand the league to more than 12 teams

Drop this nonsense about all seater stadiums, its pointless, its only done to accomodate the old firm at away grounds.....if Rangers/Celtic can play clubs like Peterhead and Arbroath on their own patch in the cup, they can do the same in the league, and the atmosphere at a small packed stadium is 10x better than the same number of fans in a half empty all seater.

Smaller stadiums are cheaper to run, require less upkeep, and again a full stadium every week will attract people back, no-one wants to sit in a half emypty stadium week upon week, its $hite!!