The season-opener Sunday between the Panthers and Bucs is blacked out for those living in the Tampa and Orlando TV markets.
Joe is not surprised, as the Bucs warned last week that some 9,000 tickets needed to be sold in order to reach the 85 percent threshold on non-premium seats to meet the NFL standards for broadcasting the game live locally.
Those living outside the Tampa/Orlando TV markets will be able to enjoy the game via NFL Sunday Ticket.
(Joe will display a map tomorrow showing which FOX TV affiliates will be broadcasting the game, but Joe cautions that because the Green Bay-San Francisco game is played in the same broadcast window and was deemed the national game, scant areas will see the Panthers-Bucs game.)
As of 2:30 p.m. Friday, available single game tickets on Tickmaster.com start at $51.00. Secondary market sites like StubHub.com and TiqIq.com have seats in the $35 range.
The game can be viewed in its entirety on a tape-delayed basis after midnight Sunday night on NFL.com as well as via NFL Sunday Ticket.
And no, this is not on Team Glazer. They spent like drunken sailors on free agents. They brought in a new coaching staff. They are offering some free parking, plus half-off concessions for Sunday’s game. There’s a giveaway for Ronde Barber’s 200th start. Team Glazer has been no less than gracious with their generosity in trying to lure fans back to the stadium, especially the season-opener.