More Proof of the Recession - NFL Style

The myth that sports is exempt from the effects of a recession should have been exploded from everyone's minds by now, but just in case you needed to be reminded that either this is no ordinary recession/depression (it's not, see 1929) or that it is hitting sports as hard as any industry save maybe banks and the auto industry, along comes the NFL playoffs. For the first time ever, the NFL Commissioner's office has given two franchises extensions on the sale of playoff tickets in order to assist them in getting sellouts to avoiding having to blackout their games in their home markets.

Both the Cardinals and the Vikings had unsold tickets as of this morning. The Cardinals had 5600 unsold tickets as of the regular Wednesday afternoon deadline, which was extended to this afternoon. That is pretty remarkable for a team which has been absent from the playoffs as long as the Cardinals. The Vikings had 8,000 tickets to sell as of Wednesday afternoon and may seek another extension through tomorrow afternoon, since their game is not until Sunday. Both teams naturally expressed optimism that they will sell all their tickets but it's a testimony to the state of the economy that they haven't been sold yet. It may also be a reflection of the teams' relationship to the community as the Cardinals have been bad for so long and the Vikings keep threatening to move if they don't get a new stadium.