Playoff sellouts

[cj2112]

Met a buddy out the other night and he brought along what could have been the most annoying Giants  fan of all time.

Among the myriad things this douche said that warranted a bottle smashed over his head, he claimed that the main reason he hates the Birds and their fans is because we don't support the team.  He claimed that there have been numerous instances in the recent past (70s through the 90s) when local TV was forced to buy tickets for a playoff game. 

Now, I can remember times when stations or companies had to step up in losing seasons to grab some tickets to ensure local TV, but never in the playoffs. 

I want to prove to this loser that the Eagles always sell out playoff games.  Any info?

[Sgt PSN]

I don't know where you can look up that kind of info but clearly this guy is delusional.  He must have Philly confused with Atlanta or something.  There's only been one regular season that I can recall where local tv stations had to buy tickets to be able to televise it and that was in 98 and I can't imagine any year where the birds made the postseason and the game wasn't sold out. 

[Wingspan]

The only time I can recall was a story that my dad would tell, the 1982 season, fans were getting fed up with Vermiel, and the playoff loss to the Giants that year had a ton of empty seats in it. That could be the game, they had a tough time selling that one. (this was the seasons after the superbowl, the year right before vermiel resigned.

Vermial is looked at fondly now...but it got real bad at the end of the 81 season after the loss to the giants, piled on top of losing the Superbowl to the heavy underdog raiders, and losing in the playoffs to the expansion bucs.

Vermiel was treated worse than Reid ever will be.

I do remember the playoff game against the Rams in 1989 that had a lot of empty seats in it, it was a New Years Eve game with bad weather. I dont think tickets went unsold, but there were a lot of no shows.

Don't kid yourself, philadelphia fans are just as fickle as other fans around the country. As soon as they sniff a loser, they stay away (look at the attendance of the sixers, and the phillies when they lose, the end of the 2005 eagles season...etc...

[Wingspan]

I don't know where you can look up that kind of info but clearly this guy is delusional.  He must have Philly confused with Atlanta or something.  There's only been one regular season that I can recall where local tv stations had to buy tickets to be able to televise it and that was in 98 and I can't imagine any year where the birds made the postseason and the game wasn't sold out. 

The 1999 Finale vs the Rams was blacked out. And back through the late 80s and early 90's, there were numerous blackouts, most would happen vs the cardinals, or very late in the season. But they existed.

[ice grillin you]

hes right

i dont know if there are any others but i know for sure that a local car dealership had to buy tickets to the skins playoff game in 90....buddys last game...to avoid a blackout

[cj2112]

After looking at media guide, it does seem as if the 1989 playoff game vs. the Rams where we lost in the sleet storm (i was sadly there) was about 8,000 short of capacity.  That was the Flipper Williams game.

Damn.  I'm going to break a bottle over the prick's head just for making all of us do the legwork.

[Beermonkey]

After looking at media guide, it does seem as if the 1989 playoff game vs. the Rams where we lost in the sleet storm (i was sadly there) was about 8,000 short of capacity.  That was the Flipper Williams game.

Damn.  I'm going to break a bottle over the prick's head just for making all of us do the legwork.

He should have had a bottle smashed on his head by the time he said "The reason....". Step it up. 

[Sgt PSN]

I don't know where you can look up that kind of info but clearly this guy is delusional.  He must have Philly confused with Atlanta or something.  There's only been one regular season that I can recall where local tv stations had to buy tickets to be able to televise it and that was in 98 and I can't imagine any year where the birds made the postseason and the game wasn't sold out. 

The 1999 Finale vs the Rams was blacked out. And back through the late 80s and early 90's, there were numerous blackouts, most would happen vs the cardinals, or very late in the season. But they existed.

Ah....well I didn't live locally in 99 so I wasn't aware of any blackouts.  And in the late 80's/early 90's I went to all the home games with my mom since she was a season ticket holder. 

[Rome]

I remember several games in the 70s when tickets could be had for nothing and then right before Buddy Ryan got hired there was a lot of yellow seats masquerading as Eagles fans at the Vet.

Those days are long gone, though.  Just ask ttllabtoof!

[ice grillin you]

the vet was a wasteland for much of the 90's non division games

[Sgt PSN]

I remember there being a lot of empty seats at the Vet in 85 too but was still unaware of whether or not the games were blacked out.....I was 9 and really couldn't care less.  And my only recollections from the 70's are my 3rd b-day party and some black dude with a huge afro that worked with my dad.  Those were the days.  

[Rome]

Just look at the attendance figures in the history section of PE.com.

There were a lot of games that had 50-60K in attendance during the really awful years.

Edited - here's the link:  http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/pdf/Y_B_Y_RESULTS_STATS_06.pdf

[SD_Eagle5]

The Vet had a few thousand obstructed view seats that rarely sold.

[Drunkmasterflex]

The only time I can recall was a story that my dad would tell, the 1982 season, fans were getting fed up with Vermiel, and the playoff loss to the Giants that year had a ton of empty seats in it. That could be the game, they had a tough time selling that one. (this was the seasons after the superbowl, the year right before vermiel resigned.

Vermial is looked at fondly now...but it got real bad at the end of the 81 season after the loss to the giants, piled on top of losing the Superbowl to the heavy underdog raiders, and losing in the playoffs to the expansion bucs.

Vermiel was treated worse than Reid ever will be.

I do remember the playoff game against the Rams in 1989 that had a lot of empty seats in it, it was a New Years Eve game with bad weather. I dont think tickets went unsold, but there were a lot of no shows.

Don't kid yourself, philadelphia fans are just as fickle as other fans around the country. As soon as they sniff a loser, they stay away (look at the attendance of the sixers, and the phillies when they lose, the end of the 2005 eagles season...etc...

It is different with the Eagles, even when they stink there is still a lot of fan support as far as attendance goes.  It is not like Philly fans are like Dallas fans.

[ice grillin you]

It is different with the Eagles, even when they stink there is still a lot of fan support as far as attendance goes.


this couldnt be farther from the truth...as others have said it doesnt mean they dont have great or even the best fans but they stay away in droves when the team stinks...you cant imagine how empty the vet was for most of the 90's...