< Tonight is the night! | Main | Yeah, I'll be there >
August 29, 2007
Power outage
I am one of the 47,000 homes in the Twin Cities area without power. The transformer that powers my home, and seven others (including Cheesehead Craig's) blew out two nights ago in spectacular fashion. It was like a fireworks display. So, I have been living like they did in the good old days: with candles and an early bed time.
Needless to say, I also have no refrigerator, no hot water, no stove or oven ... but worst of all, I have no computer! Oh, the humanity! TV I can live without, by a computer? If not for work, I would be having serious withdrawal symptoms.
But, as I am at work, I will be keeping this short. Until next time!
Posted by snackeru at August 29, 2007 8:11 AM
Comments
According to the Star Tribune, the Vikings home opener may be blacked out, and the rest of the regular season for that matter. The preseason games sold out, but I think there are different rules for ticket distribution in the preseason. I think the team can give away tickets and count them as "sold".
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. 96 straight sellouts. The Vikings still have one of the top-rated television audiences. So, the fans are still there, just not interested in shelling out big bucks for tickets. (Insert STM comment that has very little insight or intelligence.)
In any event, I would be interested to hear the Purplefan's take, I can't remember his handle, anyone?
Posted by: Derek at August 29, 2007 11:34 AM
It was Purplenurple, if I recall correctly.
I'm kinda surprised by the lack of a sellout for the opener since those tickets were a required purchase for anyone who wanted to buy tickets for the Packers game.
I suppose if the blackout does happen, I'll have to head down to the Dome and try to find a desperate scalper...
Posted by: Snyder at August 29, 2007 11:40 AM
I am actually more excited about this season than last season. It seems like we are starting the future now, whereas last year it seemed like we were still making one last run at the past...and the past didn't like us. I will probably be down there looking for a desperate scalper too.
Posted by: Derek at August 29, 2007 11:49 AM
Vikings not buying Strib lots
http://www.startribune.com/vikings/story/1389888.html
Oh where are those Vikings fans now??
Posted by: Freealonzo at August 29, 2007 12:46 PM
it's a simple equation really. the vikings ownership and political people have to know that any prospect of a new stadium evaporated with the collapse of the bridge. the political will to do that now is at virtually zero.
if they ever get something done, it certainly won't be the audacious plan they put out there several months ago.
Posted by: CJ at August 29, 2007 1:42 PM
Bye, bye Vikings.
Posted by: tato at August 29, 2007 2:31 PM
the Vikes will sell out the season opener. I think that this issue is as much a statement agains the Falcons and Vick as it is the realities of our economy (not being as strong as it once was). Personally, if I had the 40 or 50 bucks that the new HC stadium tax has cost me so far this year, I might put that toward a ticket.
Obviously, people who try to turn this event into an indictment against the NFL and somehow twist it into a "baseball is more better" rant, are ignorant, and; Zygi's a pretty shrewd operator. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if he's just using the current known credit crunch and market volitility to negotiate a better deal (price and/or terms) than what he originally agreed to a couple of months ago.
Posted by: bil at August 29, 2007 2:55 PM
96 straight sellout games (including pre and postseason) is a nice starter streak. When you get over 300 as the Packers have, let me know.
How do you get this close to the season opener and the team has to beg to have the tickets purchased to get a sell-out? I'm sorry, but that is just sad.
Posted by: Cheesehead Craig at August 29, 2007 3:11 PM
Cheesy is right on. It is sad. The Twins have had a disappointing season but their attendance is going to be higher than last year's very exciting and fun season. No Vikings sellout could be due to Falcons and Vick, bad economy, etc. But I think it's due more to the fact that the Vikes had a lousy product last year, and with the exception of Adrian Peterson, look to have a similar season this year.
By no means construe this post that I'm arguing that MLB is more popular than the NFL. I have to sadly admit the NFL nation-wide is more popular, and the Vikings more popular than the Twins. However in this market, that margin is rapidly shrinking.
Posted by: Freealonzo at August 29, 2007 3:23 PM
The only reason the Twins attendance is going higher is because IT COULDN'T GO ANY LOWER!
Making the playoffs a few years in a row raised awareness and the fact that season ticket sales now put you on a list for the new stadium doesn't hurt either.
Kessler was on the radio the other day talking talking about his 10 blocks (from the capital) and talking to 10 people - unscientific poll. Suprisingly 8 out of 10 people were in favor of some form of public financing for the Vikes despite the bridge and its complications.
Wish if you must, pray if you have to, but this will NEVER be a baseball over football town.
Posted by: STM at August 29, 2007 3:41 PM
The Vikings aren't going anywhere. They are stuck until at least 2011, and even then we are going to have 3-4 years of hand-wringing before a solution comes forward.
The NFL is not going to give a relative newcomer like Zygi Wilf the LA market. No way. Where else can he threaten to go?
Have no fear. This is all a part of the game. And even if 8 out of 10 people were not in favor of public financing, it will happen. If the Twins got a stadium, will all the public dislike of Pohlad, the Vikings will get one too.
I, for one, am not worried.
I will say, though, I am always surprised when the Vikings don't sell out. If this is such a football town ... too much competition for the entertainment dollar I would say.
Posted by: Shane at August 29, 2007 3:49 PM
Mark my words; the Vikes will sell out all home games this year. The fact that its ONLY news because they haven't sold out 10 days before they have to to avoid a blackout, proves that this is a football town.
Posted by: STM at August 29, 2007 3:55 PM
You are probably right STM, but it might take TCF buying a large block of them and giving people 2 tickets when they open a new checking account or something.
If the Vikings get blacked out for one game people would probably freak out. In other words, I could see one game getting blacked out, but not any more than that.
And I used to get all riled up when CC brings out his "Packer fans are better" rhetoric, but now ... eh. So be it. I'll just listen to the radio if they are blacked out.
Posted by: Shane at August 29, 2007 4:00 PM
a couple of points
1. the vikings are going nowhere (both in the standings /snark and in terms of relocation). the league won't allow it, there is no larger market actively seeking a franchise (that's right, LA has basically stopped caring)
2. even if there were another viable market, the NFL realizes that a Cleveland situation would emerge here and that would require expansion beyond 32 teams, not something they want to do.
3. there will be an appetite for the vikings stadium, but give it time. the political will has evaporated of late, and wilf, being shrewd, is backing out to bide his time.
4. i dont know about anyone else... but i dont "get" nfl football... so this whole blackout thing makes no sense. I think it's sad that a team that only plays 8 games a year, and is allegedly the most popular team in town cant gin up 65k.
Posted by: CJ at August 29, 2007 4:30 PM
Don't think Packer fans are better. Are they more delusional? yes, drunker? duh, emotional well-being fixed to the outcome of a game played by 300 pound child-men? Certainly. But not better.
If games are blacked out I'll just take a bike ride, or watch the Twins, or paint my trim, or play football with my kid, or make love to my wife, or read a magazine, or rake some leaves, or write, or clean the garage, or .........
Posted by: Freealonzo at August 29, 2007 4:30 PM
"The Vikings' last blackout came Dec. 21, 1997, when 54,107 tickets were sold for the season finale against Indianapolis."
I moved here from South Dakota 9 days later... no wonder I've never had to deal with one of these 'blackouts'. I assume the blackout applies to satellite's NFL Sunday Ticket as well?
The rule does have some merit though... "We'll only give you the product for free over the air, as long as there are no more seats in the house for you to park your butt in."
Posted by: barry at August 29, 2007 4:58 PM
I think it's sad that a team that only plays 8 games a year, and is allegedly the most popular team in town cant gin up 65k
I think its equally sad that a team as critical to the state to warrant a half a billion dollar public investment can't consistently draw even half of that...
Here's a shot; what will get higher ratings locally the Twins regular season game or the Vikes preseason game on Thursday. And don't gimme you "network" arguments either, better than half the city gets FSN north now....
Posted by: STM at August 29, 2007 5:36 PM
I did not say Packer fans are better. You can infer what you like Shane, but that's on you.
The phrasing is simply using your words comparing our marriage lengths (that you've used time and time again) but I'm using football language. So there! NaNa NaNa Boo Boo!
Posted by: Cheesehead Craig at August 29, 2007 9:18 PM
Who else is going to the new Twins ballpark groundbreaking tonight?
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/new_ballpark_groundbreaking.jsp
Whoo-hoo!
Posted by: Snyder at August 30, 2007 9:27 AM
One person who isn't is Torii Hunter
http://www.startribune.com/twins/story/1391178.html
Posted by: JBN at August 30, 2007 9:31 AM
