Jan 3, 2009 6:12 pm US/Central
Vikings' Ticket Sales Avoid Local TV Blackout
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Vikings fans rallied around their team and purchased over 20,000 seats in the past six days to guarantee a sellout.
AP
Vikings fans will be able to watch the game from their Twin Cities' homes Sunday afternoon.
Moments after a Saturday 3:30 p.m. deadline passed, the Vikings announced it had sold-out this weekend's play-off game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Vikings needed to sell-out the game to avoid a television blackout in the Twin Cities, Rochester and St. Cloud television markets.
According to the Vikings, fans bought more than 20,000 tickets over the past six days. Local television Fox affiliate KMSP did not buy any of those tickets. Vikings spokesman Steve LaCroix said there were no significant block purchases.
"It was all the fans. The fans get all the credit," LaCroix said. "We needed that extra time, and the league was very accommodating."
Only about 55 percent of the 55,000 season-ticket holders chose to buy playoff tickets, leaving the large supply. This extended the team's sellout streak to a rather tenuous 115 games. The last blackout was for the Vikings' last game of the 1997 regular season.
The Eagles ran an ad on their Web site this week, encouraging fans to travel to Minnesota and "paint the Metrodome green."
LaCroix declined to offer an estimate of how many Eagles fans ultimately bought tickets, but said there weren't any "bulk purchases" by businesses in the Philadelphia area. Eagles' fans traditionally travel well, so there's sure to be some vocal support for the visiting team on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday morning, Philly fans arrived at Minneapolis/St. Paul airport for the game.
Michael Noel brought his two kids from Florida. Their mom is in Iraq and they've never been to an Eagles game before.
"We don't even own winter clothes. I'm going to wrap the kids in blankets," he said.
The Noel's plane tickets cost $1,500. That didn't include the cost of the game tickets.
"I hope it's worth it," Michael laughed.
Despite the influx of Eagles' fans, the Vikings said it was the purple and gold fans that pushed them over. For a week, the team had its key players plead for fans to buy tickets.
In a YouTube video, Jared Allen said, "I'm asking, I'm begging the people of Minnesota, buy up these tickets. Spend a little cash."
Apparently, Jim Spuhler was listening. He bought two sixth-row, $230 tickets Saturday afternoon.
He'd never been to a game in the Metrodome before.
"I was reading what Jared Allen said and I thought he's right. How many times can I see a playoff game," Spuhler said, "Now I know why he makes all the money. He's right."
Season-ticket holder Ron Jarvis also decided at the last moment to buy four tickets. He got the $80 ones -- the cheapest ones left.
"I figured we'd do our part and contribute to the lack of a blackout," he said.
Despite a sell-out, the Vikings said there are still some $50, $80, $120 and $160 tickets left. The NFL allows them to sell tickets that the visiting team returned.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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