Schumer Urges NFL To Rework Buffalo Bills 2007-2008 Schedule To Deliver A "No-Blackout Season" - Bills Fans Deserve To See The Team They Love Every We

Schumer Urges NFL To Rework Buffalo Bills 2007-2008 Schedule To Deliver A "No-Blackout Season" - Bills Fans Deserve To See The Team They Love Every Week

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer asked National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell to arrange the 2007-2008 Buffalo Bills schedule so that it will greatly lower the risk of blackouts. Last year, four Bills games were blacked out because the team failed to sell out, preventing thousands of fans from watching the end of this season.

"Last year, thousands of Bill's fans couldn't see the team they love because the last games of the season were blacked out," Schumer said. "It is in the best interests of the Bills and the NFL to have to the widest possible fan base for this team. The NFL needs to do everything it can to prevent blackouts next season."

Last month, when Schumer met face to face with Goodell, Schumer raised the issue of blackouts and their detrimental effect on fans in the Buffalo area. Goodell responded positively and pledged to work with Senator Schumer and the bills to help shape the schedule to lessen the possibility of blackouts. Last year, four of the seven blacked out games in all of the NFL were Bills games.

"I am pleased that the NFL and Commissioner Goodell understand the situation and promised to work with the Bills so the maximum number of fans across upstate New York can watch the team they love," Schumer added.

Schumer attributed the rise in blacked out games to the fact that the Bills played 4 home games late in the year against teams that turned out to be less than optimal draws. Because the Bills had seemingly slipped from the playoff race and were facing less popular or talented teams, the Bills failed to draw the requisite number of fans in order to have the games broadcast on network television. As the Bills slipped from the playoff race, they failed to sell out which triggered the hated blackouts. Schumer noted that the Bills have one of the largest stadiums and one of the smallest markets in the NFL. In 2007 the Bills are scheduled to play home games against the New York Jets, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. Neither the weeks when the Bills will play at home nor the order in which they will play each of these teams has been determined. The final schedule will be set in April.

In his letter, Schumer said "Teams like the Jets, Giant and Cowboys are historic rivals that have strong fan bases throughout the country and in western New York. The Patriots, I don't have to tell you, seem to make it to the Super Bowl every year. If the Bills can play teams like these late in the season, we will better set the stage for them to ensure sell out crowds and prevent blackouts."

Schumer has led the fight to keep the Bills in Western New York and is working with top NFL officials to craft a revenue sharing agreement that is fair to the Bills and small market teams across the country. Following an April 2006 meeting with Ralph Wilson in Buffalo, Schumer has spearheaded the campaign to produce fair NFL revenue sharing rules so that the Bills can remain financial healthy and located in Buffalo. Schumer worked closely with Commissioner Tagliabue and is now working with Commissioner Goodell to communicate the small market teams' point of view as negotiations around implementing the new Collective Bargaining Agreement proceed.

Last year, Schumer lobbied outgoing NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to ensure the league's Qualifier Committee, which determines many critical revenue sharing issues, included representatives from small market franchises. On April 21, after a meeting organized by Schumer with Tagliabue and Buffalo native Tim Russert, Tagliabue announced that Bills owner Ralph Wilson would serve on the eight-team committee that is now determining how league revenues will be split.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=269896