The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't spending money on players, which might cause the team's customers not to spend money on tickets.
And so the Bucs are spending some money on persuading their customers to spend money on tickets, despite not spending money on players.
As our friend Tom Edrington writes for Bleacher Report (in the non-made-up-out-of-whole-cloth-to-attract-attention-and-then-categorized-as-humor-after-the-fact area of the site), the Bucs are making a push to sell seats.
Edrington points out that the Bucs have purchased ad space at PFT. The transaction occurred despite a recent string of stories I've written pointing out the team's recent habit of cutting corners. (Apparently, the Bucs are considering new alternative uniforms that replace pewter with irony.)
Though the limited, regional PFT buy likely won't break the Bucs, it's part of a broader effort to sell tickets. For example, Edrington says that he recently received the following text message
from the team: "Buccaneers season tix on sale now! Half season pkgs,
youth pkgs & payment plans avail. 877-653-2827."
The only problem? Edrington explains that, when he called the number, no one answered.
After 100 rings.
In fairness (and because the red-and-irony check hasn't arrived yet), we called the number.
The automated answering system activated after four rings. So either there was a glitch in the program or the lines were overloaded when Edrington called.
Regardless of whether the phone is answered after four rings or 400, we ask our friends in the Tampa area (or elsewhere) to consider purchasing tickets to game featuring one of our newest sponsors. Though times are tough, the NFL remains the most compelling sports
league in the nation -- and the limited season length means that every
single game is compelling.
That's particularly true in Tampa this year, where the seven-game slate (one of the "home" games will be played in
London) includes visits from the Cowboys, Giants, Panthers, Saints,
Falcons, Packers, and Jets.
After going to the Super Bowl in February, Florio Jr. wanted to move to Tampa. Given the first-rate quality of Raymond James Stadium and the 2009 schedule, maybe I shouldn't have assumed he didn't really mean it.
UPDATE: Edrington advises that his 100-ring experience occurred after pressing "2" at the main menu. So we tried it again, and someone answered after the second ring. So we asked to speak with Jon Gruden. She said, "He's not f--king here anymore." Apparently, his spirit still is. (We need to say that the quote from the woman at the Bucs' ticket office is made up. And now only 10 percent of you will believe it isn't.)
Bucs make push for customers, then ignore them?
Posted by Mike Florio on July 15, 2009 11:26 AM ET
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19 Comments 
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Transactions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Transactions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Top Stories
Phone number worked for me.
Theres only one awesome team in Florida and thats the FINS!
I wonder what other under the table deals you make that influence your writing that we don't hear about.
I bet you pocket quite a bit of cash from agents, and some other people who have extra bucks laying around to exert influence.
Mike, I haven't been on the site much recently so you may already have answered this question/request.
Prior to making the switch to NBC you stated numerous times that nothing would change except for the better.
While there are a number of changes for the better, there is a significant change you made that is not for the better and numerous people have complained.
You removed the comments rating system. Why?
Are you going to reinstate it, and if so how soon.
If not, why, since so many people used it and liked it?
I heard that Vox Veritas paid Florio to have his SN mentioned when the site changeover occurred!
Can't blame the kid for wanting to get off the mountain while he still has teeth.
You keep making mention of the Bucs not spending on players, would you care to back that up with actual figures?
When the Bucs come out and say they have spent $60 million you just about called them liars despite the fact that number is quite close to what was spent, seems you couldn't be bothered to look up the actual info an just keep going with your own lie.
Almost $10 million on Bryant.
McCown got $5 million
Ward got $6 million
Winslow got over $5million
At least $3 million for Clayton
$3million for Crowell
and it goes on and on yet we keep hearing how the Bucs won't spend any money on players.
Nice myth you are spreading Florio.
Abe... that's the American way!
And FYI, newsflash Tampa brass, I think the NFL is pretty much an established entity... and thus as Florio points out, if you spend money on players, the fanbase (which is also pretty much established and is what it is and ever will be) will get wind and buy tickets. Not because some viral marketing campaign told them to.
If you build it (a 'ship contender) they will come!!!
You can see the game a lot better on a big screen tv. Going to a game just means you have a worse view and you have to hear drunk douchebags screaming all day.
So can I infer from this that is was the BUCS (and their advertising BUCKS, and the related pressure) who compelled PFT to change my screen name from
"FucterN.Hadasnack" to "Hungry N. Hadasnack"
(which doesn't QUITE match the profundity and intent of my original name)?
Is that why? After weeks of using that name?
Or was it some b1tchy bigwig at NBC, who had only very recently actually witnessed their mate getting said snack, after having *my former first name*?
If the Bucs want real fans to buy tickets, they need to find a way to keep the corporations and douches from hording all the decent seats and selling them to out of towners, casual fans and opposing teams.
...Figuring out how to diffuse the Florida sun August through mid-October would help out immensely too.
All in all, the Bucs' customer service is atrocious. I still haven't forgiven them for the Will Call disaster before the 05 Bucs/Skins wild card game.
Appreciate the disclosure.
Agree with the poster above, they have been spending money, after years of not spending money under Gruden/Allen.
As far as the tickets, i was a season ticket holder the last few years, and gave them up this year. There has been a huge push this off-season to sell tickets. They offer partial season packages, which is unheard of in the NFL, plus you don’t get stuck with the worthless preseason tickets. Also you can get whole season packages with ZERO deposit. With my tickets i was required to put up around 750 per ticket, which was returned 5% over 10 years, so ultimately I lost 85% of it.
Unfortunately for the Bucs/Jags/Fins, they will always play second fiddle to the boys in Gainesville/Tallahassee/Miami.
What is this story about?
Tom had some weird circumstance and then PFT had no trouble at all with it. There's no story here...
Wow- taking money from a team you belittled- how greedy on your part. Maybe you should have turned the ad down and told them to spend more money on players. But that would take real integrity.
Wow, I can't believe the receptionist used that language with you.
/same 10% think I'm serious
//additional 5% get Florio's sarcasm and not mine, so they think I'm a fool.
/// they feel that way even after reading my breakdown.
I agree the Bucs need to sign a few players that are potential free agents next year but I don't get it...they tried to get Cutler & Cassel in free agency, so how is that not trying to spend some $? I think this has been addressed before, Mark D said it best, "I was told to spend it like it was my own money" so who should they spend the money on, Florio? (Besides Ruud)
I've it the Bucs website from my phone a few times and this afternoon received an unsolicited text from the team that said the same....wonder if they cut the cost of PSL's?
Would you guys chill on the stories about the Bucs and there money. They spent a good amount on players this offseason and I like ALL the moves they've made except not even trying to get a long term deal with Bryant.
But other than that they're doing fine with the money; and as far as the ticket issue... news flash man. Economy SUCKS!...especially in Florida. There are three pro football teams in FLA, a state that is already full of northerners who refuse to detatch from their Steelers and Patriots. The pickings are slim when it comes to fans in Florida between Miami Jacksonville and Tampa.
Don't really know what grudge you guys have against the Bucs, but even through some questionable decisions, the Glazers have always done business in the interest of winning and winning consistantly.