The Cincinnati Bengals have broken out the Chicken Little routine this year, constantly whining publicly about the possibility of a blackout. And consistently getting all non-premium seats sold before the league-imposed deadline.
So this week, they’re bragging. They’ve sold out Sunday’s home game against the Browns, and it’s the Bengals’ 50th straight regular-season and postseason sellout.
But there’s a caveat. The Bengals also are getting a head start on trying to sell out their last two home games.
They’ve announced that 6,500 non-premium seats remain for each of the final two home games: December 6 against the Lions and December 27 against the Chiefs.
“We thank our fans for responding to our successful season by selling out the Cleveland game,” ticket sales manager Andrew Brown said in the release. “But it’s clear we will need strong sales from this point forward to sell out for the Lions and Chiefs. We are working hard to achieve that end and hope that we can fill the stadium for our final two home games in the push for the playoffs.”
Here’s the better pitch. “Since we play down to the level of inferior opponents, you should come to see us play the Lions and the Chiefs. Both games should go down to the wire, and there’s a good chance we’ll lose.”