Beating the Chiefs in thrilling fashion didn’t move the needle at the San Diego box office.
With the Chargers returning home after winning at Arrowhead Stadium, not enough fans have purchased tickets to lift the blackout of Sunday’s game against the Bengals.
Never mind the fact that the Chargers remain in the playoff hunt, or that the Bengals are 7-4. The game hasn’t been sold out, so it will be blacked out in Southern California. The Chargers made the announcement on Thursday afternoon.
More than 5,300 non-premium tickets remain available for purchase. The Chargers have not opted to reduce the minimum sales obligation, which would have permitted the game to be televised locally despite the 5,300 unsold tickets. Likewise, the Chargers and/or their sponsors have decided not to buy the remaining seats at 34 cents on the dollar in this specific case. (Earlier this year, ESPN cobbled together the cash to avoid the first Monday night blackout since 1999 when the Colts came to town.)
The Chargers have played only four regular-season home games. After Sunday, three remain.
It’s the first game of the 2013 season to be blacked out, after 12 weeks of having every contest televised in the corresponding local market.