The Chargers don’t plan to take advantage of the ability to treat up to 15 percent of empty non-premium seats as sold for the purposes of the blackout rule. Instead, they plan to try to fill them up with fans who root for the visiting team.
According to Arrowhead Addict, via Deadspin, the Chargers have sent a personalized email to senior editor Patrick Allen, inviting the “Arrowhead Addict’s” to purchase a block of at least 15 tickets to the November 1 game between San Diego and Kansas City at Qualcomm Stadium.
It’s unknown whether and to what extent the Chargers are employing a similar tactic for the team’s other home games.
The Chargers’ decision to actively market to fans that would be rooting for the visiting team won’t sit well with Chargers fans. Then again, the Chargers’ decision not to take advantage of the reduced blackout threshold won’t sit well with Chargers fans either, especially if all of the non-premium tickets for one or more games fail to sell and the Chargers decide not to buy up the remainder at 34 cents on the dollar.
The good news is that the folks in San Diego will be less upset when the Chargers move back to Los Angeles.