Threat of blackouts at the Dome remain, even after Favre boost
The team still has roughly 6,000 season tickets available, and tickets remain for every home game, including against the Packers.
By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune
Last update: August 30, 2009 - 12:25 AM
A Vikings executive addressed a recent report in the Washington Post that despite the recent signing of quarterback Brett Favre, the franchise is among four NFL teams that "face potential local TV blackouts of their home games because they have not sold enough tickets."
The Vikings announced they sold more than 3,200 season tickets and about 11,000 single-game tickets in the 24 hours after Favre signed. That left them with roughly 6,000 season tickets available. Steve LaCroix, the team's vice president of sales and marketing and chief marketing officer, said in an e-mail late last week that the Vikings still have more than 1,000 season tickets remaining for every home game -- including packages that include the Oct. 5 Monday night game when Favre will face Green Bay -- but added that those numbers vary.
Many likely assumed that Favre's decision to sign with the Vikings eliminated the potential for blackouts, something that has been an issue the past few seasons. "Obviously the signing [of Favre] was a unique circumstance that created significant activity in several areas, and we appreciate the amount of interest it generated," LaCroix said. "We feel comfortable with where we are in regards to our first two home games [against San Francisco and Green Bay], but we still have some work to do [selling tickets] on the remaining games."
In addition to the Vikings, the Post reported the teams having trouble selling tickets include the San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars. The story also noted that last season, 247 of 256 regular-season games aired in the local market of the home team, and that figure has been above 95 percent since 2005.
Ready for action
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Pat Williams will make his preseason debut Monday at Houston, according to defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Frazier said Williams was not held out of exhibition games against Indianapolis and Kansas City because of injury.
"Pat's played many, many preseason games," Frazier said.
"It's not as important for him as it is for some of our younger guys [to play]. The third preseason game is the one that he'll play in. It's nothing to do with him physically or anything. It's just a decision that we've made."
Defensive end Jared Allen also will return after sitting out the Chiefs game because of an ankle injury.
Frazier said he expects the Vikings' entire No. 1 defense to be on the field at least through the first half.
Loadholt sits out
Second-round pick Phil Loadholt, who has been working with the first team at right tackle since training camp opened, was not on the field for Saturday's practice because of a sprained ankle. It's unknown whether Loadholt will be able to play Monday night.
The Vikings are not required to provide injury updates during the preseason. Tight end Jim Kleinsasser (hand) continues to be sidelined.
Etc.
Cornerback Benny Sapp is the favorite to win the job as the fifth defensive back in passing situations, but Frazier said the competition is still alive. "We'll kind of wait and see how this [Houston] game plays out because Sapp will get some work, Asher [Allen] will get some work, [Karl] Paymah will get some work, Marcus [McCauley] is back now after coming off a [groin] injury," Frazier said. "So this game will probably give us an indication of what direction to go."
ESPN's Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski were at Winter Park on Saturday to prepare for Monday night's telecast.