Will Bills change blackout policy?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Will Buffalo Bills fans have something to cheer about now that the NFL is changing its game plan for TV blackouts? It will all depend on whether the team goes along with the changes.

The NFL is relaxing television blackout rules, by allowing teams to sell 85 percent of tickets rather than sell out in order for the game to be broadcast on local television. But the league is also making it optional for teams to participate in the change.

It's been a trend growing across the country in NFL cities. As game tickets prices increase and televisions improve in quality, more fans opt to watch the game on screen instead of in person.

But until now, if an NFL team did not sell out its home game, the game would be blacked out - not shown on local television. With a down economy in recent years that has especially affected markets like Buffalo, which had three games blacked out last season, many NFL teams have struggled with the blackout rule.

The rule was written to spur fans to buy tickets, back when the NFL relied more on ticket sales for revenue.

Matt Sabuda, President of the Buffalo Fan Alliance, says times have changed and has led the fight locally to end blackouts.

"The Bills might not go along with the changes. Because if they do, they could have to share more money with the visiting team than they do now," Sabuda noted.

Ralph Wilson Stadium holds just over 73,000 people. Eighty-five percent of that is just over 62,000.

Last season three games were blacked out. In each game, actual attendance didn't even reach 85 percent.

The same happened in 2010. Three games blacked out. And the count at the gates did not total 85 percent in any.

We should note those figures are actual attendance, not total tickets sold.

Still supporters are happy with the news and optimistic the Bills will embrace it and fans at home won't be left in the dark this year.

"I think it's a great compromise. What we were asking initially is that there are no blackouts," Sabuda said.