Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will have to buy a ticket if they want to see their team warm up for the regular season against the New England Patriots this Thursday at Raymond James Stadium. The team has failed to sell-out the game by the Monday, 7:30pm deadline and the game will be blacked-out on local television.
↵The game will be re-broadcast on TV after its completion by both the NFL Network and local station WTSP Channel 10, starting at approximately 11pm. WTSP will again air the game at 8pm on Friday, and noon on Saturday.
↵This is the first of what may be another full season of blackouts for the Buccaneers, as ticket sales have not been strong for the majority of regular season games. The Buccaneers were the only team in the league to have every home game blacked out in 2010 and are in danger of matching that feat this season despite a 10-6 record and a young, exciting team.
↵The team remains optimistic that both prime-time contests will be sellouts. If not, a "home game" at Wembley Stadium in London, England may be the only home contest broadcast live in Tampa Bay homes.
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