[Stardust]

Blackout lifted for Lions game
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2009...ions-game/

The blackout for Sunday’s Bengals game against the Lions was lifted after a bunch of local companies stepped up to buy the remaining tickets.

Fox19, Fifth Third Bank and Kroger led the way in helping ensure the blackout would be lifted. The team purchased tickets for distribution to local military families. Bud Light, JTM and Ohio Casualty also had roles in buying tickets.

This was the fourth time in seven home games that the Bengals received a 24-hour extension to avoid a local television blackout and had sponsors step up to buy tickets. When they received the extension on Thursday, the team said there were 3,500 tickets remaining.

It also means that the Bengals’ streak of regular-season and postseason games has been extended to 51.

On Saturday, Kroger will give away 500 tickets (250 pairs of tickets) to help generate non-perishable food items for St. Vincent de Paul.

At each of the following five Kroger stores tomorrow, two tickets each will be given to the first 50 people who come to the promotional van outside the store during the hours designated and donate at least 20 non-perishable food items.

The Kroger stores, and their donation times, will be:

Kroger Forest Park: (10 a.m.-11 a.m.)
Kroger Norwood – Surrey Square: (11 a.m.-noon)
Kroger Blue Ash – Hunt Road: (noon-1 p.m.)
Kroger Cherry Grove – Cherry Grove Plaza: (2 p.m.-3 p.m.)
Kroger Western Hills – Glenway Avenue: (4-5 p.m.)
Non-perishable food items needed include: peanut butter, canned tuna, soups, boxed macaroni & cheese, rice, pasta, canned apple juice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned chicken and boxed dinners (hamburger/tuna helper).

The last Bengals regular-season game not to sell out was on Nov. 9, 2003, when the Bengals hosted the Texans.

Through 12 weeks, 14 of the league’s 176 games have been blacked out (eight percent). That percentage will increase in the last five weeks as Cleveland, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Oakland and Detroit all face blackouts in the final month. The number will increase this week as the Jaguars host Miami.

The Bengals extension is the 17th issued this year. Besides the four here, extensions were granted in Arizona (four), San Diego (three), St. Louis (two), Oakland and Detroit along with one in Cleveland for this week’s game against the Chargers.

In spite of the blackout being lifted, there are seats remaining for the game. They can be purchased by phone through the Bengals Ticket Hotline at 513-621-8383 (TDTD). Also, tickets may be purchased in person at the Bengals ticket office at Paul Brown Stadium until 5 p.m. today, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and on game day beginning at 9 a.m.