Fans concerned with possible Packers game blackout

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- With around 3,000 tickets still available for this Sunday's NFC Wildcard Playoff game between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field, fans are concerned with the possibility of a blackout.

The team needs to sell the remaining tickets by 4 p.m. Friday, January 3rd to avoid having the match-up blacked out on local television -- something that hasn't happened in nearly 30 years.

"I remember when it was bitter cold, when Dallas came up here and Bart Starr was the quarterback, a great team and God it was cold. The place was sold out," said longtime fan Harold Ziffren. "People enjoyed going to those games. They were very passionate about it and that was part of the passion -- being there."

By 4 p.m. Thursday, January 2nd, the organization said about 3,000 tickets for Sunday's game were still available for purchase -- which means the game could face a television blackout in Milwaukee and Green Bay.

"It's like a culture. You know, everyone crowds around their TV and watches the game together," said Packers fan Liza Basso. Being in her 20's, Basso said she's never heard of a game being blacked out.

A blackout would prevent the playoff game from being shown in the Packers home markets -- Green Bay and Milwaukee -- simply because the game wasn't sold out. The last time the Packers were blacked out was January 8th, 1983.

That day, the Packers beat the then St. Louis Cardinals 41-16 in a playoff game after a strike interrupted the regular season. Fans not at the game either found out by listening to the radio or reading it in the paper the next day.

"I don't know what people are going to do if they can't watch their Green Bay Packers," said Ziffren.

Thursday afternoon, the team sent out emails in an effort to sell their remaining tickets.

If Sunday's game is not blacked out, it will air only on FOX6. Pregame coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:40 p.m.