NFL's Cleveland Browns facing TV blackout

[November 10, 2009]  BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- The Cleveland Browns have not yet sold out next Monday night's game against Baltimore and are facing their first TV blackout since 1995.

A team spokesman said "a few thousand" tickets remained for the game and it was too early to say whether the game would be televised in the Cleveland area. The team has an 8:30 p.m. deadline on Friday to sell the remaining tickets.

The Browns were facing a similar dilemma this summer, when their broadcast partner, WKYC-TV, purchased tickets to ensure the game would be seen locally.

Cleveland isn't the only NFL market to have trouble with ticket sales. Jacksonville, Oakland and Detroit have failed to sell out games this season and a few other teams have needed deadline extensions to avoid blackouts.

[Associated Press]

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