Falcons' streak of 56 consecutive sellouts in jeopardy
ATLANTA -- The loss of Michael Vick is starting to affect the Atlanta Falcons at the ticket booth.
The team announced Tuesday that some 3,000 tickets are still available for the Week 9 game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, endangering a streak of 56 consecutive sellouts at the 70,000-seat Georgia Dome.
Atlanta (1-6) has struggled on the field since losing its franchise player. Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and faces a prison term after pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges.
While Vick technically remains on the Falcons roster, it's highly unlikely he'll ever play again for Atlanta. His loss has been a severe blow to the team's marketing efforts, largely centered on No. 7.
If the Falcons don't sell the remaining tickets by 1 p.m. Thursday, the game would be blacked out locally under NFL rules. They have sold out every home game since Arthur Blank bought the team in 2002.
The last game that wasn't televised in the Atlanta market was a Falcons victory against Buffalo on Dec. 23, 2001.
Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
