Bengals sell out streak in jeopardy

For the past five seasons the Cincinnati Bengals have not had to print single game tickets. They have had 65,000, the capacity of Paul Brown Stadium, season ticket buyers. That streak may be coming to an end ans the Bengals must print single game tickets in 009 for the first time in five years, and a news five year long sellout streak of their home stadium may be in some doubt.

If we take a look at the record of the Bengals over the past five years we can see why their attendance is going to be down in 2009:

2003- 8-8, 2004 8-8, 2005 11-5, 2006 8-8, 2007 7-9, 2008 4-11

From these numbers we see that the Bengals are on the downside of their window of opportunity. They had an excellent year in 2005, but that was the first winning season in 15 years. It now seems that the Bengals are in for another decade of losing.

I don’t want to hear that the Bengals are victims of a bad economy, the Bengals are victims of terrible ownership. They are one of just five NFL teams that do not employ a General Manager. Their roster is more likely to make headlines for being arrested than scoring touchdowns. Their Coach needs to be fired, and the need a new owner. That is why the fans are starting to stay away.

The Bengals need to rebuild, and their failure to pay first round draft OT Andre Smith a fair contract deprives the team of a building block for the future. Owner Mike Brown needs to take a close look at how he is running his football team.