The Omaha Nighthawks, one of the five teams currently playing in the UFL, has sold out its first home game. It’s the first sellout in the short history of the league, which might be a little more impressive if Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium had more than 24,000 seats.

“The fans here in Omaha have been incredible and we thank them for making Friday’s first-ever Nighthawks game a sellout,” said Nighthawks Director of Business Operations Don Igo. “The game would have been a special occasion anyway, but with a packed house it will truly be an evening to remember.” [release]

Omaha will be playing the Hartford Colonials, which might be the first time that a pro football team has taken the field against an insurance company founded in the 1800s. Do those guys know about the forward pass yet? Or is their playbook still nothing but a stack of war bonds from 1913?

For the second consecutive season, the Washington Nationals will finish the season with at least 100 losses. The Nats hit the milestone after losing last night to the Dodgers, 7-6.

“I’m just so proud of these guys,” Riggleman said. “With exception of a ballgame or two — from the All-Star break on — we have been outstanding in terms of effort and attitude. Our fans responded to the energy on the field.

“It has the potential to be a beautiful situation because the players want it, the fans want it. I think we are getting closer. The Dodgers are going to popping champagne any day and we [are going to be right there soon].” via.

That’ll only happen if they flood their bullpen and force everyone currently sitting in there to evacuate. Because the pitching, especially the bullpen, has been the Achilles’ heel of this team since they came to DC. In their 5 years in Washington, the Nats have never had a winning record. It’s nice to see a team in the nation’s capital building a tradition of their own. And there’s still a week left in the season. Get a move on, fellas. You’re only 36 games back! also.

By now you’ve probably listened to the less-than-charismatic voicemail sent out by the New York Jets feature head coach Rex Ryan [audio and transcript are after the jump in case you haven't]. But what you may not realize is how much Jets fans would have to shell out to cheer them on for their game against the Patriots on Sunday. It’ll be about three figures a pop.

Just checked TicketMaster and was able to find four together in Section 323 for Sunday’s Pats-Jets tilt.

(They’re $90 apiece plus a bunch of annoying charges that raise the total over $100 per.) –Neil Best [earlier this afternoon]

Even in New York, that’s a lot to shell out for one game, and doesn’t even include parking or concessions. The string of blackouts happening around the league is pointing to a real issue for the NFL: while The Gameday Experience might be better than watching the game at home, but it isn’t as cost-effective. And this is in the old Giants Stadium, not the billion-dollar-plus gigantiplex that the Jets are co-opening with the Giants next fall. It may not be long before these teams are just playing their games on giantic sound stages with nothing but TV cameras surrounding them. What obese, painted patrons shall we make fun of then? Read the rest of this entry »