Chances of Rams, Raiders on TV Slim

The Rams and Raiders will have ticket offices open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but both teams are expressing little hope that their games will be sold out by 1 p.m. Thursday to lift the local television blackout for the National Football League playoff games.

National Football League rules say that a sellout must occur 72 hours before kickoff, but the Rams, who will play the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, were given the extra day because of the New Year’s holiday.

The Rams are 9,500 tickets short of a sellout at Anaheim Stadium. “That’s obviously a lot of tickets to move on a holiday, so we’re a little pessimistic at this time,” spokesman Pete Donovan said.

According to Al LoCasale, the Raiders’ executive assistant, approximately 29,000 tickets remain for Sunday’s game at the Coliseum against the New England Patriots. LoCasale said it is “extremely doubtful” that the team will reach the necessary 92,000 in time.