Chargers Receive Extension to Avoid Blackout

The San Diego Chargers were given another 24 hours Thursday to try to avoid a local television blackout of its home opener against the Tennessee Titans Sunday.

The NFL granted the extension to 1:25 p.m. Friday to try to sell 2,100 tickets. Additional pricey club seats also are available, but they aren't included in the count for the league's blackout policy.

If the game doesn't sell out, it will not be televised in Southern California. The NFL requires teams to sell all but their most expensive seats 72 hours prior to kickoff for games to appear on TV in a team's market.

The Bolts announced Monday that players will wear white jerseys and white pants for the first time since their new uniforms were introduced in 2007. The team also asked fans to dress in all white.

"Imagine a full stadium all in white, unified behind the team dressed in all white," Chargers CEO A.G. Spanos said. "It will be loud. It will be impressive. It will be intimidating and it will give our players a huge emotional boost and even stronger home field advantage."

A pregame ceremony will be held to retire the No. 55 jersey of the late linebacker Junior Seau, who was chosen to play in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls during a 13-season career with the Chargers. Players will wear a No. 55 helmet decal for the game, team officials said.

Seau died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound May 2 at his two-story beach home in Oceanside. He was 43 years old.

-City News Service