You're exactly right about the economy! Why not remove the tarps and sell those seats for half price, or less? Create a revenue stream where there is none.
When i lived in Seattle, and the NBA Sonics played in the Kingdome, they had a lot of bad seats, in the upper levels. They sold them for a couple dollars each, and made it up in concession sales. You couldn't really enjoy an NBA game from there but it provided a way for people to go out, enjoy themselves, and say they were at the game. The NFL tickets are way too expensive for the average family, but this could provide an affordable option to many fans while providing the new owner with money that he would never otherwise see.