Pats/Bills moved to 4:25

[mgcolby]

The NFL says it is concerned that fans will increasingly choose to say home and watch games on their big screen TVs. In response, the league is looking for ways to "enhance the game day experience of the ticket holders."

Note to NFL owners: This is not an enhancement. It is an imposition. It is disrepectful. It is a lousy way to treat the paying customers you claim to care so much about.

As Deus pointed out above, the real priority is the television networks. This is about ratings and money, that's all.

Yeah, I know there's a possibility it may happen. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

I still don't get this position, other than it affects folks such as yourself personally and you guys are looking at it from a selfish point of view. It inconveniences a few, but it serves the greater good.

I find it a bit hypocritical (not aimed at just you but to all of the folks in the thread killing the NFL for the time change) to call out the NFL for moving a game(s) to ensure there are as many competitive games as possible, with all of the starters/stars playing across the league and saying they don't care about the fans attending the games. The alternative is customers who paid a lot of money to watch a regular season football game are treated to a week 17 pre-season game.

How is that not looking out for their fans attending the games? So because one subset of fans dislike 4PM kickoffs, then that should trump the entire paying fanbase in another NFL city from seeing a meaningful game?

The NFL has this right and their entire strategy of schedule making for that matter. The best thing they ever did was make the last week of the season all divisional games.

NFC has four open playoff spots, all six seeds are up for grabs and nine teams are still in the playoff hunt in week 17. The AFC has one open playoff spot with four teams in the hunt and all but the 5th seed is up for grabs. That makes for an excellent day of football around the league. 13 of the 16 games on Sunday have a direct impact on the playoffs that is unreal and much better than it was a few years ago. And making sure the games that affect each other are played at the same time is looking out for both the fans attending the games and watching the games at home on TV.

 

[Zeus]

:bricks:

I still don't get this position, other than it affects folks such as yourself personally and you guys are looking at it from a selfish point of view. It inconveniences a few, but it serves the greater good.

I find it a bit hypocritical (not aimed at just you but to all of the folks in the thread killing the NFL for the time change) to call out the NFL for moving a game(s) to ensure there are as many competitive games as possible, with all of the starters/stars playing across the league and saying they don't care about the fans attending the games. The alternative is customers who paid a lot of money to watch a regular season football game are treated to a week 17 pre-season game.

How is that not looking out for their fans attending the games? So because one subset of fans dislike 4PM kickoffs, then that should trump the entire paying fanbase in another NFL city from seeing a meaningful game?

The NFL has this right and their entire strategy of schedule making for that matter. The best thing they ever did was make the last week of the season all divisional games.

NFC has four open playoff spots, all six seeds are up for grabs and nine teams are still in the playoff hunt in week 17. The AFC has one open playoff spot with four teams in the hunt and all but the 5th seed is up for grabs. That makes for an excellent day of football around the league. 13 of the 16 games on Sunday have a direct impact on the playoffs that is unreal and much better than it was a few years ago. And making sure the games that affect each other are played at the same time is looking out for both the fans attending the games and watching the games at home on TV.

Not sure what any of this has to do with rescheduling games six days before kickoff. The Patriots are going to play the Bills - the only question was when.

But I do enjoy being called a hypocrite for voicing my opinion, so thanks for that.

 

[mgcolby]

:bricks:

Not sure what any of this has to do with rescheduling games six days before kickoff. The Patriots are going to play the Bills - the only question was when.

But I do enjoy being called a hypocrite for voicing my opinion, so thanks for that.

You honestly don't see how your opinion was hypocritical? And I don't know how I can make what I wrote any clearer. The game time change and the competitive balance are all intertwined to better serve the majority of the NFL fans both watching from home and attending the games while inconveniencing a few.

Not sure how that is difficult to correlate?

 

[Deus Irae]

You honestly don't see how your opinion was hypocritical? And I don't know how I can make what I wrote any clearer. The game time change and the competitive balance are all intertwined to better serve the majority of the NFL fans both watching from home and attending the games while inconveniencing a few.

Not sure how that is difficult to correlate?

His post wasn't the least bit hypocritical.

 

[mgcolby]

His post wasn't the least bit hypocritical.

Care to explain how it isn't? At the very least its contradicting and coming from a one sided point of view.

Note to NFL owners: This is not an enhancement. It is an imposition. It is disrepectful. It is a lousy way to treat the paying customers you claim to care so much about.

What about the paying customers in other markets? Should the NFL not care about them? Turn it around the other way, lets say we were scheduled to play at 4PM and the Broncos were playing at 1PM and we needed a Broncos loss to secure the number one seed. The Broncos lose giving us the one seed by default and the Pats sit Brady and every other big name guy they can. Wouldn't that be disrespectful and a lousy way to treat the paying customers in NE?

By playing teams that have a direct affect on each other's playoff hopes at the same time it gives competetive football to the most markets possible. That is not treating its paying customers with anything but respect. We all *****ed and moaned when the Colts sat players, if I remember correctly they sat everyone a few years ago against the Texans and it directly knocked out another team. That is disrespecting the game and the paying customers. The fans complained the NFL listened and now we don't see that scenario playing out this season.

He's completely entitled to his opinion and obviously the game time change affected him in a negative way. Really wasn't trying to come at him in a attacking way although some times that doesn't translate well in written word. But he made a blanket statement from his point of view as if it affected all in a negative way when in fact it affects the majority of football fans in a positive way.

 

[Kontradiction]

Feel bad for those with prescheduled flights and plans that have to change now, but as someone that doesn't want to go to a bar or watch a stream in order to follow my team, this is good news to me.

 

[Deus Irae]

Care to explain how it isn't? At the very least its contradicting and coming from a one sided point of view.



What about the paying customers in other markets? Should the NFL not care about them? Turn it around the other way, lets say we were scheduled to play at 4PM and the Broncos were playing at 1PM and we needed a Broncos loss to secure the number one seed. The Broncos lose giving us the one seed by default and the Pats sit Brady and every other big name guy they can. Wouldn't that be disrespectful and a lousy way to treat the paying customers in NE?

By playing teams that have a direct affect on each other's playoff hopes at the same time it gives competetive football to the most markets possible. That is not treating its paying customers with anything but respect. We all *****ed and moaned when the Colts sat players, if I remember correctly they sat everyone a few years ago against the Texans and it directly knocked out another team. That is disrespecting the game and the paying customers. The fans complained the NFL listened and now we don't see that scenario playing out this season.

He's completely entitled to his opinion and obviously the game time change affected him in a negative way. Really wasn't trying to come at him in a attacking way although some times that doesn't translate well in written word. But he made a blanket statement from his point of view as if it affected all in a negative way when in fact it affects the majority of football fans in a positive way.

The discussion was about the attendees that are being forced to TRY to make changes. His point was not only not hypocritical, it was dead on accurate, and he used the example of his son to demonstrate that. Your comment made absolutely no sense at all in the context of the discussion.

 

[mgcolby]

The discussion was about the attendees that are being forced to TRY to make changes. His point was not only not hypocritical, it was dead on accurate, and he used the example of his son to demonstrate that. Your comment made absolutely no sense at all in the context of the discussion.

You may want to go back and read the first posts. It clearly was not about the individuals being forced to make changes. The first two posts were basic house keeping posts just stating the time change. Then the first post not about that was again a general statement about the NFL not caring about those who attend the games (post #3). It wasn't until post 9 that Tune made a specific point about individuals being inconvenienced by the time change, instead of a generic statement that makes it seems as though every fan is inconvenienced by the change.

My point is they do care and that IS why they changed the game time. It inconveniences a few but serves the majority better by guaranteeing they will watch meaningful football. The only comment that doesn't make sense, is saying that my comments don't make sense in the context of this discussion. You clearly had the post and the initial posts out of context.

I sympathize with Zeus' situation and I read that after my post. But this isn't new its been going on for the past few seasons.

 

[Deus Irae]

You may want to go back and read the first posts. It clearly was not about the individuals being forced to make changes. The first two posts were basic house keeping posts just stating the time change. Then the first post not about that was again a general statement about the NFL not caring about those who attend the games (post #3). It wasn't until post 9 that Tune made a specific point about individuals being inconvenienced by the time change, instead of a generic statement that makes it seems as though every fan is inconvenienced by the change.

My point is they do care and that IS why they changed the game time. It inconveniences a few but serves the majority better by guaranteeing they will watch meaningful football. The only comment that doesn't make sense, is saying that my comments don't make sense in the context of this discussion. You clearly had the post and the initial posts out of context.

I sympathize with Zeus' situation and I read that after my post. But this isn't new its been going on for the past few seasons.

Zeus' point, which is that same that I as making, is that they don't care about the problems caused to the attendees when they do this, which is obvious. If they cared, they wouldn't be moving the games. Now, whether or not you agree with him, he's not being hypocritical by holding that position, which is what you claimed he was doing.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I love 4:25 games ... I enjoy the games way better when they are on at 4:25.

I wish games were after 4:00 every week .... a bit selfish but who cares.

 

[supafly]

Feel bad for those with prescheduled flights and plans that have to change now, but as someone that doesn't want to go to a bar or watch a stream in order to follow my team, this is good news to me.

Right. As a whole it definitely is for the greater good of the football viewing population, but a perfect example of a personal inconvenience was this past Sunday's game vs BAL.

My wife is a DAL fan, so the schedule which was released in the spring lined up both of our teams in the same city (the only other possibility would probably have been her team playing at Philly or the NYG, with ours playing at the Jets). Her game was at Washington, DC, while ours was at Baltimore. We made a plan to purchase tickets which is a pain in the ass in itself, not to mention expensive...then there's the hotel cost, the air fare, etc. When they changed the time of the game to 4:25, it made it impossible to carry out our trip, and I assume that there was a small population of fans that had some of the same issues and couldn't end up going for whatever reason.

Kind of sucked for us but it made the overall viewing improved with the whole flexing situation, not as much in this specific situation with flexing PHI/CHI, but it normally works out pretty well. Hell, at least it means that teams can't lie down as much as in the past.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I empathize with out of town people who simply planned or even must get home that evening and getting home involves a flight (I'm a full time traveler who understands the value of catching a planned flight). A 4:25 start, considering distance/traffic between BOS or PVD, severely limits/eliminates any chance of flying home Sunday evening.

Here's where it gets complicated: changing of late season game times is a known and established thing from the NFL. It's part of the deal when buying a ticket to attend a game in person. And with this time change, as others have noted, it's beneficial to a FAR bigger segment of the NFL fan base. Given all that there is no way this is the NFL "screwing" its fans over. Not to suggest their motivation is altruistic, it isn't. This is about business. But if you find me a billion dollar business that is making decisions based on something other than business, I'll show you a business that is likely heading down the tubes. Just is what it is.....

 

[supafly]

I empathize with out of town people who simply planned or even must get home that evening and getting home involves a flight (I'm a full time traveler who understands the value of catching a planned flight). A 4:25 start, considering distance/traffic between BOS or PVD, severely limits/eliminates any chance of flying home Sunday evening.

Here's where it gets complicated: changing of late season game times is a known and established thing from the NFL. It's part of the deal when buying a ticket to attend a game in person. And with this time change, as others have noted, it's beneficial to a FAR bigger segment of the NFL fan base. Given all that there is no way this is the NFL "screwing" its fans over. Not to suggest their motivation is altruistic, it isn't. This is about business. But if you find me a billion dollar business that is making decisions based on something other than business, I'll show you a business that is likely heading down the tubes. Just is what it is.....

Personally, I may very well just stay away from later season games if I cannot get back that night or can't afford to stay overnight due to other obligations. Otherwise, it's really not that big of a deal if you're in town for most people--although that's easy for me to say.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Personally, I may very well just stay away from later season games if I cannot get back that night or can't afford to stay overnight due to other obligations. Otherwise, it's really not that big of a deal if you're in town for most people--although that's easy for me to say.

I know it's a bit cold to suggest it after the fact, however, yours is the exact answer. If you're an out of towner and must catch a flight Sunday night/don't want to stay overnight? Do exactly what you suggest, avoid late season games. Kinda sucks as these can be the games with the most on the line/best atmosphere but it's that fact that most compels the business of the NFL to do game time switching....

 

[DaBronxPats14]

At least it forces the Broncos to play the game for real unless they don't give a crap of HFA throughout the playoffs.

Rob, Manning broke Brady's TD Pass Record so mission accomplished just ask Jim Irsay.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Ok so last week Pats/Ravens were flexed from 8:30 to 4:25. Game was nationally televised on CBS and we got it here in NY.
I just saw NFL updated their schedule they put Giants game at 1pm and Jets game on at 1pm they never put them on at same time in NY unless their games fall on a religous holiday so their is an open time slot for 4:25 here in NY. I hope we get Pat's game not Broncos or maybe both doubleheader on CBS & FOX.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Ok so last week Pats/Ravens were flexed from 8:30 to 4:25. Game was nationally televised on CBS and we got it here in NY.
I just saw NFL updated their schedule they put Giants game at 1pm and Jets game on at 1pm they never put them on at same time in NY unless their games fall on a religous holiday so their is an open time slot for 4:25 here in NY. I hope we get Pat's game not Broncos or maybe both doubleheader on CBS & FOX.

Same thing in the bay area. Raiders/Broncos and Noners/Cardinal are never on at the same but they are this Sunday. Further, there is a doubleheader on both CBS and Fox (Skins/Giants, Ravens/Cincy)

Both home teams on at the same time along with 2 additional games at 10am? Absolutely positively unheard of to see this kind of scheduling.

 

[Jackson 2]

Right. As a whole it definitely is for the greater good of the football viewing population, but a perfect example of a personal inconvenience was this past Sunday's game vs BAL.

My wife is a DAL fan, so the schedule which was released in the spring lined up both of our teams in the same city (the only other possibility would probably have been her team playing at Philly or the NYG, with ours playing at the Jets). Her game was at Washington, DC, while ours was at Baltimore. We made a plan to purchase tickets which is a pain in the ass in itself, not to mention expensive...then there's the hotel cost, the air fare, etc. When they changed the time of the game to 4:25, it made it impossible to carry out our trip, and I assume that there was a small population of fans that had some of the same issues and couldn't end up going for whatever reason.

Kind of sucked for us but it made the overall viewing improved with the whole flexing situation, not as much in this specific situation with flexing PHI/CHI, but it normally works out pretty well. Hell, at least it means that teams can't lie down as much as in the past.

I'll reiterate my original point. Changing these times 6 days in advance shows incredible disregard for the patrons/customers/fans who make, by far, the greatest personal and financial investment in the company. I haven't been a season ticket holder since the 70s and prefer watching the games at home, so it's no major inconvenience to me. However, if I were still an in-person attendee, I'd be BS. I understand perfectly the TV, competitive balance, revenue, etc., end of it. But it sucks big-timefor those making the largest commitment, pure and simple.

 

[Froob]

I think this is about fairness much more than it is money. Not fair if broncos get to rest their starters because the unthinkinable happens vs the bills.

 

[Jackson 2]

I think this is about fairness much more than it is money. Not fair if broncos get to rest their starters because the unthinkinable happens vs the bills.

Historically, teams already possessing a bye who rest their starters have the unthinkable happen to them in their first playoff game.