Move the super bowl to Saturday?

[RedRamage]

So I've heard this talked about a bit on the radio lately, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The idea is presented that moving the Game to Saturday will allow for people to "recover" from the big day on Sunday... Young kids will be allowed to stay up later cause they don't have school the next day. Those who partake a little too much can sleep it off on Sunday and be fresh for Monday's work.

On one hand this seems like a good idea. But on the other hand it does seem a little unusual and doesn't quite fit with how I schedule my weekends. Generally Saturday is running errands that need to get done, cleaning the house, going shopping maybe, some times some home fixup/repairs. Sundays are usually a little more laid back, after church we spend more family time together maybe get together with my parents or brothers/sisters. In this vein getting together with the siblings to watch the game just fits in. Now of course it wouldn't be impossible to rearrange one weekend to have a get together Saturday night, but with thing the way they are it all just fits together nicely.

What do you think? Which would you prefer?

[Oblong]

I think the ratings would be lower on a Saturday so it'll never happen, unless the NFL is happy to make less money.

I like it on Sunday. It make Mondays kind of a holiday at work and everybody talks about it so it's like a free day.

[cruzer1]

I'm going to have to go to work Sunday night at about halftime, so I'm pretty pissed about that, and vote for them to change to Saturday, if at all possible.

[Euphdude]

Pro sports don't seem to care so much about younger people as much as they did as they do ratings and the almighty dollar nowadays. If Sunday nights garner the highest ratings and commercial ad dollars, the NFL will stick with it.

[RedRamage]

But do you think ratings will really be lower on a Saturday? Doesn't the Super Bowl sorta sell itself?

[Oblong]

I don't think it sells itself. The reason it gets the ratings that it does is because it's on Sunday evening. That's probably the best night for TV viewing, in terms of attracting audiences. A lot of people do watch it because it's the only thing on and they want to see the clever commercials and the halftime show. But those same people would most likely find or have something else to do on a Saturday night because they don't want to waste a Saturday night. They're home on Sunday evening because they have to get ready for the work week, school, etc.

Saturday is the worst night for TV viewing.

[DennisDubay]

Saturday would create a better party atmosphere - no work on Sunday ... That said, The ratings probably would suffer, as your fringe fans who don't have anything going on Sunday probably have things to do on Saturday (dance clubs, etc.).

[slim pickens]

I think the Superbowl on Saturday would get fantastic ratings. I personaly like it on Sunday, but Saturday would be pretty cool too.

[Lbh24]

Saturday would be great. I'm young, and I still stay VERY low-key for the game. Last year, I went to a friend's and left at halftime. This year, I've turned down invitations to two parties because they're both >30 minutes away and I don't feel like getting back too late. It makes it hard to get into the game when I'm getting ready for bed as the 4th quarter is being played.

Note: I'm also pretty much a fringe NFL fan, so maybe I'm not the best person to be talking about this. Outside of my fantasy teams (which are usually out of contention around the same time that the Lions are, I really don't get into the NFL all that much.

[potthole]

I'd love for it to be on a Saturday. I hate how tired I am at work the next day following the game.

If I happen to go to a friend's house to watch the game this year, I'll probably wind up leaving early thanks to my 5 a.m. alarm for work on Monday.

[Motowncool]

SUNDAY, SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!!!

If they move it one week later in Feb than it is now, it will always be on the weekend of Presidents Day. So the sleep in/recovery day will be automaticaly built in.

They are talking about adding more regular season games and I think this is why. They need to extend the season to the second secend week in Feb.

[nmuman]

Originally Posted by Oblong

I think the ratings would be lower on a Saturday so it'll never happen, unless the NFL is happy to make less money.

I like it on Sunday. It make Mondays kind of a holiday at work and everybody talks about it so it's like a free day.

You hit the nail on the head. Saturday is the absolute worst day for ratings. Sunday is one of the highest. People that weren't planning on watching the Super Bowl will watch because everything else is reruns...

[LJK004]

Moving it to Saturday would cause the ratings to go down the toilet so fast in 3 years there wouldn't be a Super Bowl. The only worse night they could do it would be Friday night (the ol' night where TV shows go to die.)

I'd bet under 25% of the viewers are actually watching it for the game, so how many of the rest are going to watch the Super Bowl instead of go out Saturday night? Half of them, maybe? Furthermore, as hit on earlier, not a whole lot is going on Sunday nights. This leads most of the not interested people to the front of the TV and the party atmosphere. Why? 'Cause nothing else is happening. Next, I don't know too many people who get really hammered watching the Super Bowl. Maybe, I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd, but at every party I've been to, the food has been the big draw, not the alcohol. Sure most people toss back a couple "ginger ales," but I've never had a problem with people being bombed.

In the end, I'd say a better solution to the "Monday recovery syndrome," would be to move the game up an hour, so that it ends before 11 o'clock, and most people could get to bed around their normal bedtime.

[Todd]

Move it to Saturday night... seems like everyone at Super bowl parties i've been at leave at halftime. as for the ratings being lower i dont buy that. heck people go out to parties on work nights as it is now, why wouldnt they do the same on a night they dont have to work the next day?

[Todd]

Originally Posted by LJK004

Moving it to Saturday would cause the ratings to go down the toilet so fast in 3 years there wouldn't be a Super Bowl. The only worse night they could do it would be Friday night (the ol' night where TV shows go to die.)

I'd bet under 25% of the viewers are actually watching it for the game, so how many of the rest are going to watch the Super Bowl instead of go out Saturday night? Half of them, maybe? Furthermore, as hit on earlier, not a whole lot is going on Sunday nights. This leads most of the not interested people to the front of the TV and the party atmosphere. Why? 'Cause nothing else is happening. Next, I don't know too many people who get really hammered watching the Super Bowl. Maybe, I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd, but at every party I've been to, the food has been the big draw, not the alcohol. Sure most people toss back a couple "ginger ales," but I've never had a problem with people being bombed.

In the end, I'd say a better solution to the "Monday recovery syndrome," would be to move the game up an hour, so that it ends before 11 o'clock, and most people could get to bed around their normal bedtime.

after the age of 25-30 how many people really go out on Saturday night? I think most families are home on saturday watching movies or playing cards with friends

[djhutch]

Originally Posted by Oblong

I don't think it sells itself. The reason it gets the ratings that it does is because it's on Sunday evening. That's probably the best night for TV viewing, in terms of attracting audiences. A lot of people do watch it because it's the only thing on and they want to see the clever commercials and the halftime show. But those same people would most likely find or have something else to do on a Saturday night because they don't want to waste a Saturday night. They're home on Sunday evening because they have to get ready for the work week, school, etc.

Saturday is the worst night for TV viewing.

It's not very often I disagree with you, but I think it's just exactly the opposite. I don't think anyone would see it as a waste of a Saturday nite, they simply would do their Super Bowl party then. I'd much rather see it on a Saturday nite. There'd be no question that I watch the whole game. As it is, if the game is boring by halftime I'd rather go to bed so I can get up in the morning.

[Hongbit]

Professional football is played on Sunday.

[slim pickens]

Originally Posted by Hongbit

Professional football is played on Sunday.

then why are some games on Thursday and Saturday?

[Lousluggage]

Originally Posted by slim pickens

then why are some games on Thursday and Saturday?

Don't forget Monday night. :)

Edit: to answer the question, I don't care if it's Saturday or Sunday-I'll watch it either way.

[Hongbit]

Originally Posted by slim pickens

then why are some games on Thursday and Saturday?

These are the exceptions and not the rule. 95% of games are played on Sunday and it only makes sense that so is the marquee game of the year.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Hongbit

These are the exceptions and not the rule. 95% of games are played on Sunday and it only makes sense that so is the marquee game of the year.

then start it at 1 or 4 because thats what they do with 95% of the games

[Hongbit]

Hey let's have a nitpick thread.

[Shinma]

The Superbowl needs to be in Prime Time.

I live on the west coast. The current start time is 3ish. Thats perfect for me.

[Oblong]

If they would get better ratings on Saturday, it'd have been on Saturday years ago.

It's the worst night for attracting TV audiences. It's not on Sundays because of some sacrosant rule that says "NFL has to be on Sundays." It's because they know that the ratings are the best on Sunday nights.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Oblong

If they would get better ratings on Saturday, it'd have been on Saturday years ago.

It's the worst night for attracting TV audiences. It's not on Sundays because of some sacrosant rule that says "NFL has to be on Sundays." It's because they know that the ratings are the best on Sunday nights.

yeah because the TV networks have been just full foresite lately.... NFL and The TV networks are just like any big business they are afraid to make any big change.

[RedRamage]

Originally Posted by Hongbit

These are the exceptions and not the rule. 95% of games are played on Sunday and it only makes sense that so is the marquee game of the year.

But don't these exceptions belie the idea that people will only watch football on Sunday?

I dunno... all in all, I think you might lose a bit of the audience of people who are the 'casual' fan who has nothing better to do on a Sunday. But I think you'd also pick up some more fan who'd watch the whole thing and not have to leave a party early to get to bed for an early morning or put the kids down to bed.

[RedRamage]

Originally Posted by Hongbit

Hey let's have a nitpick thread.

I disagree that this is a nitpick... You used the argument that the should be on the day that 95% of the games are on. Someone else made the argument that it should then be the time of when 95% of the games are... what's the difference?

[slim pickens]

Originally Posted by Oblong

If they would get better ratings on Saturday, it'd have been on Saturday years ago.

It's the worst night for attracting TV audiences. It's not on Sundays because of some sacrosant rule that says "NFL has to be on Sundays." It's because they know that the ratings are the best on Sunday nights.

in a way, that was the rule. Football was for Sundays. now with more games on Saturday, and a ton more on Thursday, I am not so sure a move wont be made sometime in the future.

Saturday night superbowl will get the same, if not better ratings than Sunday. People are not going to say, tonight is my bar night, no superbowl for me. It would just turn into double the parties that there are now.

So I guess in a way, ratings could go down, because even though more people will watch it, it is possible it will be on less TV's with more parties, and more peolple attending, therefore 1 TV on, 10 off.

[Walt]

I think the Superbowl should take Conan's show.

The perfect solution would to have the Monday after as a mandatory paid day off.

[ToledoTigerFan]

I chose it doesn't matter to me. I like it on Sunday, but wouldn't have a problem with it being on Saturday. I guess I'd prefer it to be Sunday simply because Sunday is the day traditionally set aside for pro football.

[DaYooperASBDT]

I would love to have a recovery day. The idea of doing it on President's Day Weekend is a winner in my book - if we have to stick with Sunday.

[Oblong]

another reason why I don't think it'll be moved is all the sponsorships of the events taking place during Super Bowl week, especially the Saturday night events. You are removing one day of hype. Hype = money. When you pay the NFL for the right to use the Super Bowl in your advertising, instead of having to use the generic "Big Game", you want to stretch that out as long as possible. It's not just the day of the event.

[DTroppens]

I'm sure this has been brought up but the extra day of hype on a weekend does the game good. It also makes it more attractive to cities because people will probably spend that one extra day in town.

Football is already played traditionally on Sundays and does well on that day. It's a great way to end the weekend. Plus, it keeps Desperate Housewives from being aired this way.

[Timberwolf]

Why fix something when it's not broke?

Super Bowl Sunday is a national holiday.