(02-26-2014 04:46 PM)NIU007 Wrote: Friday night might be a weekend, but you still have people struggling to get there after work in time for the game, especially if they start at 6 pm.
I never understood this. For example Louisville has three weeknight football games next year, Monday Sept 1 vs. Miami, Friday Oct 3 @ Syracuse, and Thursday October 30 vs. Florida State. And guess what, today is February 26. and I have 7 - 8 months to prepare to get off work a couple of hours early, or if I had to commute, arrange for it. How hard is that?
Why is it that NFL fans going to Monday Night Football don't have a problem with this? Monday is a much harder day to deal with than a Thursday or Friday? Why do they not have problems with Thursday Night games? Yes NFL teams do draw more of their fans from the immediate vicinity than some college teams, but the point is the same. You have 7 months to prepare for a weeknight game, which for many just means getting off two hours earlier (of if you are me leaving work at noon at tailgating all day) and others means taking a day off work. With seven month' notice, most people should not have an issue with this. To me, it is just an excuse.
Now I understand the delimna with Friday Nights games in terms of conflicting with HS football, far more than the ability to simply get there. That is a different animal in some places. I would think If talking of one game per year, or likely one every other year, I think it can be addressed. But in terms of travel, a Friday night game simply means taking one day off work. One. For the year.
Should not be an issue with planning for the majority of people. I realize there are exceptions, but most people can arrange a day off seven months in advance. And the few who can't, should be counterbalanced by those who can't go to games on Saturdays (or every Saturday anyway) who now become available to go.