This is a crusade I pick up every few years on Sports Talk.
Why is the Super Bowl on Sunday? Because that is the way it has always been. Well, 'because' is not an answer.
I know the Super Bowl is a cultural event. Well, times change. Time to move the biggest game in sports to Saturday night.
Just say it out loud: Super Bowl Saturday Night. It's got a nice right to it, doesn't it?
The Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30PM and usually ends close to 11:00PM.
Move the Super Bowl to Saturday night and adults would not have to worry about leaving a Super Bowl party early in order to get to bed for work the next day.
Think of the joy of waking up from a Super Bowl party on Sunday morning rather than to a work day on Monday morning.
What work really gets done on Monday following the game? A recent survey found 1.5 million people were expected to call in sick the Monday after the game. Other surveys indicate the day after the Super Bowl is a “productivity killer for employers,” with companies losing almost $300 million in wages for every 10 minutes workers spend talking about the game and commercials or watching highlights.
No other sports are happening on Saturday night that would put a dent in Super Bowl viewership.
I've often heard about college and H.S. basketball games. Solution: Move them.
I know, I will get cries that TV ratings will take a hit if the game is moved to Saturday night. Do you honestly think people won't watch the Super Bowl on a Saturday night?
People are already watching and following the game in many different ways that TV ratings are trying to account fo, from a computer, to tablet, phone and sports bars.
Two years ago, Roger Goodell told the NFL Network: "That idea has been around for a long time, people have talked about that. The reason we haven't done it in the past is simply just from an audience standpoint. The audiences on Sunday night are so much larger. Fans want to have the best opportunity to be able to see the game and we want to give that to them, so Sunday night is a better night."
League spokesman Brian McCarthy has said in recent years. "The concept of playing the Super Bowl on a Sunday has worked well and we don't anticipate moving away from this tradition. Fans expect to see the Super Bowl on a Sunday, the day on which 89.2 percent of NFL games are played."
I'm calling BS. The NFL already has two playoff weekends with games played on Saturday and there was a Monday night playoff game this year. Let's face it, the NFL could play the Super Bowl during lunch hour on a Tuesday and people would watch.
What about the global aspect of exposing the NFL? If the Super Bowl finishes near 11pm eastern on a Sunday night, that means British fans must stay up until around 4AM Monday to watch live. Granted, no matter when the game is played, not all parts of the world will be satisfied.
Moving the game a day earlier would take away a chunk of money spent in host cities every year, from shorter hotel stays to less money spent on meals and entertainment. Most people attending the Super Bowl on a Sunday arrive on Friday and go home Monday morning. But which number is greater: Fans attending the game or fans watching the game? Worry about the greater good.
Super Bowl Saturday parties would become bigger events and party hosts would buy more food and beverages to take care of a greater number of guests that are staying longer, which would benefit grocery stores and other merchants.
What's the big deal? At least try a Super Bowl Saturday night.
There is no legit downside. Say it with me: Super Bowl Saturday Night
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