Should the Saturday 3pm slot remain sacred?

[Captain...]

Just been thinking about this after reading the thread about the Sky matches this Saturday.

 

Seems a bit silly to rearrange every fixture from 3pm, but then what is so important about 3pm?

 

It exists to encourage people to support their local and not sit at home and watch the big teams, a noble cause, but is it really necessary any more?

 

There are 2 elements to this.

 

1) Should the 3pm slot remain free of TV fixtures?

2) Is 3pm the best time to watch we football?

 

1) 3pm on Saturday isn't really free from football, whether you watch Soccer Saturday or listen to the radio or an ilegal stream or a pub showing a foreign satellite channel.

 

If we could show live matches at that time, would it really affect your football watching habits? I know we are mainly Leicester fans on here, but I know some like to go and watch local teams when we aren't playing.

 

We would get less games re-arranged and more games shown live, but if every Leicester game was shown live, like they do in Spain, show every league match on local channels, would it affect the number of games you went to, specifically away games?

 

2) Is 3pm on a Saturday the best time to watch football? If clubs could arrange the time between them and police to accomodate fans and other factors, would that not be better than have every game at Saturday 3pm? Why 3pm, I quite enjoy later games on a week day, you can have a few drinks before hand and after without getting shit faced, whereas if you drink pre 3pm, then carry on after, you are mullered by closing time.

 

I think the only real issue with TV games at the moment is that people plan for a 3pm game and then get it changed after having already made provisions to go to the game, if clubs and Sky can decide what time the games are on in advance, doesn't mean it will be shown on TV if it is at a certain time, but giving TV the flexibility to show what game they want, at whatever time it is on, then it avoids any disruption.

 

Thoughts?

[Dan]

It's the traditional time that we've all got used to and it should stay for that reason alone. It's suitable in every way for me.

[Grandad.]

The majority of games should stay at 3pm, there is nothing wrong with our scheduling in my eyes. 

 

One thing I would like to see is though, I would like to see a Premier League 3pm game televised on the BBC once every two weeks, I think that would be brilliant.

[davieG]

You also need to take into account peoples' travel arrangements. Nearly all fans used to live with in walking/cycling or local bus to the match but so many now live not only in the county but in far away places. Evening games tend to be a real problem for these people. i'd guess that Saturday games as opposed to Evening and Sunday games are preferable to these people. whether that means 3pm or not I don't know.

[The Doctor]

It's the traditional time that we've all got used to and it should stay for that reason alone. It's suitable in every way for me.

If tradition is the only argument for it then there's no argument for it.

[ousefox]

If Liverpool-Chelsea this week was on at 3pm on Saturday this week there would have been a huge drop in lower league attendances. It's a good rule I think.

[Dan]

If tradition is the only argument for it then there's no argument for it.

 

It's tradition for a reason. The reason is it's suitable and what we've all accustomed to. For me it should 100% stay.

[Footballwipe]

The blackout rule is outdated and should be scrapped.

 

It's criminal that in 2014 the USA, Middle East, Australia and the rest of the world have access to live coverage of all 380 Premier League games and the UK get just 138 of them, with lots of fan inconvenience as a result.

 

If lower league clubs actually charged reasonable entry prices then they might have a chance of getting a bigger fan base. Any fan who loves their club will go and not sit at home watching a 'big game' or choose a Premier League match. Besides, anyone who is desperate to watch a match at 3pm on a Saturday won't find it difficult to, head down to the pub or get on the nearest streaming site.

 

If the rule is scrapped then you might just see the sacrid-ness of Saturday at 3pm return for the large part. The last day of the season in the PL and SBC would probably revert back to Saturday at 3pm and there wouldn't be this rampant illegal streaming that is on the increase, as people could pick and choose the game they wanted a la Champions League style.

[Captain...]

Agree with footballwipe, the rule is outdated and makes no sense in this day and age.

 

If local club want more punters, why don't they play more matches at times when big clubs aren't playing? Surely playing at 11am would mean you could go and watch your local non-league/league 2 side at 11, come home have some lunch then watch Leicester away at 3.

 

What it seems to me as being the biggest bugbear of supporters and managers is when games are moved, especially after making travel plans or work plans, to be on TV, if Sky were allowed to show football matches at 3pm, then they could just pick the most exciting 3pm match the week before, and not move it.

[Fox92]

It's the traditional time and everyone can usually make it on a 3pm, Saturday.

 

Hate seeing Sky move games but it takes the pi*s when they move games such as Liverpool v Newcastle to a Monday night. So inconsiderate towards the fans.

[ScouseFox]

Agree with footballwipe, the rule is outdated and makes no sense in this day and age.

 

If local club want more punters, why don't they play more matches at times when big clubs aren't playing? Surely playing at 11am would mean you could go and watch your local non-league/league 2 side at 11, come home have some lunch then watch Leicester away at 3.

 

What it seems to me as being the biggest bugbear of supporters and managers is when games are moved, especially after making travel plans or work plans, to be on TV, if Sky were allowed to show football matches at 3pm, then they could just pick the most exciting 3pm match the week before, and not move it.

 

11am?! 

 

what about fans of lower league clubs with no interest in getting their team's game, who they support, "out the way" so to speak, so that other people can watch two games? being pretty disrespectful to proper fans of lower league teams. hartlepool vs plymouth at 11am so a few people can get off to watch man u on tele later on? nah. 

[davieG]

I'm a bit confused. Which teams would move their games from the traditional 3pm to allow which teams to continue to play at 3pm and to then allow which TV company, Sky, BT to show the 3pm games.

 

If the 3pm is not sacred and clubs were encourage to move them so they didn't clash with the televised 3pm games what happens to them if they're chosen for the 3pm tv slot?

[Jace]

Needs to be revised is too out of date the reason that is there is no longer valid because Sky will just have the matches moved to a different time anyway there is no benefit anymore just inconvience 

[The Doctor]

It's tradition for a reason. The reason is it's suitable and what we've all accustomed to. For me it should 100% stay.

It was traditional to execute women who could do washing for being witches. Tradition is not a good enough reason to keep anything.

[Captain...]

I'm a bit confused. Which teams would move their games from the traditional 3pm to allow which teams to continue to play at 3pm and to then allow which TV company, Sky, BT to show the 3pm games.

 

If the 3pm is not sacred and clubs were encourage to move them so they didn't clash with the televised 3pm games what happens to them if they're chosen for the 3pm tv slot?

 

Not saying anyone has to do anything, but the whole concept of all games starting at 3 o'clock is a bit odd, imagine you were a small club in the Manchester area, you are not going to get many fans as you are competing with Manchester City and United, if you know all of your fan base support one of the big Manchester clubs, then surely it would make more sense to play when they are not playing, if one of them is playing at 3 why should you have to?

 

Add to that the TV ban, which is redundant now as many people have access to premiership games at 3pm, it just seems outdated. You stop making the 3pm slot sacred and allow clubs to move their non televised matches, specifically smaller clubs, to the most convenient time for them, then there might be a change in attendance and viewing habits.

 

There are a number of arguments here, and many pemutations and possibilities, there should already exist a date by which match date and time should be fixed, a month in advance would be good, giving those that need it time to make cheap travel arrangements and book time off work. Or once tickets are availble for sale, they cannot change the time or date, and if the do so are liable for any costs incurred by ticket holders, such as travel and hotel (but then that might not help season ticket holders, who obviously don't need to wait until they have bought a ticket before they make travel arrangements).

 

All I am saying is should we stop making it sacred, which lets be honest it isn't really any more, how many 3pm home matches did we have this season, so you might as well allow a live game to be shown officially, and allow smaller clubs to look at playing at different times rather than force them to play at 3pm directly competing for fans with the big clubs in the area.

[leftbackinthechangingroom]

I'm sick to the back teeth of games getting moved for tv it's not so much of an inconvenience to me but can see why it would be for others for example, if the game gets moved to a friday or Thursday night a lot of fans that are reliant on public transport have to either leave early or wait an extra hour hour and a half for a bus (estimates from personal experience in the past).

If people wanted to watch the live game and go to the local game at 3 couldn't they just record the game and avoid hearing the results and half times. Difficult yes but not impossible

[davieG]

I don't believe smaller clubs are restricted to 3pm ko now as I'm sure they ko earlier in the winter if they don't have flood lights.

 

If the argument is that 3pm tv games wont adversely affect attendances for smaller clubs because there's already streamed games why should they need to move.

 

I understand the point about allowing 3pm tv games and maybe it would help but there will still be games at many other times including 12 and 5.30 sat and 3 times on sunday as well as friday and mondsy evening unless your suggesting that all pl games are televised at 3pm for people to choose which game they want to watch on a pay by view basis.

 

Still confused as to the benefit of allowing 3pm tv games or moving games to avoid a 3pm tv slot.

 

Part of the joy of football used to be that all games were played at the same time with alternative home and away games and you knew where you stood. I miss that. 

[Webbo]

I believe before the advent of floodlights games used to kick off earlier in the winter months.

[Strokes]

I believe before the advent of floodlights games used to kick off earlier in the winter months.

Dave g can remember matches being played in candlelight.

[Bayfox]

Whilst it doesn't really affect me as I would still go watch the city over any tv game.

I can't understand why the rest of the world is watching our 3pm sat ko's yet people in this country can't have that choice.

As for smaller clubs who may get reduced attendances on that basis. They could just move games to friday night as happens when england play or 1pm I bet there's a few people who would like to see a game live at 1pm then head to the pub for a 3pm.

[Strokes]

We get the streams so who cares?

[MooseBreath]

Moving a lower league game so that you could show a 3pm game on tv, or move the game on tv so that people can attend the lower league game at 3pm... What's the difference really? The deciding factor would be logistics, and since it's easier for people to watch on tv at odd times, and more difficult for away clubs and fans to attend games at odd times, it makes sense to keep the gamed you want people to attend at the most convenient time, saturday 3pm.

[Voll Blau]

It's the most convenient time, transport wise, for away fans. All about the Saturday 3pms for me. The amount of games moved to Sundays or late K/Os where away fans physically can't get the last train home is a disgrace.

[Aus Fox]

The big thing is getting to games for supporters, 3 pm is the easiest time to get to games regardless of where you are on the country. It also ensures we are not to late home from big away games, no even the 4/5 hours drives to away games at 3 pm you can still be home by 10. Saturdays over Sundays for the same reason, getting back at 10 pm on a Saturday night is obviously better than 10pm on a Sunday night when you have work the next day.

This works for all clubs regardless of size or level they play at.

The idea of live games, why is this an issue when we can all get live streams anyway?

Sky represent everything that is wrong with modern football, I like the idea that there are some things despite how much money they have they cannot change.

[ozleicester]

How am i supposed to get to the game if it isnt at 3pm on a Saturday... The pit doesnt let me out until 1pm and then ive gorra walk home, slam down a bit of nosh, give the missus a quick backhander and still find time to drop into the local and walk to the ground.

 

3pm is sacred!