9-1-16? (Vols' season opener moved to Thursday)

[DeerPark12]

Is the SEC obliged to put a game in that slot if ESPN decides that they they want one? I.e., was it a situation where the SEC had to find somebody to say yes?

Yes. The SEC is obligated to fill a minimum of two Thursday night slots on opening night, one on SEC Network and one on another ESPN network. Typically, Vandy and South Carolina fill these slots and its a done issue. But because of a series of other events, the league had to schedule them to play each other on opening night, leaving a spot to fill.

 

[LWSVOL]

I hadn't even thought about plane tickets. Ouch.

There's no getting around the fact that this is going to screw thousands of Tennessee's best fans, especially out of towners. I'd like to think it's because UT had no real choice, that the TV contract says ESPN gets what ESPN wants. Because if they moved this game and willingly boned our fans because Dave Hart would rather be on SECN rather than SECN-Alternate, then that really sucks.

Butch had veto power. if he hadn't wanted the game moved it would be Saturday at noon. He preferred Thursday night.

 

[DeerPark12]

Put yourself in the shoes of a season ticket holder from west Tennessee. You've got a now-useless, possibly nonrefundable hotel reservation in Knoxville on Friday and Saturday night. You've got to work on Thursday and Friday, and maybe vacation time is an issue. You donated a lot of money for the privilege of buying this ticket that now you're going to have a hell of a hard time using. It's understandable that some people are angry.

For the record, UT consulted with the downtown hotels that serve as partners, which I believe is all of them, and all of them will allow for changes in reservations from Friday and Saturday to earlier in the week, or allow them to be canceled without penalty because of the move.

Obviously, this doesn't cover every hotel in the area, but I believe most will be accommodating, particularly four months out.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

This is not how I figured the reaction would be.

 

[bigdaddy]

I hadn't even thought about plane tickets. Ouch.

There's no getting around the fact that this is going to screw thousands of Tennessee's best fans, especially out of towners. I'd like to think it's because UT had no real choice, that the TV contract says ESPN gets what ESPN wants. Because if they moved this game and willingly boned our fans because Dave Hart would rather be on SECN rather than SECN-Alternate, then that really sucks.

This is exactly how I feel and CBJ had the final veto, just sucks for those fans

 

[LWSVOL]

Once most get over their frustrations they will get creative and work to determine how they can make this game. It takes a little work but most situations can be handled if one just thinks about it and works at it.

back in the 90s, pre internet and instant news, we would start hearing rumors in mid October of possible bowl games that Tennessee might be going to. I like to stay at the team hotels when going on road trips.

In order to ensure I could get a room, I would call the bowl sites and find out where the SEC team would stay for their bowl game. They were always willing to share that information. I would make reservations for all possible bowl games at that time and then cancel those not needed once bowl announced in early December. Stayed at a really nice place in 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Called the Bluff or Butte or something like that. Real nice place.

Point being, things can be worked out if you really want to get there. and yes, I had kid issues also long ago. Had pee wee football games on Saturday morning and jumped in car as soon as over to drive to Knoxville for an afternoon game.

 

[WallyBalls]

For those who actually believe this will hurt attendance...give me a number.

 

[bleedorange0037]

For those who actually believe this will hurt attendance...give me a number.

It won't hurt the announced attendance, because I think that just goes off tickets sold, but there will be empty seats. Probably not so much that it'll be noticeable on TV, but just enough that people can sit comfortably in the stadium. I'd say about 90k actually show up.

 

[kiddiedoc]

People who don't see the problem with this can't possibly have purchased season tickets at an above street value (when including booster contribution) price and had to travel 3 hours plus to make it to a game.

Hard to believe I agree with a Gator.

Even local season ticket holders are affected. My office schedule is already made with appointments as far as 6 months out. Our patients depend on us being open, and it's not often feasible to just leave early on a Thursday afternoon. Friday morning will be a tired one!

 

[JohnMarxism]

Says the guy that doesn't need 3 and 1/2 months to figure out hot to attend a game that I would really want to go to. Have you ever attended an away game? a bowl game? How much time did it take for you to book tickets? And last I checked you don't have to stay in the city. Several times I've booked a hotel 20-30 miles outside of a city where I was attending a game. Just comes down to people are soft and seemingly like to complain about anything that doesn't fall right into place for them. Anyone whining about not being able to shift their plans should be embarrassed.

I wish it were that easy to shift my plans for this fall. My wife is expecting with our first child due in October and the only game we even flirted with planning to attend was the App State game. Now that it's moved to Thursday (we both work M-F and go to school full-time), it's impossible for us to go now. I doubt that we can attend a game later on in the season.

 

[TNnative]

I thought they'd at least have a decent opponent when they set this precedent.

Answer this:

Who is the opponent?

Who is our offensive coordinator?

Last time he faced this opponent in a season opener, who won?

Time for him to get that monkey off his back.

 

[LWSVOL]

It won't hurt the announced attendance, because I think that just goes off tickets sold, but there will be empty seats. Probably not so much that it'll be noticeable on TV, but just enough that people can sit comfortably in the stadium. I'd say about 90k actually show up.

which if the temp is 90+ on Saturday the third would have been about the attendance had game remained as a noon Saturday game. Very little impact on the butts in seats

 

[edyeary]

Answer this:

Who is the opponent?

Who is our offensive coordinator?

Last time he faced this opponent in a season opener, who won?

Time for him to get that monkey off43 his back.

Dang! Hadn''t occurred to me. Irony is ironic.

 

[bigdaddy]

which is the temp is 90+ on Saturday the third would have been about the attendance had game remained as a noon Saturday game. Very little impact on the butts in seats

I don't buy into the weather argument in TN. I could be very pleasant or raining or bloody hot.

 

[dyllisvol42]

I work 4-10 schedule so I'll be there.... Suck it you guys who work 5-8 lol jk but I'll be there.

 

[bigdaddy]

Hard to believe I agree with a Gator.

Even local season ticket holders are affected. My office schedule is already made with appointments as far as 6 months out. Our patients depend on us being open, and it's not often feasible to just leave early on a Thursday afternoon. Friday morning will be a tired one!

I already informed my docs I'll be a little tired Friday so a late start would be nice. I too have to plan at least 6 months in advance but mostly it's a year in adv. 4 months out, no way I can just get off for one day.

 

[dirytkirby]

I will speak for many of us who love the Vols and live out of state without the means to make it to any games during this potentially incredible season...

Quitcher B!tchen!

I love the attitude "I wish the season would hurry up and get here!!!"

And then you get your wish and complain.

Everyone understands the inconvenience, suck it up, jeeze!

 

[LWSVOL]

I don't buy into the weather argument in TN. I could be very pleasant or raining or bloody hot.

agree but Butch's reasoning was avoid the heat which is more likely than other possibilities.

 

[bigdaddy]

[/B]

agree but Butch's reasoning was avoid the heat which is more likely than other possibilities.

I agree that is a more likely scenario but I'm not a fan of moving the game to a weeknight this late. Especially on a holiday weekend. Probably a wash in the end. What will be ironic is if it gets cancelled for weather on Thursday night and Saturday is perfect. That would be our luck

 

[ncvol17]

I will speak for many of us who love the Vols and live out of state without the means to make it to any games during this potentially incredible season...

Quitcher B!tchen!

I love the attitude "I wish the season would hurry up and get here!!!"

And then you get your wish and complain.

Everyone understands the inconvenience, suck it up, jeeze!

Well I speak for those who live out of state, donate, buy season tickets, drive multiple hours to support the Vols and have a right to be dissatisfied with a Thursday game. As a TV fan you have no dog in the hunt nor $$$$ involved.:hi:

 

[GreveHaller]

Once most get over their frustrations they will get creative and work to determine how they can make this game. It takes a little work but most situations can be handled if one just thinks about it and works at it.

back in the 90s, pre internet and instant news, we would start hearing rumors in mid October of possible bowl games that Tennessee might be going to. I like to stay at the team hotels when going on road trips.

In order to ensure I could get a room, I would call the bowl sites and find out where the SEC team would stay for their bowl game. They were always willing to share that information. I would make reservations for all possible bowl games at that time and then cancel those not needed once bowl announced in early December. Stayed at a really nice place in 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Called the Bluff or Butte or something like that. Real nice place.

Point being, things can be worked out if you really want to get there. and yes, I had kid issues also long ago. Had pee wee football games on Saturday morning and jumped in car as soon as over to drive to Knoxville for an afternoon game.

You're right. Lets see.......My son's high school football practice ends at 5:00pm on Thursday. That gives me 1.5 hrs to get to my seats I've already bought. Going from south Nashville to BNA on a Friday during rush hour....so we'll give that 30 minutes. Down to an hour. From TYS to campus to the seats before the game kicks off in game day traffic....45 minutes. Perfect - all I need is 15 minutes to get from Nashville to Knoxville. Just need a plane that goes 700 mph and I'm there. Since there's no vehicle that can take off or land in either location at that size, could you work on the flux capacitor, Professor? All we need is a few hours. No need to go back to 1983.

 

[OrangeMound]

This will be great for the Program. This is a Primetime spot and the entire Nation will be hungry for some College football so it will attract a lot of viewers and potential recruits.

 

[knoxvol16]

For the record, UT consulted with the downtown hotels that serve as partners, which I believe is all of them, and all of them will allow for changes in reservations from Friday and Saturday to earlier in the week, or allow them to be canceled without penalty because of the move.

Obviously, this doesn't cover every hotel in the area, but I believe most will be accommodating, particularly four months out.

First of all, I sincerely appreciate you posting. It's obvious that you are somehow connected to the program, so it's honestly enlightening to hear what went into the decision.

However, I take exception to some of your points by offering that the two biggest problems are problems that were apparently not addressed, or addressed without resolution (i.e. resolution will be left to fan "innovation"). These two problems are 1) work schedules, and 2) family logistics (nuclear and/or extended).

I would wager to guess that seat attendance (not TV viewing attendance) will be only slightly affected. What will probably happen is that a significant percentage (maybe 20–25% or so) of fans will attempt to sell their tickets because they simply don't have the freedoms to attend a Thursday home game. That will open up the opportunity for others who can attend to do so . . . but at the peril of the average season ticket holder.

Now, we all know that universities do studies/models of their "floating" season ticket renewals, and maybe the percentage of projected season ticket holders that will be negatively affected by this falls well within that category. However, it still leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the average fan, which is the very fan UT has been attempting to target by opening the no-donation and low-donation season ticket opportunities.

It will affect me and my family, and we've been donating for quite a while. At present 50% of my party are 95% certain they cannot attend. The other 50% (inclusive of me) are only 50% certain that they can attend. Moving the season opener to a Thursday has also moved much of the influence that impacts our ability to attend to that which is simply out of our control . . . and, therein lies the rub.

 

[Boca Vol]

This will be great for the Program. This is a Primetime spot and the entire Nation will be hungry for some College football so it will attract a lot of viewers and potential recruits.

There are a lot of other games on around that time. It will attract UT fans, App State fans, & some SEC fans. Outside of that I doubt too many people will care. I don't know why a Thurs. game vs. App State will attract recruits. I don't see a 5* flipping to UT over this.

 

[bigdaddy]

There are a lot of other games on around that time. It will attract UT fans, App State fans, & some SEC fans. Outside of that I doubt too many people will care. I don't know why a Thurs. game vs. App State will attract recruits. I don't see a 5* flipping to UT over this.

Yup, I can't imagine the TV viewership would increase over a noon game on Saturday. The only real reason I've seen is to avoid the possibility of the heat.