NFL moves draft to prime time

by JasonB on Jul 23, 2009 11:33 PM EDT in News Comment 25 comments

More photos » by Mary Altaffer - AP

The NFL has decided to make the draft a three day event and has moved round one into primetime.

The NFL is making its already popular draft even more television-friendly, moving the first round to Thursday night. Next year’s draft will switch from a two-day, weekend format to a three-day event with the opening round in prime time for the first time.

The NFL said Thursday that the first round will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT on April 22. The second and third rounds will start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, with the last four rounds beginning Saturday morning.

"Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a release.

I don't like this at all. First, let's not kid ourselves that this is for the fans. Of course it's not. It's a money thing. The draft in primetime two days in a row makes more money. Three days of draft brings in more ad dollars than two days does.

But let's not worry about the money aspect. The draft weekend is an event, a tradition. It's something we all look forward to. Even before I started blogging about the Eagles 4 years ago, I still made certain that I'd have that weekend all to myself. It's a special weekend on the NFL calender. Staying up Thursday night after work, then getting home early on Friday evening and spending all night watching rounds two and three? Doesn't sound all that fun... and the 4th through the 7th round all on one day is a pretty boring proposition and I say that as a big fan of the NFL draft. Frankly, the 2nd and 3rd round on their own night will probably struggle to draw much interest from the common fan.

Of course, I'll still watch it(I may even be there again) but I don't like it.

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Indeed. It’s all about money for them, and it’s a good business decision.

I assume most fans will watch the same amount of the draft they did this year, be it just the first round or all of them.

by FredEx on Jul 24, 2009 12:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I will still watch it because I love the draft but I agree that I don’t like it going to 3 days

fightlockdown.com

by The Legend on Jul 24, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like the change

Speaking selfishly, I don’t always have an entire weekend to devote solely to the football draft.. I wish i did, but the fact of the matter is that i end up missing most of it because it lasts for so many consecutive hours. With it broken up like this, i can devote a couple hours thurs, a couple hours fri, then watch as much i can of rounds 4-7. Also, i imagine that there would be another day’s worth of tickets to purchase so that more people can attend.

Eagles.

by #1EaglesFan on Jul 24, 2009 4:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate it.

Its strictly a money move. What next, Roger? Will the Super Bowl also be moved to a Thursday since that is the most popular television night? Please. Don’t piss on my head then tell me it’s raining. Sure – its probably tough to come up with a statement where you admit that you’re doing it for the revenue, so instead: just shut your mouth.

I totally agree about the tradition aspect. For a lot of guys, draft weekend was either an excuse to party, or an occasion to recieve a kitchen pass from the wife. In most cases: it was both. Now we get to kiss that good bye while staying up late on a worknight, then rushing home the next day.

Piss poor.

Looking Mean in Kelly Green

by goodfella46er on Jul 24, 2009 4:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate this

With apologies do all of those people who don’t like the internationalization of the NFL, but this is the worst possible thing for a guy like me (and people in Europe as well). It means that I’d have to get up at 3AM to watch the Draft, the same time I get up to watch a primetime Eagles game. I love the draft, but this might be a bit much. However, I’d probably still watch it due to the lack of any NFL at that time of the year.

I'm not ready to move on from #20.

by LeonSA on Jul 24, 2009 6:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

With all due respect

You can’t be serious. When scheduling events and times for the ~~Inter~~National Football League, do you really think it’d be a wise business idea to cater to the South African audience?

I think it’s great that you’re a fan over there. Scheduling is always going to be something you have to stomach.

by andyreidswaistline on Jul 24, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Personally, I couldn’t possibly care less about catering to European, African, Australian, and African nations when it comes to the NFL (no offense LeonSA), but he certainly has the right to be pissed.

With Goodell having games in London every year, and even pushing for a Super Bowl to be held there, moving the draft up to 7:30 EDT is very much a hypocritical move than absolutely screws fans in the Eastern Hemisphere.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 24, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

An NFL Super Bowl will never be held overseas.

by andyreidswaistline on Jul 24, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I certainly think it's a really dumb idea...

…but if there’s more money to be made somehow by having it overseas, bank on it happening.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 24, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally understand your point andyreidswaistline. I didn’t think for a second that they should consider SA when scheduling the Draft. I merely pointed out that it would have a negative effect on me PERSONALLY. And on everybody else around the world. Bye Dawk’s point is also true. If the NFL is serious about expanding the game overseas, it absolutely has to take markets like England into account (again, I’m not saying its good or bad, just that that’s the way the cookie crumbles). Obviously I want the NFL to be more accessable to me – but do I want it to take precedense over the needs of the US fan? NO. There’s my two cents on that as well.

I'm not ready to move on from #20.

by LeonSA on Jul 26, 2009 6:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate this

With apologies to all of those people who don’t like the internationalization of the NFL, but this is the worst possible thing for a guy like me (and people in Europe as well). It means that I’d have to get up at 3AM to watch the Draft, the same time I get up to watch a primetime Eagles game. I love the draft, but this might be a bit much. However, I’d probably still watch it due to the lack of anything NFL related at that time of the year.

I'm not ready to move on from #20.

by LeonSA on Jul 24, 2009 6:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for the double post.

I'm not ready to move on from #20.

by LeonSA on Jul 24, 2009 6:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Jason and goodfella46er, I really looked forward to draft weekend. The new format sucks.

At this point, I would not be one bit surprised if in two years, the NFL made the 1st round Pay Per View, followed by the entire draft.

by captain nodar on Jul 24, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That sounds silly at first… but really it’s not that crazy.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 26, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

boooooooooooooo

"I think pro athletes should be forced to use steroids. I think we as fans deserve the greatest athletes science can create."- Daniel Tosh

If Football Had A Church , Brian Dawkins Would Be My Preacher. -NPK

by NorthPhillyKid on Jul 24, 2009 8:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, I guess that ruins the Eagles draft party at the Linc.

by JGCarraway on Jul 24, 2009 8:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point

What will they do about that now I wonder?

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 26, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

EFF YOU GOODELL!

Terrible decision. I effing hate Goodell. One of the best days of the year was waking up hung over on Saturday morning and doing nothing more than laying on the sofa watching the first 3 rounds of the draft from noon until about 8-9pm at night.

Then they messed with that – Moved it to 4pm (I think) this year and only had the first 2 rounds, with 3 through 7 on Saturday.

And now they’re messing with this. I don’t want to have to stay up until 11pm to watch the Eagles draft. I just don’t.

Get one thing straight… Goodell is a commissioner that has no other objective than to bleed as much money out of the public as possible. He talks about making the product as “fan-friendly” as possible by extending the season to 18 games, but at the same time the NFL has an exclusive agreement with DirecTV and the NFL Season Ticket, which is a complete disservice to NFL fans.

by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 24, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This Blows

Draft Weekend for me was about getting with my best friend, watching the first football event in 3 months, eating pizza, cheering or bitching at the pics and relaxing.

Now It’ll be hurry home from the office, miss the gym 2 days in a row after work, stay up late and be pissed at this money hoarding bag licker of a commish. Well, it’ll be that way till I let go of my resentment anyway.

Astra Inclinant, Non Necessitant

by EagleGreeninMD on Jul 24, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs