I love Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson’s “It’s Five o’clock Somewhere”. It is a great song to listen to when chilling with a drink on a patio. 5 o’clock is also a great time to eat dinner and for many to celebrate the end of the work day. But is 5 o’clock the right time for football?
I would love to pose the question to both the Toronto Argonauts and the CFL’s television carrier, TSN. 5pm is an asinine time for a football game to start on any day, nevermind a weekday. I do realize it was a holiday, but it wasn’t statutory, and not everyone had the day off. It is no secret, the Argos face challenges in drawing fans. I don’t think a game starting at 5pm would help their cause. Predictably, only 22,841 fans witnessed yesterday’s game at Rogers Centre, and from what I heard that is a very generous tally. Argo fans had plenty to cheer about entering this game as Toronto was tied for first in the CFL’s Eastern Division at 3-2 and were winners of two straight.
Perhaps the Argos would have faired slightly better attendance-wise if the game started at either 1pm or 7pm. These two times are the most popular times for sporting events to start, and I feel would have been more favourable and appealing to fans. I understand the game time was heavily dictated by TSN, and right now their primary focus is broadcasting the 2012 Summer Olympics. But other arrangements, like showing this CFL game on TSN 2 for example, could have been made in-order to showcase the game at a much more convenient time. I also recognize that the NFL has late afternoon games as well, but only on Sundays or Thanksgiving Day.
While I’m on the subject, I also think the Argos should try to create traditions, like what Hamilton and Calgary have done with their Labour Day Classics, to help rebuild their following. They shouldn’t steal the Labour Day Classic (a soon-to-be article), but rather make something of their own. Maybe the Civic Holiday Classic against the Montreal Alouettes or their QEW Rival Hamilton Tiger Cats. But even if they developed a tradition like this and it became popular, many fans still would not be very happy with a 5pm start.
Dear CFL:
Please, for the love of everything holy, stick to 7pm local time kick-offs on weekdays.
Yours truly,
Every fan in the CFL
What do you think?
…and that’s the Last Word
