Friday or Saturday Nights?

[Rovers fan]

I don't know if this has been discussed before but,do ye think having games on saturday nights would be better for the league,and attendances in particular? Have many teams who currently play on friday nights ever played on saturdays and if so how did it work out? My team,sligo rovers tried out friday nights for a while but attendances declined because of it and we reverted to saturdays. Personally,I prefer when games are on saturday and also,it is much handier for away fans imo. So what do ye think?

[micls]

I love Friday nights at home but its a disaster for us travelling. I think our attendances would be lower on a Saturday and there wouldnt be enough increase in away support to make it worth while.

So while travelling wise it'd be better for me(and others coming to us) that away games be Saturday, I dont think it'd be worth it for our club anyway

[pineapple stu]

I love Friday nights at home but its a disaster for us travelling.
Ditto, though not as much a disaster obviously.

We should play on Fridays, everyone else should play on Saturdays.

Although I like the idea of starting the weekend with a match. Something to look forward to on Fridays as the work week ends (and I assume it's the same with the school week).

[Rovers fan]

Yeah I suppose people usually have something on on a saturday night,dunno why our attendances were better on saturdays.When I was younger I used to love the auld game on a saturday night and home for match of the day,but I know a lot of people who don't go to games because they would rather go out on a saturday night. Have the likes of cork,bohs etc always played on fridays?

[pineapple stu]

They would have played on Sunday afternoons about a decade ago, I assume.

We switched to Saturdays for a while. Made no real difference to home or away support.

[GavinZac]

Used to be Sunday at 2, or 12 to give Derry a chance to get back in time for work the next day.

[BohsPartisan]

They would have played on Sunday afternoons about a decade ago, I assume.

We switched to Saturdays for a while. Made no real difference to home or away support.

When I was working out in Belfield I often worked Sundays and would go along to UCD games as I knocked off at three. (having been at Bohs on Friday night).

[superfrank]

Friday night is the best one. It seems like the natural time for a football match.

[BohsPartisan]

Was there not a similar poll recently?

[pineapple stu]

Probably. If there was no duplication of posts and threads on foot.ie, it'd die a death.

[pete]

Was there not a similar poll recently?

There is one every 6 months.

RTE had one recently though.

[sligofan4ever]

Friday Night just seems like the right night for us and football

[jebus]

I voted Saturday night, purely because it's a whole load of hassle for me to get off work early to get to Limerick for a match on Friday. If I were living in Limerick I'd voted Friday night though, much prefer it to Saturday

[holidaysong]

Not this again...

[Dunny]

Meh not fussed, could stick with Thursdays tbh.

[The Rebel Ram]

Saturday nights work well for Ramblers. There is too much hassle on a Friday night trying to get home from work and get out again.
Friday is a no hope for travelling also.

[dcfcsteve]

God we are bored on here.....!!

Roll on Friday night.....

[sligofan4ever]

I'm probably wrong but more people must work on saturday because we get good attendences on fridays over e.g Bohs and St.Pats (higest attendance this season)

[Raheny Red]

Saturday afternoons/evenings. Won't increase home attendances but would help increase the away numbers fractionally.

[KevB76]

Friday nights. Would be handy to have all the away matches on Saturdays but I prefer the home games on the Friday so on balance of things I'll go with that.

[forza rovers]

I'm probably wrong but more people must work on saturday because we get good attendences on fridays over e.g Bohs and St.Pats (higest attendance this season)what:confused:

[GuisaSaigon]

We have tried Saturday nights but always get a better crowd on Fridays. Travelling across the country during Friday rush hour is annoying though. Getting a half day on Friday to go to away games isn't always possible.
Saturdays would be better for away fans but money talks so I cant see us changing.

[John83]

I voted Friday nights, because I prefer home games then, but I have to concede Saturday nights would suit better for travelling to away games outside of Leinster.

[Dodge]

Used to be Sunday at 2, or 12 to give Derry a chance to get back in time for work the next day.

Used to be sundays at 3.30 and then sundays at 2 when the light got bad...

I think the ****ing around with times doesn't help clubs build attendances. I think a uniform day must be brought in. Clubs like Dundalk shouldn't be allowed play on a Thursday night. Tough ****ing luck if it clashes with the bingo 9or whatever)

I'd go with saturday evenings (even though Pats crowds are always less on anything but friday night) at 7pm with the live TV game being played on Friday night (as a way to kick off/advertise the rest of the weekend)

[steno]

Voted Saturday nights. Last season Kildare County played on Saturday nights and the crowds were eh...... 'bigger', changed to Fridays this season and crowds have dropped but we're having a worse than usual season as well.

I know of several fans who work in Dublin including myself who just can't get back on time for Friday night games or its just too much of a rush and hassel.

[D.U.F.C Daire]

Friday nights, without doubt. Saturday matches would be a bit, weird.

[Major Tom]

Saturday nites would clash with bogball matches during the summer. Might have a negative effect on attendances.

[dcfcsteve]

This debate comes up regular as clock-work every season.

Most clubs have played around with different match days, but none seem to have hit the 'golden time' - the slot in everyone's schedule where they'll flock in their droes to an eircom league game, if only it was at that magically convenient time to the wider population.

The reason why a golden time hasn't been found is that there isn't one.

Messing around with times is re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It will have a ridiculously fringe affect upon the appeal of our league, and probably do more to confuse those who are willing to give us a chance.

Walk out on the street now and ask 10 people why they don't go to Eircom league games. See how many of them mention day and time as anywhere near a concern. Most couldn't even tell you when their local team plays, let alone have an issue with it.

Irish people would flock to watcyh certain Englihs or Scottish teams play at 4am on a Monday morning. The issue with our league is not the times of our games - so changing it will do nothing of any significance to improve the appeal of our game.

[pete]

Cork City & Derry City games used to be played at 12 noon to give teams a chance to get home on the same day.

I remember wandering around Derry post match trying to get something to eat but everything closed. Restaurants not open until 4. I think only 2 or 3 City fans including myself. Times have certainly changed...

[osarusan]

This debate comes up regular as clock-work every season.

Most clubs have played around with different match days, but none seem to have hit the 'golden time' - the slot in everyone's schedule where they'll flock in their droes to an eircom league game, if only it was at that magically convenient time to the wider population.

The reason why a golden time hasn't been found is that there isn't one.

Messing around with times is re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It will have a ridiculously fringe affect upon the appeal of our league, and probably do more to confuse those who are willing to give us a chance.

Walk out on the street now and ask 10 people why they don't go to Eircom league games. See how many of them mention day and time as anywhere near a concern. Most couldn't even tell you when their local team plays, let alone have an issue with it.

Irish people would flock to watcyh certain Englihs or Scottish teams play at 4am on a Monday morning. The issue with our league is not the times of our games - so changing it will do nothing of any significance to improve the appeal of our game.

But the theme of this thread had been about finding the best time to accomodate the greatest number of people who do want to go to eL games, not about convincing those who currently don't want to go.

The general opinion seems to be that Friday nights is best when you're at home, but for away games, Saturday night would be better.

I'd agree with Dodge that there should be a set time, say Saturday night, with one televised game on a Friday night. (Perhaps another on a Sunday afternoon?)

[Dodge]

The issue with our league is not the times of our games - so changing it will do nothing of any significance to improve the appeal of our game.

But if people want to go to a game, but aren't sure when its on? It obviously is a factor. no one is saying its the top reason but to dismiss it is a bit stupid

[Block G Raptor]

I've gone with Saturday afternoon purely because it would allow me to take mini raptor as I have her at the weekend other than that friday night suits me fine

[gufcfan]

We have tried Saturday nights but always get a better crowd on Fridays. Travelling across the country during Friday rush hour is annoying though. Getting a half day on Friday to go to away games isn't always possible.
Saturdays would be better for away fans but money talks so I cant see us changing.

Yes, for different reasons over the last few years Galway United have had games on Saturday night. Mostly to accommodate fans wishing to attend other sports events.

On each occasion though, it was noted that attendances were down.

As Saigon says, it makes it easier for away fans but, the crowds come in Galway on a Friday.

[oriel]

[QUOTE=Dodge;966213]Used to be sundays at 3.30 and then sundays at 2 when the light got bad...

I think the ****ing around with times doesn't help clubs build attendances. I think a uniform day must be brought in. Clubs like Dundalk shouldn't be allowed play on a Thursday night. Tough ****ing luck if it clashes with the bingo 9or whatever)

QUOTE]

100% agree, also think its a disgrace that the lge allow us to play on a thurs night, Sat would be a much better option, would see a huge increase in away support for a start.

[Neish]

IMO all games except local derbies should be on Saturday afternoon or nights. Would make things easier for away fans and I think it would boost attendances.

[redobit]

Yeah I suppose people usually have something on on a saturday night,dunno why our attendances were better on saturdays.When I was younger I used to love the auld game on a saturday night and home for match of the day,but I know a lot of people who don't go to games because they would rather go out on a saturday night. Have the likes of cork,bohs etc always played on fridays?

One of the reasons had to be the lack of advertising around the town. The switch to friday came and the only way i found out was thru word of mouth. Personally friday evenin is best for me but in bigger cities saturady would seem the more logical time as most people have to commute home from workin on fridays leaving them less time to get to the games that evening.

[KevB76]

The best thing about Friday evenings is still leaves you the whole weekend to do other stuff or go places.

With Saturdays, you'll end up missing home games everytime you go someplace for the weekend, or because you'll end up doing other stuff like jobs around the house or whatever. Its ok for away games cos often that IS your weekend away.

[Louth4sam]

Clubs like Dundalk shouldn't be allowed play on a Thursday night. Tough ****ing luck if it clashes with the bingo 9or whatever)


Yeah id agree with that if we are promoted but right now why should we play at a time that doesn't suit us and lose money and find it more difficult to stay within the 65% budget just to please a handful of away fans. It would be different if we were playing clubs that would bring big crowds down every second week as that would counteract the loss of revenue from renting the function rooms out. Us playing on Thursday night rather than Friday night probably pays one of our larger earners wages. Why would we give that up.
Most fans prefer Thursday nights and its the night where we get our largest crowds.

[pete]

More than any other issue it is important games on the same day & same time every fortnight. Moving games for TV should be reviewed & decide if the benefits outweigh the downside.