UCD to play on Saturdays at 5:15

**pineapple stu** · 04/03/2006, 8:54 AM

UCD are trying out 5:15pm kick-offs on Saturdays this season. The Pat's game will still be on Friday (Paddy's Day) at 7:45, a decision will be made on the Cork game shortly, but after that, it's 5:15. This will become a permanent fixture depending on what it does to crowds.

**sonofstan** · 04/03/2006, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

UCD are trying out 5:15pm kick-offs on Saturdays this season. The Pat's game will still be on Friday (Paddy's Day) at 7:45, a decision will be made on the Cork game shortly, but after that, it's 5:15. This will become a permanent fixture depending on what it does to crowds.

why? .... not being rude or anything, but what's the thinking behind it?

**pineapple stu** · 04/03/2006, 9:16 AM

I assume it's to make it easier for away fans to travel and increase the gate. If we can do this without hitting our home support, then it makes sense. I think Saturday 5:15 has been advocated by some here as the best time to maximise crowds.

I don't know the official reasoning behind it though. First I heard was when I was texted about it appearing in the Ireland programme on Wednesday!

**sonofstan** · 04/03/2006, 11:04 AM

resisting the temptation to say 'what home support'? ..... ok I didn't resist it....- I'm in the library in Belfield at the moment, and campus is empty - it seems to me that whatever chance you have of attracting stray students on a Fri. you've none on a saturday - as for away fans, while it might help with Cork/ Derry/ Waterford/ Sligo, for the 4 other Dublin clubs you'll be facing plus Drogheda and Bray, it seem to me it might be counterproductive. I know I'm going to be busy on Fri nights for 8 months of the year and so no one expects me to turn up to anything - Saturday's a different story, with family commitments and what not, I think it could seriously hit numbers from the us, Pats and Shels - that said, I wish all football was on a saturday, but everyone would have to change (back) for it to work

**feo123** · 04/03/2006, 11:23 AM

good! might make it up for the UCD games now its on a saturday!?

**Poor Student** · 04/03/2006, 11:24 AM

Sonofstan, we say this often on the board. The club has given up on the students. For a number of reasons they are utterly apathetic and just can't be drawn in. None of us are over the moon about it but the club didn't bother to consult anyone even though the Irish programme article claims market research is being carried out. It seems simply that the club is copying Leinster as is said in the programme. The target group is local families. Apparently it's worked for Leinster and the club thinks it'll work for us. As you say it'll be convenient for the likes of Cork, Derry and Sligo. It's on a trial period so if it flops then it'll revert back to normal. I personally believe the Dublin games should be left on a Friday.

**Dr.Nightdub** · 04/03/2006, 11:51 AM

I would've thought the Pats game would also be one that UCD would want to move. A 7:45 kick-off for that is bound to affect the crowd as a lot of people are simply gonna be too p1ssed to make the trek out to Belfield.

**sonofstan** · 04/03/2006, 12:13 PM

BTW - and this may have been answered before - are you getting the horrible new college crest, or are you sticking to the old one?

**Poor Student** · 04/03/2006, 12:16 PM

We're getting the new horrible one. The shack will continue to sell stuff with the old one though.

**1 9 2 8** · 04/03/2006, 1:35 PM

Saturday night is the best time for EL games. More away supporters which makes a better atmosphere

**Cosmo** · 04/03/2006, 3:06 PM

Good stuff, 5 hours drinking time before the match - should make the trip up there a bit more bearable

**sligoman** · 04/03/2006, 4:04 PM

Yes, this means I'll be able to get to 2 away games this season so. I work til 7 on Friday's so gonna miss a load of away games this season but now I'll be able to get to Longford and UCD after all, god bless Saturday's

.

**Red4Eva** · 04/03/2006, 4:27 PM

good news for our supporters. if i had to sacrifice a friday away game because of work or sumthin i'd prob miss ucd game over shels, bohs & co. but now i'll defo go to belfield. 5.15 is handy enough too

**John83** · 04/03/2006, 5:11 PM

Originally Posted by sonofstan

resisting the temptation to say 'what home support'? ..... ok I didn't resist it....- I'm in the library in Belfield at the moment, and campus is empty - it seems to me that whatever chance you have of attracting stray students on a Fri. you've none on a saturday

We're based in Dublin. It's a city with well over a million people, of whom about 5000 go to eL games. We've got more or less no eL competition for about 1/4 of that city. **** the students - they wouldn't come if it meant skipping lectures on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, and they certainly won't come in the summer.

**Student Mullet** · 05/03/2006, 12:15 AM

I agree with the move but making the decision this close to the start of the league means that all the fixture lists and other promotional material is already out of date.

I even had to pull the 2006 STIG canendar from the printers at very short notice.

**sligoman** · 05/03/2006, 1:37 AM

So is this 5:15 Saturday kick-off definite then?

**pete** · 05/03/2006, 11:20 AM

If UCD are going change their ko times then fair enough but the eL should not allow teams to keeo changing dates & times - pick one at the start of the season & stick to it!

**Dr.Nightdub** · 05/03/2006, 5:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hayser(the 2nd)

Drunkest game ever.

More like: most sobering-up experience ever.

**Conor H** · 05/03/2006, 5:36 PM

Originally Posted by pete

If UCD are going change their ko times then fair enough but the eL should not allow teams to keeo changing dates & times - pick one at the start of the season & stick to it!

Agree Pete.I mean Monaghan last year were changing every week.Other clubs then like Dundalk and GUFC changed onve or twice too.I remember for the FAI cup game between Galway and Cork alot of the Cork fans wanted the game changed to Saturday so they'd get a bigger crowd.That may be true but a club should pick a night and stick with it....home supporters then become aware that Friday night=GUFC....away support is important for the gate but home fans are more important.Pick a night and stick to it for all games.