Going back to a shifting schedule...

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

With the ARLC regaining control of the draw, what would you all think of reverting back to a shifting schedule of some kind??

Personally i would like to see the ARLC set the days for every game, but only confirm the times for the Saturday/Sunday games 5 weeks in advance.

But, hypothetically, we could even go as far as having all but a select few time slots left open for the entire season...

 

[Card Shark]

I prefer the shifting schedule as there will always be teams going worse than expected & better than expected, meaning good games are in the wrong time-slots & bad games are in prime time.

Draw does need to be at least 8 weeks in advance for people to plan what they are doing, that is enough surely.

Never knew what the fascination was for a fixed draw - it's alright for teams that always get FTA, regardless of how well they are doing, I suppose.

A floating draw helps get teams like the Raiders more FTA time if they are going well.

 

[typicalfan]

The whole point of the fixed schedule is so fans can schedule months in advance. This especially helps away fans and fans with large regions like the Cowboys.

So no. No thanks.

 

[POPEYE]

Good idea, piss off half the Sydney teams and shift the schedule around Australia

 

[Timmah]

Best solution, IMO is to schedule the whole thing (1-25, not just 1-20) straight up, with allowances to change up to 2-3 games per round from Round 6 onwards (with a minimum 5 weeks notice). Kind of how EPL does it with TV allocations I guess.

 

[Lambretta]

The whole point of the fixed schedule is so fans can schedule months in advance. This especially helps away fans and fans with large regions like the Cowboys.

So no. No thanks.

Does it really? As long as the Rugby League sticks to "the vast majority of Cowboys home games on a Saturday" to accomodate your home fans, what's the worry?

As long as the draw is done 8 weeks ahead as Card Shark proposes, that's plenty of time.

I prefer the floating draw, but I do see the benefit of a fixed draw too. One of the great benefits of a fixed draw as a Foxtel subscriber is being able to watch great games that Channel 9 ignored. Its fantastic knowing the poor people who watch FTA only get lumped with shit between Penrith and Parramatta whilst I watch a quality game such as the Storm v the Rabbitohs

But then I'm a complete merkin really

 

[madunit]

We never needed a shifting schedule for near on 100 years.

f**k it off. It's stupid.

Release the full list of fixtures, with times and venues all at the season launch.

Just because 9 has paid a shit tonne to show the game, doesn't mean they get to run the game.

It means they get to earn a shit tonne from advertising during games to cover their expenses.

In fact, the NRL should have added to the deal with 9, that the NRL will decide what games get played on 9, and on what days and at what times.

It's not like 9 will say no after they've paid near a billion for it.

 

[thorson1987]

We never needed a shifting schedule for near on 100 years.

f**k it off. It's stupid.

Release the full list of fixtures, with times and venues all at the season launch.

Just because 9 has paid a shit tonne to show the game, doesn't mean they get to run the game.

It means they get to earn a shit tonne from advertising during games to cover their expenses.

In fact, the NRL should have added to the deal with 9, that the NRL will decide what games get played on 9, and on what days and at what times.

It's not like 9 will say no after they've paid near a billion for it.

Pretty sure that is what has occurred with the new deal.

 

[Mogsheen Jadwat]

Put the Broncos on every friday night.

not because I want to watch them, but because the ensuring rustled jimmies are more enjoyable than the side itself.

 

[morley101]

I prefer to a fixed schedule.. The NRL can now give all teams a fair shot on being FTA and also split the Thursday night games evenly. I like to travel to as many away games as possible so it gives me time and the ability to purchase air tickets and accommodation at better prices.

 

[TheDalek079]

at the moment we have a shifting schedule for the last few rounds, yet there'll still be some crap teams on primetime because they draw a good audience or a playing a good drawing team.

 

[Captain Apollo]

With the ARLC regaining control of the draw, what would you all think of reverting back to a shifting schedule of some kind??

Personally i would like to see the ARLC set the days for every game, but only confirm the times for the Saturday/Sunday games 5 weeks in advance.

But, hypothetically, we could even go as far as having all but a select few time slots left open for the entire season...

As others have pointed out, it was because of TV demands that we wound up with a shifting schedule in the first place.

After regaining control of the schedule from the TV networks with the next TV contract, why would you return to it? The only people who would benefit are the TV networks.

Many fans prefer to know well in advance when their team is playing, especially if they have to travel.

Also the clubs themselves would prefer to know as it gives them time to properly plan their training regimens, plan recover sessions, corporate events, fan days etc and advertise them. Also it ensure clubs can book their travel plans well in advance and get the lowest rate - which is important when you consider the NRL pay travel costs.

I don't see them going anywhere near what you suggest. At worst we'll wind up with the kind of schedule we have now, first 20 weeks fixed when the draw is release, with the last 6 released mid-season.

 

[Valheru]

Fixed schedule is better than a rolling schedule however I wouldn’t be against a system like the NFL has where NBC has the right to chop and change who it puts on in their prime time Sunday slot in the 2nd half of the season after giving sufficient notice.

Channel 9 could do this for Friday night.

 

[Card Shark]

It's either fixed or it's not.

How can they allocate a time to a game & then change it.

That will f**k up people's travel plans.

 

[Canard]

What does a rolling schedule achieve? Potentially better TV matchups? And even then its crap shoot as to what matchups will be good 6/10 weeks out.

Nothing else about the rolling schedule I can see is a positive for the game.

So its a no for mine.

 

[cleary89]

What does a rolling schedule achieve? Potentially better TV matchups? And even then its crap shoot as to what matchups will be good 6/10 weeks out.

Nothing else about the rolling schedule I can see is a positive for the game.

So its a no for mine.

+1.

I'm all for having the best match ups and games on tv, but even now they don't get it right so what's the point?

 

[adamkungl]

I actually don't care if the 'best' teams are on TV. High ranked teams can put on shit games and low ranked games can put on crackers, happens all the time.

 

[Frank Discussion]

It's kinda hard to estimate, even as close to 3 weeks out, which is going to be the "best" game to have on TV.

That raiders tigers games was one of the most entertaining games of footy I've seen in a long time and it had all the hallmarks of a stinker.

 

[Incorrect]

What does a rolling schedule achieve? Potentially better TV matchups? And even then its crap shoot as to what matchups will be good 6/10 weeks out.

Nothing else about the rolling schedule I can see is a positive for the game.

So its a no for mine.

Yep, agreed....

Warriors a case in point. 4 week ago the "experts" were saying they were top 4 candidates and a big hope in the Finals.... then Johnson breaks his ankle and their season is coming to a meek end as the weeks roll by...

 

[Timmah]

It's either fixed or it's not.

How can they allocate a time to a game & then change it.

That will f**k up people's travel plans.

Happens in the EPL, which is the third highest attended domestic sport in the world.

As I said, have it set in a general sense, then if required games can change for whatever reason. Minimum 5-6 weeks lead time for those whose travel plans might be affected.