Future Night Games

Submitted by Stuck in Ohio 2 on

Not to overlook Saturday's matchup but I was just thinking earlier, what can we expect in terms of future night games at Michigan Stadium? How many night games a season? Against who?

The thought of a Nebraska night game sounds nice to me..

GVSUofM

September 8th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^

has already said that msu and ohio would be pretty much stay noon or 3:30pm kickoffs in the foreseeable future. I think Brandon believes there is too much liability with those two games in particular. Not to take anything away from ND, because I truly believe they are on par with msu and ohio in terms of history and rivalry, nothing screams 'could get way out of hand' like having fans from our state capital and that one city in ohio in Ann Arbor ALL day drinking, drinking, then running out to the party store to get more supplies, to continue drinking, drinking (nothing wrong so far), then starting fights with our fans (ahhh there it is). Although I do believe this is a great litmus test to see if it can be done very soon again. I think PSU and Nebraska would be great night game matchups.

On a personal note, I sure hope it does happen in the next couple of seasons because I have to MISS (ahhhh the horror) this Saturday because of a close friends wedding. Unbelieveable the timing...I'm a season ticket holder and have been since I inherited my tickets in '89. Can count on one hand how many home games I've missed since then. Its hard to even talk about. Yes, I am standing up in the wedding, or else my ass would be in AA. Ugghhhh....

mackbru

September 8th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^

I think the league still prohibits night games in november, no? Due to the cold, I think. Beyond that, don't both teams have to agree? This year Sparty tried to switch the M game to nighttime, but Brandon said he nixed that.

justingoblue

September 8th, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^

This is going to get buried in football talk, but since it's a novelty at the Big House I'll put it out there:

When is the next outdoor hockey game going to be? I hope it's as soon as 2013 or 2014. The Big Chill was an unmitigated success.

Sambojangles

September 8th, 2011 at 1:32 PM ^

I agree with Red that it would be best if there was an outdoor hockey game every 4 years or so, so everyone who comes through the program gets to play in one. It would be cool if it wasn't just MSU every time, though. Wisco and OSU have now invited us to play them outdoors, and we could return the favor. Minnesota and both UNDs might be interesting to play as well, even if it isn't as much of a draw for in-state fans.

bluebyyou

September 8th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^

The Big Chill worked out great, but weather in December is not a given, not by a long shot.  If you are a student, life is easy, but if you are travelling in the winter to the midwest, there are no guarantees.  It could have been zero and half a foot of snow for the Big Chill.  Also, there was a sense of novelty that comes from the infrequent eventing of  hockey in the Big House. Personally, I'd like to keep it that way. Every four years works just fine.

As far as night games go, once a year works fine for me.  When you are young, night games are great.  But if you are a parent with young kids or a signficantly older alum, games that conclude at midnight present their own problems.  I think Brandon is well aware of this and has planned accordingly.

 

thisisme08

September 8th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^

Its not like the Big Chill didnt have weather? My parents and I stayed in A2 after the Big Chill to enjoy the atmosphere a bit more and drove home Sunday after the big snow/ice storm and passed something like 20 wrecks between A2 and Mt Pleasant. 

However, nothing would have kept me from attending. 

Beavis

September 8th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^

This is going to go like the 2006 BBA formal - some assholes get all lit up and then we're never allowed to have it again.  

Farnn

September 8th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^

I thought OSU at night was impossible anyway in the B1G, due to no November nightgames. Brandon also said it wasn't ever going to happen.  I could potentially see MSU though.

Volverine

September 8th, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^

Well I thought the 2006 OSU-Michigan game was at night, but I think it was 3:30 now that I think about it. It killed my night, which is probably why I thought it ended later than it did.

Alton

September 8th, 2011 at 2:00 PM ^

In 1985, Michigan hosted Ohio State in a game that started at 3:30.  I can't think of too many other times that happened.  CBS wanted to start the 1983 OSU game at 3 or 3:30 (I forget which), but Michigan refused.

A 3:30 game in November is almost as much of a night game as an 8:00 game in September.  Sunset this Saturday is a few minutes before kickoff; sunset on Thanksgiving weekend is a few minutes after 5, which would be late in the second quarter of a 3:30 game.

 

M-Wolverine

September 8th, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^

(so much going on, don't remember which one, so no link) that MSU was unlikely.  Probably doesn't want the Juggalos around past midnight in the dark.

I could see Nebraska, since it goes from November to the 27th of October (there, obviously) next year...so it's not destined to always be late in the year.  And we could return the favor to Penn State, or Wisconsin when they're back on the rotation, particularly if they're on years when ND is on the road (which Nebraska isn't, currently).

Or maybe Texas when they join the Big Ten.

Bando Calrissian

September 8th, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^

I would not be surprised, based on some rumblings I heard last weekend, if Michigan were to schedule a Thursday night game following a bye week in the next few years.

Personally, not a fan, but there's money to be made, I guess.

Bando Calrissian

September 8th, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^

Ohio State did it last year or the year before.  Michigan State did it exactly once, and decided it wasn't worth it to do it again.

Frankly, I just don't get why Michigan should need to do it.  Not to mention the fact that Michigan's parking situation, which is so dependent on areas that are in use during the day on a business day (be it normal Ann Arbor parking, Pioneer, University lots that are full to capacity during the day), would simply not sustain a weekday game.  Unless people are cool with about less than two hours of tailgating for an 8PM kickoff.

Alton

September 8th, 2011 at 6:14 PM ^

I think more people watch a regional broadcast on Saturday than a national broadcast on Thursday.  As far as recruits are concerned, they're usually playing on Friday, so Saturday is when you bring them in for their official visits.  Playing on Thursday would mean not having any recruits watching in person.

Also, if Thursday night games helped recruiting, East Carolina would have had the #1 recruiting class for the past four years.

 

willywill9

September 8th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^

That was all i had.  I just meant, if it's the only game on TV, kids will be watching... shapes their interest in Michigan long term.  Kind of how people in random places are braves fans because of TBS.  But still, I don't agree we should play thursday night games.

Vasav

September 8th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^

For one thing, I feel like there's typically less hype for a Thursday game than a Saturday game - except a few years ago when Rutgers and Louisville played, and that was hyped up by ESPN because they thought NYC cared.

For another thing, you don't fill a 110,000 seat stadium with just students and townies - it'd be a real pain in the butt for all the alumni and fans in Michigan and surrounding states to get into town after work on a Thursday and get back in time for Friday, or have to take vacation. It'd be damn near impossible for any alumni and fans who are trying to travel to A2 from a different part of the country.

And finally, Michigan is already enough of a name brand that every one of our games is nationally televised. The goal of a Thursday night game is to get more eyes on your product - but I'm not convinced it works, and even if it did for other schools, I don't think it makes sense for us. We already have an incredibly popular program. It doesn't make sense to do something as gimmicky as a Thursday night game when there's just as much of a possibility that you LOSE ticketsales as gain them.

Indiana Blue

September 8th, 2011 at 2:37 PM ^

Why put up fixed lighting if you were only going to do an occasional game every few years? That makes no sense whatsoever, because use can always bring in the portable lights for those "rare" occasions.

I foresee this being a once a year event similar to what Penn State does (without the "white-out" of course).  One night game a year ... against a "decent" team so they know they'll get national TV.  The only reason DB hasn't announced this is because he wants to see what problems might develop at the first night game.  If the problems are minimal  -  then I think we will have a night game every year.

Go Blue!

oakapple

September 8th, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^

The lights are not just used for night games, but also for any 3:30 start, so they get plenty of use throughout the season. However, I certainly agree that unless there are huge problems this Saturday, Brandon wants to have one night game a year. The MSU and OSU games are out, but he will want it to be a “significant opponent.”

MeowGOBLUE

September 8th, 2011 at 3:32 PM ^

Why only have one night game a year? I mean if Saturday goes well, why not do another night game, such as nebraska? I mean why pay all this money to put in epic permanent lights if you are only going to use them once a year.

jmblue

September 8th, 2011 at 6:44 PM ^

First, after September it gets iffier, weather-wise to schedule games at night.  The AD has to think about the fans' comfort level.  In October, the night temperatures are highly variable and in November they're generally cold.  The Big Ten has already banned night games in November for this reason. 

Second, the lights won't only be used for night games.  They'll get used for most 3:30 games (including last Saturday's).  ABC used to have to bring in portable lights for those games and they were pretty bad.

 

Darth Wolverine

September 8th, 2011 at 8:30 PM ^

I wonder how many Michigan will REALLY have considering Hoke and how he already made it clear that he does not like night games. That being said, I can see night games against our rivals for sure, but how often, I don't know. I suspect only when both teams are ranked.