[Farm93]

Ugh,

In November those night games are so hard.   It will be dark, cold, and likely wet.  Those casual fans will never show up because it is Thanksgiving weekend.

I had planned on flying my family back to the Bay Area on Friday, but so many other families will not be there.

The good news is that the Versus game is on prime time on the East Coast.  If Stanford is 10-1 and in the BCS mix then the ratings will be crazy, at least by Versus standards.  All kinds of people across the country will be watching to see if another BCS slot becomes available.

[Farm93]

Ugh,

In November those night games are so hard.   It will be dark, cold, and likely wet.  Those casual fans will never show up because it is Thanksgiving weekend.

I had planned on flying my family back to the Bay Area on Friday, but so many other families will not be there.

The good news is that the Versus game is on prime time on the East Coast.  If Stanford is 10-1 and in the BCS mix then the ratings will be crazy, at least by Versus standards.  All kinds of people across the country will be watching to see if another BCS slot becomes available.

[jacketree]

I hereby concede that it does get dark when the sun goes down.  Unless there is a full moon.  Or city lights.  Or heck, stadium lights, which seems relevant here.  Cold and wet?  Well, let\'s just wait for the five day forecast on that. Or buy some Gor-tex clothing you wimps. ;)

And 4:30 or 5:00 is a perfect game time.  In my opinion.

[jacketree]

I hereby concede that it does get dark when the sun goes down.  Unless there is a full moon.  Or city lights.  Or heck, stadium lights, which seems relevant here.  Cold and wet?  Well, let\'s just wait for the five day forecast on that. Or buy some Gor-tex clothing you wimps. ;)

And 4:30 or 5:00 is a perfect game time.  In my opinion.

[Farm93]

Oh, I think most of the active posters here will be there if they live in Cali.

That\'s not the problem.  The problem is that Saturday evening is a bad time for many more casual sports fans.  It is true that some programs could have a game time at 3AM and still pack their house.  Stanford does not belong to that club, so I would like a game time that maximizes the crowd.  And generally, 12:30PM works better.

The families with kids feel better about going to a game, and the elderly types that can\'t drive at night can also come to the game.

[Farm93]

Oh, I think most of the active posters here will be there if they live in Cali.

That\'s not the problem.  The problem is that Saturday evening is a bad time for many more casual sports fans.  It is true that some programs could have a game time at 3AM and still pack their house.  Stanford does not belong to that club, so I would like a game time that maximizes the crowd.  And generally, 12:30PM works better.

The families with kids feel better about going to a game, and the elderly types that can\'t drive at night can also come to the game.

[Leftcoast]

Not sure families with kids prefer 12:30.   My family (four kids) LOVE the early evening starts.   Getting kids to a Stanford game Saturday at 12:30 with Soccer, Pop Warner, Cheer and Color Guard is nearly impossible and usually involves twisting both the kids and the coaches arms and arriving late.

We may be unusual but Fall is soccer time in California for even mildly "sporty" families.   I can\'t give away 12:30 tix but have lots of takers for the evening games on those rare times when I can\'t use my full allotment.

Now the 8:30 game was another story entirely ......

[Leftcoast]

Not sure families with kids prefer 12:30.   My family (four kids) LOVE the early evening starts.   Getting kids to a Stanford game Saturday at 12:30 with Soccer, Pop Warner, Cheer and Color Guard is nearly impossible and usually involves twisting both the kids and the coaches arms and arriving late.

We may be unusual but Fall is soccer time in California for even mildly "sporty" families.   I can\'t give away 12:30 tix but have lots of takers for the evening games on those rare times when I can\'t use my full allotment.

Now the 8:30 game was another story entirely ......

[Farm93]

I don\'t think those kids sports have games on the Saturdays after Thanksgiving.  That would seem like a recipe for forfeit city.  If families have kids in those super serious leagues, then I doubt they are our casual walk-up fans.

FWIW, the 4:30 time is fine in September and October.

However, in late November after the end of Daylight savings it gets dark so early.  The start of the rainy season makes some of our parking lots soft and wet, and that makes them a touch dangerous for elderly types.  In the dark, many stumble.  And then they all have to drive out of those dark, muddy lots without hitting people.  It is not always easy.

I am not complaining for myself.  I can deal with it.

However, the ND attendance history suggests the stadium may be empty. In those ND years there were always a lot of Irish fans, and we know those Beavers do not travel well.  If the crowd is light everyone will reference these very same excuses.  

If it is raining and/or Stanford is not 10-1 then I would suspect there will be a lot of empty seats.  For both Luck and JH that would be a memory I would just assume avoid.  Not that the actual fans matter.  Game is at 4:30.  And that\'s good because someone wanted to broadcast a Stanford game nationally.

On another positive note, it will probably be in 3D on Versus.  So those that are staying home can run out and get a 3D TV on Black Friday.  

[Farm93]

I don\'t think those kids sports have games on the Saturdays after Thanksgiving.  That would seem like a recipe for forfeit city.  If families have kids in those super serious leagues, then I doubt they are our casual walk-up fans.

FWIW, the 4:30 time is fine in September and October.

However, in late November after the end of Daylight savings it gets dark so early.  The start of the rainy season makes some of our parking lots soft and wet, and that makes them a touch dangerous for elderly types.  In the dark, many stumble.  And then they all have to drive out of those dark, muddy lots without hitting people.  It is not always easy.

I am not complaining for myself.  I can deal with it.

However, the ND attendance history suggests the stadium may be empty. In those ND years there were always a lot of Irish fans, and we know those Beavers do not travel well.  If the crowd is light everyone will reference these very same excuses.  

If it is raining and/or Stanford is not 10-1 then I would suspect there will be a lot of empty seats.  For both Luck and JH that would be a memory I would just assume avoid.  Not that the actual fans matter.  Game is at 4:30.  And that\'s good because someone wanted to broadcast a Stanford game nationally.

On another positive note, it will probably be in 3D on Versus.  So those that are staying home can run out and get a 3D TV on Black Friday.