Re-arranged games and the end of the Saturday 3pm kickoff

All About Walsall
1

With the amount of games we’ve already had moved due to various things I thought I’d have a look to see how many Saturday 3pm games we’re potentially left with. As this bites I wonder how much this will affect season ticket sales next season?

Non Saturday 3pm League Games – 2024/25

Midweek games on the original fixture list
Tues 1st Oct - 7:45pm - Fleetwood Town (H)
Tues 22nd Oct - 7:45pm - Carlisle Utd (H)
Tues 3rd Dec - 7:45pm - Notts County (H)
Tues 28th Jan - 7:45pm - Fleetwood Town (A)
Tues 4th March - 7:45pm - Carlisle Utd (A)
Tues 1st April - 7:45pm - Doncaster Rovers (A)

Holiday games
Boxing Day - Thur 26th Dec - 3pm - Doncaster Rovers (H)
After Xmas – Sun 29th Dec - 3pm - Newport County (H)
New Years Day - Wed 1st Jan - 3pm - Notts County (A)
Good Friday - Fri 18th Apr - 3pm - Harrogate Town (H)
Easter Monday - Mon 21st April - 3pm - Newport County (A)

International breaks
Sat 12th Oct – Bromley (H) - re-arranged Tue 26th November
Sat 16th Nov – Gillingham (H) - re-arrangement TBC
Sat 22nd Mar – Gillingham (A) - possible re-arrangement

FA Cup
Should we beat Charlton the 3rd round is on Saturday 11th January when we’re scheduled to play Tranmere Rovers (H) so that could move to a Tuesday night, although that has already been put forward to be moved to 12:30pm on that day to be shown on Sky. (see below)

Televised games
Sat 24th Aug - 12:30pm - Tranmere Rovers (A)
Sat 28th Sept - 12:30pm - Colchester Utd (H)
Sat 7th Dec - 12:30pm - Port Vale (A)
Sat 4th Jan - 12:30pm - Cheltenham Town (A)
Sat 11th Jan - 12:30pm - Tranmere Rovers (H) – could be moved again if progressing in FA Cup.
Sat 25th Jan - 12:30pm - Bradford City (A)
Sat 22nd Feb - 12:30pm - Morecambe (A)

There will be more TV games scheduled from the first week of March onwards but we’ll only get 4 weeks notice instead of 4 months. It’s highly likely teams in the top half are more likely to get picked.

Weather
Over the last few seasons we’ve had several games called off due to waterlogged pitches both home and away including the Morecambe game which had to have the re-arrangement re-arranged. Over the next 2-3 months I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a few more weather cancellations that end up being squeezed into more Tuesdays at the end of the season.

EFL Trophy
Whilst not the League, I assume the later rounds of this will remain on Tuesdays/midweek so the longer we stay in, the more likely it could cause problems re-arranging League games midweek or causing even more fixture pileups as the season progresses?

That’s 20 games already scheduled outside Saturdays with potentially more from televised games, FA Cup, weather cancellations to come. We could be getting on for 25-30 out of the 46 by the end of the season.

I note there are quite a few home/away pairings scheduled on these days too so I assume they did that on purpose. Not sure if it was done in the past when it was just the 6 midweek and holidays scheduled in?

5 Likes
2

Thanks for that, good post. Won’t affect my attendance at all, but I understand that it will for some.

3

I love a 12.30ko. Gives me chance to fit in Asda (a) Ikea (a) and Boundry Mill (a) with the missus on Sat Afternoons.

Also may save the club some pennies in floodlight costs. But costs them on booze takings. It probably impacts those who work Sat morns or enjoy the social booze pre game.

Games changing. At least there are other ways you can watch or listen to the games now.

1 Like
4

If we’re away at 3pm wherever it is I’m out the door at 7am or early anyway, when we play Wimbledon in a few weeks for example I’m in London by 0830, so the early kick offs put me out of sync a bit. However I quite like them in the sense that it gives you more time after and if you’re in the car you can listen to the other football on the way home :joy: given the choice I’d rather football stayed at Saturday 3pm and Tuesday 745pm

2 Likes
5

That isn’t a good thing in my eyes. Football was never meant to be a TV programme.

And Saturday afternoons weren’t made for trawling around Boundary Mills with your Mrs!

12 Likes
6

Probably quicker to list the actual Sat 3pm kickoffs

1 Like
7

There will definitely be a few postponements as the weather becomes more dangerous as we enter winter.

8

I can’t believe that the amount of cash gained from the sky deal will compensate for a probable long term attendance drop. We’ve been insulated perhaps this season by actually doing well but how tempted would you be to attend a 7.45 kick-off on a cold December night if you can simply put on the TV instead.

Ignoring iffy firesticks, sky via nowtv costs about 180 a year if you use multi login membership and split it with one household. You can do the maths

2 Likes
9

Also Sat 4th Jan - 12:30pm - Cheltenham Town (A)

1 Like
10

Ah yes, missed that one. So at least 20 already scheduled for a time other than 3pm on a Saturday.

11

Totally agree with what @Blazing_Saddler said the other day.

4 Likes
12

Every non Sat 3 Pm ko costs us about 1000 off the gate. The club seem fine with it.

13

With the hour difference, the 12:30 (13:30) Saturday Kick offs aren’t too bad same with the Tuesday evening KO’s.
I’m not a fan of all of this though. The priority for football teams should be to get as many in the stadium as possible, rather than them watching on the telly. As someone that can’t get there as often as I’d like, the streaming service is great, however, it’s not the same as being there.

2 Likes
14

Although I said football was never meant to be a TV Programme, and I still stand by that. I do get that the streaming services are very helpful for some fans for different reasons. You are at games whenever you are here, there are some that can’t get to games for lots of different reasons.

I was always in favour of the 3 pm Blackout staying in place, I thought it was very important. Now I am looking at it differently. I don’t think it is the fact games are available to watch on TV that will bring gates down. Anyone who wanted to do that has been able to do so for some time now. The change in kick off times is what will cause problems for people.

This is only the beginning though, I am guessing it will look a lot different in five years time, and games will be all over the place whenever they choose, just like the Premier League has been for years.

It really needed all the clubs to stay strong and say no, and realise that any extra money they are getting will be lost in one way or another, through lost gate revenue, and the money eventually making its way on to player wages. Unfortunately, that was never going to happen.

2 Likes
15

The club voted for this one, and their past voting has been very pragmatic, opposing stuff they didn’t like.

Philosophically the days of a rigid kick off at 3pm are gone, and while it’s a habit for older fans it isn’t for the future, adaptable younger breed. Every club has to adapt to this so making our match day experience tie in to the game day, whatever time it is, is critical. Feel the new brooms sweeping through the corridors of power are In tune with this.

16

My view, always has been if you go to football you go, if you don’t you don’t.
Whatever time games kick-off it will always provide obstacles to attendance which those people subjected to them that want to attend will find a way round - just look at the Port Vale ticket sales?
Personally, I think 3pm Saturday is ok, its traditional but for me it’s not that great. I like early kick-offs even less, and my favourite kick-off time is Saturday 5.30pm.

17

There were 12 league games last year where it wasn’t played on a saturday 3pm or your standard holiday games such as Easter and Christmas for comparison.

18

As someone that went to his first game in 1958 I’m definitely in the old timers category.
I’m used to change because it’s been happening throughout my lifetime and will continue to do so.
The best part of a game for me is to actually be there enjoying the atmosphere and being with those people that I’ve spent thousands of hours with whether cheering or commiserating it’s a part of my life and always has been.
I’m not a fan of football fitting in around a tv schedule although in fairness it will suit some but not others.
We all make our personal choice in the matter.
As I’m now in my mid seventies a 1230 kick off at an away game will mean I won’t be going unless it’s fairly local.
I certainly wouldn’t consider going to Gillingham (as an example) if it was a 1230 start and I’ve no intention of handing my money over to some soulless conglomerate that means nothing to me whatsoever.
Part of the away experience for me has always been about the journey, the camaraderie, having a pint and something to eat. The earlier start completely alters that so I’ll definitely pick and choose instead of attending every away game. The club aren’t going to miss one old man and neither should they but it saddens me that something that’s been a part of my life for so many years is going to change and all for a few quid.
I would point out I’m not criticising anyone that wishes to watch games on the television because for some that’s the most practical way to do so for whatever a person’s circumstances are but it’s not for me.

8 Likes
19

Actually, thinking about it, despite wanting it stay ols school, they may as well abolish the 3pm blackout on showing live games. As that was brought in pre the streaming era, and is now almost unenforceable anyway, and actually doesn’t seem to affect league attendances too badly.

1 Like
20

You can still do all of those things, just at stupid o-clock. It’s not great, especially when you’re getting on a bit, but you do get used to it. It’s just like going on holiday with a 6 AM flight whereby you have 4 pints and a breki before you get on the plane.