Yeah this sucks, but I think you guys are all missing the point.
You act like OU - and more importantly the MAC - care about butts in seats attendance. They don't. Go take a gander at the OZone thread (or MLB attendance for that matter) for confirmation as to why they think this way.
With access to the internet and 8497 live streaming sports channels literally at your fingertips 24/7/365 on your TV/laptop/smart phone - more and more people are just staying home and relaxing and watching from the comfort (and cheapness) of their own homes/apartments/dorm rooms. Plus, when you try to draw actual butts in seats there's a geographical factor that comes into play. You're only realistically getting people from a few hours radius. When it's on TV or the internet? You can literally be on the moon and it doesn't matter - they can still reach you.
Organizations have figured out there's way more $$ and way more actual eye-balls for viewership by catering to the TV and internet crowd (especially when you're trying to attract NEW viewers and grow your brand visibility) than there is catering to the butts in seats crowd.
Now we can talk about how that's killing gameday atmospheres if you want - and I'd totally agree 110%. But to get all upset about this decision and how they scheduled it, and to think they'll actually care what you think - is foolish IMO.
One comment - you're not wrong about online markets being important. But it's bad business in my opinion to reschedule games for different dates this close to the date. It's an easy way to piss off the fanbase consuming the product.
If they truly don't care about how this decision affects their ticket buying public, and I don't want to believe that to be the case, but if they don't, I'll cease buying season tickets immediately.
Do they have a way to influence the conference and the TV partners? Probably not. But they sure as hell better care that this angers ticket buying fans.
One question - Do you buy, or have you bought, season tickets and made plans with people to have this type of thing affect your plans? Because I'd think that if you have, you'd also see this from a little different point of view.
A simple solution to it all: schedule games for those Friday nights well in advance (45-60 days or more) and stick to it.
Last Edited: 2/10/2020 4:19:47 PM by OU_Country