Thoughts on the New Draft Format

by texwestern on Mar 2, 2010 12:01 PM CST in Green Bay Packers Draft

We've all spent plenty of time and effort over the last few days discussing who the Packers should target in the draft coming up from April 22-24. But I'd like to discuss a different issue: the draft event itself.

Roger Goodell has been tweaking the draft over the last few years. For most of the decade, the first three rounds took place on Saturday, with rounds 4-7 on Sunday. Starting in 2008, the format was changed to rounds one and two on Saturday, starting in the afternoon instead of the morning. In addition to the altered schedule, Goodell scaled back the amount of time allowed for the first round from 15 to 10 minutes per pick, and in rounds two and three from 10 to 5 (a move I thoroughly agree with).

But now, the draft is even more spread out than before. Round one is happening in prime time, starting at 7:30 PM Eastern on Thursday, April 22nd. Rounds two and three are on Friday, April 23rd starting at 6:30 Eastern, and 4-7 happen on Saturday, April 24th starting at 10 AM Eastern.

The questions I pose are these: why is Goodell doing this? And is this good for the draft?

The answer to the first is money. By putting the draft on during the week in prime time, it seems clear to me that Goodell hopes to get better ratings, generate more advertising revenue, and get more hype going.

The second is a tougher question. For me, draft weekend was a few days when I could veg out on the couch, forget about schoolwork, and just kick back and watch the draft with a few beers and a few friends. Now, I have to give up a Thursday and Friday night if I want to see the first three rounds. Besides our own selfish reasons, we have to consider the NFL fans on the west coast. Unless they get out of work before 4 PM, they likely won't be able to see the start of the draft on Thursday or Friday.

I doubt that there will be a substantial surge in ratings this year. I think any boost they'll get east of the Mississippi will be balanced out by people unable to rush home from work on the west coast.

What do you think? Does the change to prime time make the draft better or not?

Poll

Does the rescheduling of the draft from a weekend event to a Thursday-through-Saturday shindig make it better?

Yes. Airing in prime time will lead to more exposure and better ratings

44 votes

No. Draft Weekend was a great mini-vacation for me.

171 votes

It doesn't really affect me. I'll watch and enjoy it either way.

53 votes

I don't care. I won't watch the draft anyway.

31 votes

299 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

there doing this

because it will bring in more revenue to the nfl. thursday prime time tvis big bucks for the nfl. that’s why they are doing this, the draft has become a huge viewing event so the nfl might as well take advantage of it by having it play out for 3 days. greed….greed…greed… that’s why goodell is doing this.

does this make the draft better?

imo, not really. it’s still a draft. actually breaking it up into 3 days is kind of annyoing. i prefer the 2 days on saturday and sunday.

by hermitcrab on Mar 2, 2010 12:19 PM CST reply actions

AGREE HC!!!!

GO PACK!!!!!

by Bird Dog Uni on Mar 2, 2010 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

I think its a bad move. Now they are going to be competing for prime time attention in homes that aren’t the homes of single men. Now you compete with Survivor, Greys Anatomy, and other shows like that. Thursday is PRIME for networks, I think most guys lose out to the power house shows of their wives. It makes the NFL look even greedier and more annoying. I still won’t go out of my way to watch just like I didn’t in the past. If I am around, I’ll check in from time to time to see what is happening but really it has no impact on my life if I watch it live of read an article about it.

by TrevorR on Mar 2, 2010 7:08 PM CST up reply actions

+100

I still won’t go out of my way to watch just like I didn’t in the past. If I am around, I’ll check in from time to time to see what is happening but really it has no impact on my life if I watch it live of read an article about it.

My feelings exactly!

-
The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Mar 3, 2010 4:00 AM CST up reply actions

since I always work on Saturdays the change will mean I can actually watch the first few rounds

Get out of my dreams and into my Chuckie Carr
-Molitorfan 12/23/09

by Michael M on Mar 2, 2010 2:59 PM CST reply actions

It should be on friday at 8pm eastern for round 1 then saturday at noon eastern for rounds 2-4 and sunday at 9 am eastern for rounds 5-7. This makes sense because people wouldn’t mind staying up later on fridays as most dont have to work on saturday. the later start would give people a chance to get home from work fire up the grill and get the buddies at the house on time for the start. Saturday noon start would give everyone a chance to get the saturday morning errands completed before they start round 2. And, sunday 9am start would give people a chance to start their relaxing sunday in their recliner to wrap it up!

by GBWISFAN on Mar 2, 2010 6:58 PM CST reply actions

I kind of like the change. I can’t really remember the last time I watched a draft during the day Saturday just because I’m normally doing something haha! With the draft being on Thursday I’ll probably be able to watch it, though I don’t know how happy my girlfriend will be about not being able to watch Survivor and a couple of the shows Trev mentioned :)!

by packallday555 on Mar 3, 2010 10:12 PM CST reply actions