NBA considering playing morning games

[Andrew]

Adam Silver: The NBA is exploring playing weekday morning games

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has consistently shown that he's more than willing to consider ideas that may have been deemed unreasonable under previous regimes in hopes of broadening the appeal of the league across the world.

While there's not guarantee that this idea will ever become a reality, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports recently reported that the head of the league would consider altering the NBA's schedule to include weekday morning games to help cater to basketball fans in overseas markets.

The linked Tweet:

In trying to get games on TV at a better times overseas, Adam Silver said NBA will explore idea of experimenting with weekday morning games.

I like it, since it obviously benefits me, living in Australia. Given that I'm currently working from home, I can sometimes catch games live during the day, and there's always the option of avoiding scores and catching them later, since I have a League Pass Broadband subscription. However, it would be nice to be able to watch some live games in the evenings every once in a while.

It might be a tough sell domestically, but there are already some matinee games on weekends as it is. They're obviously not going to change the whole schedule to accommodate the global audience, nor should they - it should be devised around the domestic timezones, after all - but a few games here and there would be welcome.

[I Hate Mondays]

I love the idea. I don't know if I would pay the NBA league pass membership, because my guess is that those morning games wouldn't be the most competitive ones, but there are some national TV channels in Romania streaming live NBA for some extra cash. I'd pay some extra money that to get a few live games at reasonable hours. Part of that cash goes to the NBA anyway.

[Andrew]

Possibly. If generating interest is what they want, then I'm sure at least a few of them would be marquee match-ups.

[Patr1ck]

They should do some graveyard shift games, as well.

Maybe morning games can help with back to back gamedays, by having the first game in the morning, and the second one later at night the following day.

[Stress Fracture]

This will benefit us living on the other side. It's fun to watch in the evening.

No more conflict of morning schedules for us.

[Patr1ck]

Actually, me too. I can come home from work and check out a morning game.

[[Q]]

For us normal west coasters, we already get screwed by the 4 pm games. No need to make them any earlier.

[NovU]

Are the NBA also abandoning sinking USA and turning global? lol. Eurasia economy's getting bigger. Might not be a bad idea to target them.

[Andrew]

David Stern wanted expansion in Europe for ages. I still doubt that happens, but with the Internet, social media, and services such as League Pass Broadband linking the world (specifically sports fans, in this case) more than ever before, there's incentive to cater to international markets.

[mp3]

Thank you Adam Silver!

I have lost to many hours of sleep staying up till 4am to watch nba games that mostly start here in England at midnight!

[I Hate Mondays]

That's the thing.A person like me and real fans in general from this part of the world (trying to avoid being cliheic here) stay up late to watch those games. My strong impression is that 90 % of them watch the games using some ilegal HD streams(you don't have any idea how full of europeans those chat rooms are). Those streams are TV quality from what I've seen. So how many people would actually pay money to watch the games instead of watching a free stream ? I just think most of them will stick to whatever is free, but the hours will be better for them. That's all.

[Andrew]

I'm guessing a lot of people do have League Pass Broadband too. It's a pretty good investment, and there are cheaper options available.

[NovU]

Thank you Adam Silver!

I have lost to many hours of sleep staying up till 4am to watch nba games that mostly start here in England at midnight!

Thought you were from NY. mp3.

[mp3]

My heart is but my body sadly is located in England.

Being NY a few times now, favourite place on earth!

[Chicago1]

I really hope it comes to fruition... i woke up at 3-4am here to watch Bulls games sometimes, and it didn't end well in class for me afterwards

[buzzy]

Can't wait for those exciting Wizards/Magic games.

But I'm not complaining, I'm all about it.

[Andrew]

In a year or two, that might be a more exciting match-up. But as I said, I reckon they'd schedule at least a couple of marquee match-ups, if it's all about bring in the global audience.

[Stress Fracture]

I'm guessing a lot of people do have League Pass Broadband too. It's a pretty good investment, and there are cheaper options available.

This won't be a good thing to purchase if the internet connection is bad, just like here in pinoy land.

And it's kinda pricey here, too. How much is that there?

[air gordon]

It might be a tough sell domestically, but there are already some matinee games on weekends as it is. They're obviously not going to change the whole schedule to accommodate the global audience, nor should they - it should be devised around the domestic timezones, after all - but a few games here and there would be welcome.

this would be a tough sell to the owners who would starting seeing half empty stadiums for morning games during the work week.

professional teams outside the NBA (specifically the NFL) would "blackout" the broadcast if the attendance was an embarrassingly low number.

that aside, i'd love to see the nba start having morning games

[mp3]

I think it would be more centered around weekends mainly.

Having weekday morning games would not be good for the league imo.

[air gordon]

re-read Andrew's original post:

While there's not guarantee that this idea will ever become a reality, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports recently reported that the head of the league would consider altering the NBA's schedule to include weekday morning games to help cater to basketball fans in overseas markets.

In trying to get games on TV at a better times overseas, Adam Silver said NBA will explore idea of experimenting with weekday morning games.

maybe the nba can have these morning type games during US national holidays... like how they are already with MLK?

personally i'd like to see all holidays fall on a monday or a friday, but that's another topic of discussion

[mp3]

Thanks for pointing that out AG I sure did miss read that one and I stand by comments that it would be a mistake to play morning games in a country that most people would be working and that's coming from someone that would benefit greatly from this.

Weekend and holidays are a great idea though

[NovU]

this would be a tough sell to the owners who would starting seeing half empty stadiums for morning games during the work week.

Good point. It'd be like Vancouver Grizzlies games where it's nice to attend a game live because you can buy the cheapest seat and move to courtside seat during break.

[Andrew]

Presumably they'll look to do it on public holidays, where more fans don't have to take work off to attend. I mean, I'd assume they'll take factors like that into consideration.

This won't be a good thing to purchase if the internet connection is bad, just like here in pinoy land.

And it's kinda pricey here, too. How much is that there?

I'm currently paying around $37 AUS a month for the premium package, which includes access to everything and a choice between home and away broadcasts for non-nationally televised games. There are also plans that are around $10 AUS a month, as well as once-off game purchases.

Obviously, it's not feasible if you don't have a great Internet connection, but if that were the case, you're not really going to be able to watch an illegal stream, either.

[[Q]]

League Pass is like $200 US for the season

That's a really good point about half-empty arenas, which will be the biggest factor in why this won't happen. Owners of small market teams and shitty teams like Philadelphia will complain that their attendance is low enough as it is.