No Chelsea 3pm kick-offs? Football has changed, but could it damage the game

Looking back over the matches Chelsea have played so far this season, one of the ways increasing television coverage has changed football over the last ten years is startlingly apparent.

Chelsea have played 12 games so far this season, including the Community Shield, and only four haven’t been shown live on television. Of the 28 games that the team is scheduled to play before 1st January 2010, only nine won’t be on Sky or ESPN: just one third of games aren’t being shown on TV.

This means that some of the footballing traditions are being eroded too (at least for the bigger sides): namely, the Saturday 3pm kick-off. Of the eight Premier League games Chelsea have played so far, only two have been standard Saturday afternoon affairs. We’ll have to wait until 21st November for the first home game Chelsea will play on a Saturday at 3 o’clock (our 13^th league game). In total, of the 20 Premier League games Chelsea will play before New Year’s Day, 70% won’t be 3pm starts.

So the game changes. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Yes, a 3pm Saturday kick-off does feel right somehow, offering just the right amount of time for fans to have a drink before the game and up the volume in the stadium. Conversely 12.45 kick-offs lead to quieter crowds and Sunday games often feel flat.

But Chelsea fans (or fans of other big sides) can’t complain too much either, as TV coverage forms the financial backbone of the club’s success on the pitch, and has been the driving force behind the modernisation of the game. Furthermore, fans of clubs lower down the table don’t have the same opportunities to watch their team, and their clubs don’t reap the same financial rewards.

But increased television coverage could have further reaching and more damaging consequences. Many argue that the current lull in Italian football – characterised by matches frequently being played in half-empty stadiums – has its roots in the massive expansion of pay-per-view coverage, where fans could pretty much watch every game on television.

Clubs like Manchester United are unlikely to be affected by increased television coverage - their huge fanbase means they won’t struggle to fill their stadium. Clubs with smaller fanbases – perhaps even Chelsea – are more susceptible to more games being shown on TV however, as fans’ decision to make the large financial outlay for tickets becomes unbalanced by the ability to watch games more cheaply at home. Whatever benefits television coverage brings, it shouldn’t be to the detriment of the stadium experience.

We’re certainly not at that tipping point yet however, and of course clubs lower down the table aren’t as fortunate as us and are more vulnerable to falling attendances. The Premier League probably has it just about right at the moment, but with broadcasters ready to throw ever-increasing resources at the game, football will need to fight off the temptation and look to its long-term future.

Chelsea season-tickets holders and members – do you care that matches aren’t 3pm Saturday kick-offs anymore? Post a comment.

You might also be interested to look at:

• Chelsea’s 09/10 fixture list, including kick-off times, television coverage and bridgeviews.co.uk match reports

Comments

[StanStreason]

I probably do care but not that much. As a home season ticket holder a bit more consistency would be nice but at least we get notified a few months in advance - try to go to a game in Spain or Portugal and the exact times and dates over the weekend are not sorted till a couple of weeks before.

Regular away fans would care I guess having to put up with some terrible unsocial journeys.

When I was younger I would have preferred the differing times. There was over a decade (1975-1990) when I could not go to matches because I played myself on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. A few sunday afternoon kick offs would have been handy.

[mimilee_]

I'm sorry, but I find it funny a complaint about matches being shown on television, haha. But that must be because it's not my reality going to matches, but depending on TV to watch it.
Anyways, I always thought unfair the thought of 'if you have it on TV, you're not going to the stadium'. It's different atmospheres. If you want to attend a match, you'll go regardless it's playing on TV as well. Considering you got the money and all that.
Alright, I'm not in the UK, so I'm sorry if I'm talking nonsense ;-)

[Tim]

I'm horrified to discover how poor the television coverage is in the UK.
I live in Australia and Fox sports make full use of 3 channels with active content to show every single premier league match for the entire season live with the occasional exception if a fixture is re-sheduled.
ESPN & SBS take care of the champions league matches which are sometimes shown on delay.
Last season I was able to watch every single chelsea league and champions league match.
I can not believe how poor the coverage is in the league's host nation. I was considering visiting England for a year to witness a large number of EPL matches and I'd be horribly disappointed if i couldn't watch the matches that i didn't attend in person on the TV.