Night Games ever a possibility?

[IrishSteelhead]

With scUM rolling out the red carpet for this year's game, and hosting it at night, does anyone think ND will ever do the same for a big game within the next few years? Personally, I would love to see it.

 

[irish1958]

I don't fancy trying to find my car at 11:30 PM in the North parking lot, especially if it is raining and 33 degrees.

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

Not under the current contract with NBC. Even if we want to play a night game, our contract does not allow it. Personally I would love to see it happen, but for now it just isnt a possibility

 

[ACamp1900]

we have played NBC night games before... at least later start times that ended well past sundown...

the bush push and the Tennessee game that Zibby dominated come to mind...

unless you are referring to night time kickoffs...

 

[irish1958]

Wasn't one of the early NBC games against Michigan a night game? That was in the old stadium before the addition and Holtz was the coach.

 

[ACamp1900]

Wasn't one of the early NBC games against Michigan a night game? That was in the old stadium before the addition and Holtz was the coach.

the 1988 Michigan game was a late afternoon start that was well into the night by halftime (like the games I mentioned above) I have that game on DVD...

the 1989 USC game (The 'in your face tood marinovich" game) was also a late start that ended well into the night

though I don't believe either of these were NBC games

 

[IrishSteelhead]

we have played NBC night games before... at least later start times that ended well past sundown...

the bush push and the Tennessee game that Zibby dominated come to mind...

unless you are referring to night time kickoffs...

Yes I was referring to 6-7 PM kickoffs. I understand why the U$C game is in the middle of the season at home and the end of the season away, but it would be awesome to shake it up and play that game at the end of the year at night, and would give the Irish a bigger edge going in.

 

[MNIrishman]

USC doesn't have men playing on its football team. Thats why they discontinued the tradition of the rivalry being the last game of the season in odd years--Trojans break when it gets too cold.

 

[irishpat183]

Night time kickoff would be sweet. But I have to say that I love watching the irish on a cool fall day with my back french doors open and some meat on the grill and a corona in my hand.

Nothing beats that

 

[ACamp1900]

they have indeed come right out and said they don't want weather being a factor, thus the midseason start when the game is in SB...

 

[Veer option]

Night time kickoff would be sweet. But I have to say that I love watching the irish on a cool fall day with my back french doors open and some meat on the grill and a corona in my hand.

Nothing beats that

You paint a great picture.




How would the sweater crowd (older ND fans) take a few night games in late fall?

 

[mick2]

Night time kickoff would be sweet. But I have to say that I love watching the irish on a cool fall day with my back french doors open and some meat on the grill and a corona in my hand.

Nothing beats that

oh man i can smell it now!

 

[BGIF]

With scUM rolling out the red carpet for this year's game, and hosting it at night, does anyone think ND will ever do the same for a big game within the next few years? Personally, I would love to see it.

Not going to happen regardless of the NBC contract.

Irish1958's comment is actually an understatement. Many people drive long hours to and from ND games. UND does not want them to start driving home at midnight. Think Officer McCarthy's driving safety announcement here. Add to that alcohol consumption and arrests go up significantly at night games. UND has stated that night games on campus are not consistent with the "family culture that are part of the ND game experience.

Whether you agree with position or not, it isn't going to change. Simply look at ND's increasing enforcement of underage drinking, intoxication enforcement, and tailgating curtailment. In 1983 UND lost a landmark legal battle that was in litigation for 4 years, Bearman v. University of Notre Dame. After a game in 1979, Mr and Mrs Bearman were walking outside the stadium where they had just attended an ND game. An intoxicated person fell into Mrs. Bearman and she broke her leg. They sued and the courts held UND was responsible. UND should have known that people drink before and after football games and UND should have provided better security and crowd control measures. (think about that the next time you're at a game and and an usher and a South Bend cop take your friend "who was only a little high" out of the stadium.

"Bearman" is a case study today in Risk Analysis, Crowd Control, Alcohol Consumption at public events, etc. UND won't publicly mention the Bearman suit in discussing night games but it's a primary why they won't happen on campus.

 

[NDinFL]

BGIF
FTW!

 

[RyCo1983]

You paint a great picture.




How would the sweater crowd (older ND fans) take a few night games in late fall?

Hopefully they'd sell their tickets for those games and the young crowd could take over!

 

[dshans]

Hopefully they'd sell their tickets for those games and the young crowd could take over!

Could you guarantee an enthusiastic young crowd (enough to fill the stadium) able to afford the cost of travel, lodging and tickets to a game?

I am an alum who, at 57, would appear to fit the bill as a member of the "sweater" crowd, though I prefer sweatshirts. I don't get to that many games but I attended the Utah game in November with my 23 year old son and a college friend of his from South Bend (whose father is also an alum) and I spent more time on my feet yelling my vocal cords raw than they did. We were surrounded by young folk and I put them to shame.

Were there enough sound proof luxury suites built that could house all the Chardonnay and Bud Lite old fart crowd while hordes of rabid young fans stepped up to the plate, as it were, with Platinum Amex cards in tow, I'd agree. As for me, I prefer to be in the pits with the rest of the uninhibited.

Bottom line: unless, and until, the university expands its student body to 50,000 or its new graduates have the wherewithal to fill the stadium seats, the (paying) old farts will be with us all.

 

[BGIF]

Could you guarantee an enthusiastic young crowd (enough to fill the stadium) able to afford the cost of travel, lodging and tickets to a game?

I am an alum who, at 57, would appear to fit the bill as a member of the "sweater" crowd, though I prefer sweatshirts. I don't get to that many games but I attended the Utah game in November with my 23 year old son and a college friend of his from South Bend (whose father is also an alum) and I spent more time on my feet yelling my vocal cords raw than did. We were surrounded by young folk and I put them to shame.

Were there enough sound proof luxury suites built that could house all the Chardonnay and Bud Lite old fart crowd while hordes of rabid young fans stepped up to the plate, as it were, with Platinum Amex cards in tow, I'd agree. As for me, I prefer to be in the pits with the rest of the uninhibited.

Bottom line: unless, and until, the university expands its student body to 50,000 or its new graduates have the wherewithal to fill the stadium seats, the (paying) old farts will be with us all.

Game, Set, Match da Shans!