The NFL has been traditionally opening its season on Labor Day weekend for the past 23 years. However, in August of 2000, the league announced that it would be the last time it started the season on this holiday weekend. The reason given was that people wanted to enjoy the last days of summer and not have to watch football on a Sunday or Monday when they could be outdoors.
Although many see football as a family-oriented sport, it is ultimately a business. The NFL determined that starting the season on Labor Day weekend was not beneficial for maximizing TV audiences, as people were generally busy with end-of-summer activities. However, with talks of expanding the season to 18 games and adding a second bye week, the NFL may need to reconsider its stance on this issue.
In recent years, technology has made it possible for people to watch games anywhere on their portable devices. This opens up new possibilities for the NFL in terms of how it can engage fans and attract viewership. For example, the league could potentially make opening weekend a five-night event, with games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Given that the federal prohibition on Friday and Saturday games doesn’t begin until the second Friday in September, Labor Day weekend could be utilized for multiple standalone games.
While there is no indication that the NFL has revisited the idea of working on Labor Day weekend, it may be something worth considering. Just as the league attracts large audiences on Thanksgiving and Christmas, opening weekend games on Labor Day could also draw in millions of viewers and generate significant revenue. By making the most of this holiday weekend, the NFL could potentially enhance its season kickoff and engage fans in new and exciting ways.
Overall, while starting