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AlbaNY_Ram
The NHL adopted their current 82 game schedule in the 1995-1996 season.
The NBA adopted their current 82 game schedule in the 1967-1968 season.
Baseball went to their current 162 game schedule in 1962.
Why do you think the NFL has to continually add games to their schedule when the other major sports leagues have not done so? And I understand that they have gone fro 12 to 14 to 16 in my lifetime. I guess the question is when does it end?
Good questions, AlbaNY, and I’ll take a stab.
1. Those other sports have 82-162 regular season games followed by endless playoffs. Their respective seasons last months longer than the NFL. NFL season is in the teens which leaves a strong appetite for fans remaining as season winds down. IOW, there is a far greater demand for an extra 1-2 games in an NFL season. FWIW, I sure feel this way myself.
2. The NFL towers above those other professional sports in terms of stature and TV contract power. So, it’s a bit of an apple vs orange comparison.
3. A trendline of 12 to 14 to 16 regular game seasons is impossible to ignore while fan interest and TV income keep soaring. An 18 game season (with only 2-3 preseason games) just seems to be the next logical conclusion. The players union us up against the owners, TV networks, and general fan desires. The eventual results are inevitable, IMO.
