If the Club makes a decision based on Forever Reds,Facebook or the Turkey then it's still being run amateurishly.
A professional operation with well paid executives should have access to far more expertise on this matter.
It really isn't about night shift workers,those who finish work at Sunday lunchtime or whether you're on Facebook !
I don't know how much corporate hospitality depends on it being a Friday except,having done a bit of this in the past,guests don't like Friday nights ,in my experience,any more than Sundays. Prefer mid week and that can't happen.
In any event,the corporates will bring revenue but ,if the game night is decided by that,it won't necessarily be the night that will increase the attendance figures.
Which does he want?
I'd prefer Sunday !

I think the issue is much wider than Friday or Sunday, we have tried both, and those that attend have their personal preferences. The thing is we should be finding out why people do not attend, and what would entice past fans to re-attend, and new fans to start attending. Time of games would be one issue, but only one of many. It needs a proper market research exercise carrying out. Those that could be enticed to attend need targeting, and those that never will attend can be left alone. Use the energy and resources needed where it will have most impact.

I think we might be missing the point about what day/night we play on. With a successful side we will no doubt attract some passed fans back whether we play Friday or Sunday, however it is the new fan and a younger audience we need to attract.
Any market research should be aimed at this audience. I suspect with location Sunday would be a better option.

As a Season ticket holder this next season will be the third season I have bought my grandson a season ticket, he is six to date he has been to more away games played on Sunday than home games. I suspect based on the audience we need to attract will be the same especially during the winter time.

Sunday for me!

Totally agree.

I disagree. Social media, like Facebook and forums such as these, are analysed intently by the major corporations of the world as part of their market research. If it’s good enough for Coca-Cola, then it is good enough for us. Rather this than hire a consultancy to make decisions on what the punters could have told the club for free. It’s about making informed decisions rather than biased ones.



There’s a problem with giving too much weight to the desires of corporates; it makes them unpopular. If they decide the match day that doesn’t suit, those punters put out by it take the attitude that it is because of ‘that lot up there’. A balance needs to be struck, or a compromise.

This is a different level, admittedly, but take Bayern Munich, for example. They bring in more corporate revenue than any other football club, and by some margin too. Some of this revenue goes towards subsidising a section of comparatively cheap season tickets. On one hand, the corporates feel more involved and the action can be used as part of their corporate social responsibility. On the other, the supporters don’t feel as much as if the game is going to the dogs, or rather, the fat cats.

I was going to say the same thing about facebook Chico but thought I'd be shot down in flames.

Hopefully, the difference under Koukash will be proper funding. My dad, for example, doesn’t use social media; he doesn’t use email either, nor does he have a mobile phone. The Manchester Evening News is still the major source him. So as somebody who has had a season ticket since the mid-Sixties, on this issue he either needs to be sent a letter or spot a web link in the MEN to post feedback.

Facebook, Twitter and this forum are great for gauging an opinion very quickly, even if you think personally that most of the respondents are numpties. This may then inform particular lines of enquiry in a wider, proper research effort.

Ok we'll since there's quite a way to go before the new season maybe the club could look at putting an advert in the M.E.N with maybe a voting line number for people who don't use social media website or emails, then you could have the club put up a page on facebook with a vote system on it, each fan has one vote each. After a certain time limit of the voting system being up see how many prefer what day and go for that? In my opinion it's the fairest way of making the decision, give it the fans to make.

If you have anything you'd throw in there Chico what would it be?

The problem is what happens if the fans vote is roughly 50/50? In that instance my choice would be controversial: I would split matches between Fridays for Lancashire teams and Sundays for the rest, and Sky would take care of the odd Saturday, Thursday and Monday night. This is why I proposed the top-up membership a few weeks back.

If its 50/50 or near let the club then decide with their own market research.

I've set up a poll to roughly gauge the feeling on here - viewtopic.php?f=20&t=557903&p=17552760&tsmp=1378729380#p17552760

I've set up a poll to roughly gauge the feeling on here - viewtopic.php?f=20&t=557903&p=17552760&tsmp=1378729380#p17552760

Clearly there are at least 4 elements to be considered when making this decision:

1: Home fans
2: Away fans
3: Corporate Hospitality
4: Sky's evil influence

1: A poll amongst existing, lapsed and potential new home fans would I'm sure be very useful. FWIW I much prefer Friday nights as it leaves the rest of the weekend clear.

2: A significant addition to the revenue through the turnstiles comes from away fans, so some judgement call must be made as to which option would generate the highest away fan turnout. I'm sure that the M62 on a Friday evening is a big downer on the Yorkshire contingent travelling, it certainly influences my thoughts in the opposite direction.

3: The Corporate Hospitality argument was always used in the days of The Willows, but was that primarily in conjunction with the Willows Variety Club and is that argument still valid today? I have absolutely no idea on this one!

4: SKY - As has been said elsewhere, next season we should be proving to be of greater interest to the holders of the RL purse strings, so what effect will that have? Might we just be told that there will be more Monday or Thursday fixtures, or might we also see last minute rearrangements to suit them?

Finally, there was an argument some years ago that we needed to match our default playing day to others in the league to optimise recovery time - is that still valid and if so what direction does it suggest we go?

Karl Harrison was fond of this. I guess the more you’re on Sky the harder it is to suit.

Speaking from personal experience fridays are a real pain travel wise.

I basically have to go straight from work. If you work outside the area, its not easy to get home and get back to the stadium with Friday travel conditions and the congested mess the stadium is. Makes for a long day, if you factor the in the stadium car park lock down as well.

Means I am out of the house before 7am and don't get home until around 11pm.

However I am sure hospitality-wise friday is the better night.

Sunday.

Because I think it will bring more away fans. More Families and as a consequence more kids for the long term fan prospect. We've got the Trafford Centre on our doorstep and the prospect of families able to shop, eat, then take in a game. Or split the Family to do whatever they want has to be a major draw for a Sunday or Saturday. Generally, there will be more options for fans on a day match.

My guess is the preference will be split down the middle Friday - Sunday . Fans wise
the same argument was discussed Willows Era , 2007-2008 Then Director Trish Goldsmith , maintained the Friday eve K/O was crucial for the Corporate business which with us running the Variety Centre end & running the Bar/ catering was supposedly good income.
As a tenant of the SCS I doubt this is true as Salford get a much smaller income.

My Guess next season , we are likely to be asked to play games
Thursday Eve, Friday Eve, Saturday 5pm , & Monday Eve , courtesy of Sky , and I also feel it is a good policy to schedule games against Yorks opposition for Sunday PM.

It's a bit daft to release Season Ticket info , if the club are still pondering the day & kick off times ? Who is going to buy not knowing the game day ??

I still maintain the Day is not crucial ,as an entertaining & 'winning ' side will attract a crowd no matter the day.
the crucial matter is publicising to fans well in advance

A mix for me, as Chico said Friday for local teams, Sunday for those from over the hill. On a personal level I am not bothered, always preferred Friday evening at the Willows, few drinks and night kick offs always a better atmosphere. Have to drive to Barton, so drinks out of the question. Let the club manage this and I will go along with the decision.

Correct.
I think this is what the professionals will conclude.

These points will need to be put across in tonight's FR meeting.

That's funny. Everyone I know who works on a Sunday does so until at least 4pm. I'll have to tell them that they're being hard done to.

As for Fridays or Sundays, I'm not that fussed - it's a ballache for me to get home regardless. There needs to be a proper, balanced debate and research from the club about it, but I really don't think changing the day we play games is the magic solution to crowd problems that people think it is. We've seen poor crowds on weekends and big crowds on Fridays (and vice-versa, obviously), it's more to do with the team on the park, ticketing and numerous other issues than just what day and time we kick off.

I signed up last Thursday for a season ticket next year but if the club did make a complete seed change and go to a traditional Sunday 3pm KO I'd have to reconsider as I work a couple of full day Sundays twice a month.

A selfish point of view I know but for me Friday is infinately the better option as I can swap them around to cover football games with other people I work with, Sundays are already ear marked for that throughout the season overlap.

I much prefer Fridays, but I'm not restricted by work or anything, so Sundays wouldn't be the end of the world. A mix between the two might be the best option. If we have a decent team though, people will want to see us regardless of the day we play on.

Koukash just confirmed on twitter we will play most of our games on Sunday next season.

He also seems to telling people SBW is coming next year as well



On the game day, that is slightly at odds with what Matthews and Wood said at Forever Reds so it looks like Koukash has made another executive decision.

He says he is also going on the Catalans away game and will be travelling and staying with the fans at Lloret de Mar.Oh dear,that could get really messy LOL