The Daytona 500 would coincide with the Super Bowl on Presidents’ Day in February.
Roger Goodell’s tactics have led to an increase in NFL viewership this season.
Roger Goodell surprised players and fans by suggesting the possibility of an 18-game NFL season.
This is unexpected considering that only 3 years have passed since the league transitioned to the current 17-game schedule. In the grand scheme of things, this would result in the Super Bowl being moved to the third weekend of February.
For fans, this expansion would be good news as it would align with Presidents’ Day weekend.
Fans would naturally take the day off work the next day, benefiting both viewers and the NFL. However, if the NFL is really considering adding another game to the season, this would have disastrous consequences for NASCAR and the Daytona 500, as pointed out by BeyondTheFlag.
Football is the most watched sport in America. There’s a reason why other leagues avoid scheduling their games during the NFL season or on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays during football season. Fans would choose to watch football, resulting in lower viewership for other sports. The Daytona 500 traditionally takes place on Presidents’ Day weekend throughout its 66-year history.
NASCAR will need to make significant changes if the NFL goes ahead with this proposed alteration. The 36-race schedule kicks off with the Great American Race on Presidents’ Day weekend.
An alternative option would be to adjust the race times, but it wouldn’t be a foolproof solution as fans would likely prioritize watching the Super Bowl. Additionally, a large audience is expected for the race.
Furthermore, NASCAR will encounter another issue in terms of broadcasting the race, specifically the main network on which it is televised. FOX Sports would naturally prioritize coverage of the Super Bowl, potentially relegating the Daytona 500 to FOX Sports 1.
This is an unfortunate situation for NASCAR, as it lags behind the NFL in terms of popularity and finances. If the league decides to proceed with an 18-game season, little can be done to stop them.
All NASCAR can do is make an appeal, but the league would likely just ask them to start their season a week later. Roger Goodell is not someone who backs down, especially when he is determined to achieve his goals.
