Weird time for US Open Mens Final

[Scott Cooper]

Don't know if this is the right place, but am I the only one that finds this odd.
 
I totally get putting the Mens Final on Monday as it adds an extra gate, but why start it at 5pm eastern time?  Why not Prime Time?  5pm or 2pm in the west seems to be a random time to have a Grand Slam Final and would think CBS could push for better.
 
I don't care either way, but I would think both CBS and the USTA would want better coverage.
 
Maybe it's better for the rest of the world?  I dunno....thought I'd ask.
 
 

 

[TheBenzingerGame]

Don't know if this is the right place, but am I the only one that finds this odd.
 
I totally get putting the Mens Final on Monday as it adds an extra gate, but why start it at 5pm eastern time?  Why not Prime Time?  5pm or 2pm in the west seems to be a random time to have a Grand Slam Final and would think CBS could push for better.
 
I don't care either way, but I would think both CBS and the USTA would want better coverage.
 
Maybe it's better for the rest of the world?  I dunno....thought I'd ask.
 
 

 
I'm sure it's because of Monday Night Football. I agree that it's an awkward time and blows for tennis fans (of which I am one), but this is the world we live in.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

My assumption is they moved it from Sunday so as to not compete with the NFL.  If they start it at 8pm eastern on Monday, they're again competing with the NFL.
 
The NFL trumps all.

 

[TroyOLeary]

It was at the same time last year, too.  Maybe they don't want to go up against Monday Night Football?

 

[ifmanis5]

Or that they insist on scheduling their finals on the opening week of the NFL. It's like the USTA is trolling themselves.

 

[jezza1918]

The chances of the entire tournament ever moving in the calendar is almost 0, unless the entire yearly calendar changes...I think a lot of it does have to do with world viewership, I did a quick google search but coming up with stats for tennis ratings wasn't as easy as I had hoped. But without any American men to worry about for almost a decade (last time Andy Roddick was involved in the final was back in '06), and no one too significant in the pipelines (isnt Donald Young like 30 now?), maybe the USTA wants to ensure better worldwide viewership. Last year was the first scheduled Monday start after 4 straight weather postponements, so maybe they just liked what they saw...
and yeah, the extra gate thing probably tops all other reasoning

 

[cromulence]

It goes back to Sunday (where it belongs) next year. In the past, rain has often forced it to be on Monday anyways, but of course this year that wouldn't have happened. Once there are roofs over Ashe and Armstrong it won't be as much of a problem.

 

[OzSox]

Maybe it's better for the rest of the world?  I dunno....thought I'd ask.

 
No, it's not, so this can't have been a factor. 5pm EST is 11pm here in the Central European Timezone (i.e. most of Western Europe) and 10pm in the UK. It's 7am on Tuesday in Australia. So none of these are ideal times. If it's Federer-Djokovic I will probably watch it but if so I won't get to bed until 2-3am, so that sucks.

 

[mauidano]

 
No, it's not, so this can't have been a factor. 5pm EST is 11pm here in the Central European Timezone (i.e. most of Western Europe) and 10pm in the UK. It's 7am on Tuesday in Australia. So none of these are ideal times. If it's Federer-Djokovic I will probably watch it but if so I won't get to bed until 2-3am, so that sucks.

If it's anyone else, it doesn't matter what time they air it.  11:00 am where I'm at and all good with that but still Novak/Roger or it's background for me.

 

[crystalline]

 
No, it's not, so this can't have been a factor. 5pm EST is 11pm here in the Central European Timezone (i.e. most of Western Europe) and 10pm in the UK. It's 7am on Tuesday in Australia. So none of these are ideal times. If it's Federer-Djokovic I will probably watch it but if so I won't get to bed until 2-3am, so that sucks.

The best time for the US is 9 Eastern/6 Pacific, as the Thu night NFL game was this week. That is 3am CET.

5pm Eastern is a tradeoff that can accommodate Europe and the East and West Coasts, but is not ideal for any.

 

[RedSoxFan]

Or that they insist on scheduling their finals on the opening week of the NFL. It's like the USTA is trolling themselves.

 
The Labor Day weekend gate is huge for them so that needs to be the next to last weekend of the tournament. That's why the schedule is set that way.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Perhaps they changed it to Monday this year because of the brutal weather conditions the last couple of weeks, including today? It's been as hot and humid the last couple weeks in NYC as it has the entire summer, and these guys have to be completely worn down. I feel for the four men who have to go out there today in 90+ degree heat with near 100% humidity. Monday gives them the extra day.

I would have thought football, as well, but if they're going back to Sunday next year, this would be my best alternative thought.

 

[the1andonly3003]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/04/sports/tennis/after-decades-on-cbs-us-open-will-switch-channels-full-time.html?_r=0
 
Well, all of the US Open is going to ESPN next year

 

[Buffalo Head]

No one is going to watch this now anyway, regardless of when.

 

[richgedman'sghost]

No one is going to watch this now anyway, regardless of when.

It is a shame because it is a good matchup just not the one everyone expected.

 

[ChefDJW]

How can you not root for Milan Lucic to win it all?

 

[MuzzyField]

And the tennis world begins the countdown to the Australian Open. The U.S. Open is closed... Hello NFL Football!!