Hey, I was wondering, how in the world is the NFL season schedule determined? It’s something that I’ve always had an interest in, and thought I would learn more about it!
Well, as it turns out, each year the NFL generates its own scheduling formula that accounts for several different factors. This includes geographic need, fairness of divisional competition, and travel distance. Of course, television needs are also taken into account in order to maximize viewership.
The process begins months before the season starts. NFL teams provide the league with a list of possible opponents that they could face the following season. The NFL looks at each team’s list and then generates a preliminary schedule.
At this point, the League office visits all stadiums in order to double-check facility requirements in relation to television viewership. Areas of concern on this visit include making sure that adequate seating, luxury suites, lighting, and other amenities are up to par.
Once the stadium visits are finished, the NFL must go back to the drawing board and determine whether changes need to be made. This process could take anywhere from several weeks to several months.
The NFL must then finalize the regional scheduling. This involves grouping teams that are geographically close together into one subset of games. This helps to reduce travel costs and keeps the fan experience more localized.
One of the most important aspects of the scheduling process is the determination of matchups. The NFL strives to create matchups with built-in interest in order to draw more viewers and promote future events. Teams can request games against divisional opponents or other teams that may be of interest.
Finally, the NFL must also assign each team its schedule for the preseason. Through a process of trial and error, the League tries to give each team a mix of opponents with a variety of records so as to achieve as much parity as possible.
Now that I understand how the NFL season schedule is determined, I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season! It’s so fascinating to think of all the intricate pieces that go into formulating the schedule.