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NFL Kicks Off Wednesday: A Rare Opening Move
9 Sep
Summary
- NFL season opener moved to Wednesday, Sept. 9, for the second time ever.
- An Australian game influenced the rare weekday season kickoff.
- Wednesday openers have occurred only once before in 2012.
The National Football League is set to commence its 107th season on Wednesday, September 9th, marking a rare occasion as the league's opener has not fallen on a Wednesday since 2012. This deviation from the typical Thursday kickoff was necessitated by a scheduled game in Australia.
The need to accommodate the Rams and 49ers playing in Australia, which will be a Thursday night kickoff in the United States due to time differences, led the NFL to move the defending champions' opening game to Wednesday. This ensures the Super Bowl winner still officially hosts the season's first contest.
Historically, Wednesday openers are exceptionally uncommon. The league has only officially begun its season on a Wednesday once before, in 2012, to avoid conflict with political conventions. While other seasons have featured Wednesday games in Week 1, they were not the season's inaugural match.
Looking ahead, the NFL's commitment to playing games in Australia suggests that Wednesday openers might become more frequent. This approach aligns with the league's long-term investment in international markets. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 restricts Friday and Saturday games from mid-September through December, influencing scheduling choices.
