The Daytona 500 would coincide with the Super Bowl on President’s Day in February.
Roger Goodell’s tactics have led to a surge in NFL viewership this season. (IMAGE: AP)
Roger Goodell surprised players and fans by suggesting the possibility of an 18-game NFL season.
This is unexpected considering that it has only been 3 years 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 the President’s Day weekend.
Fans would naturally take a day off from work the following day, which would benefit both the viewers and the NFL. However, if the NFL is serious about adding another game to the season, it would have disastrous consequences for NASCAR and the Daytona 500, as pointed out by BeyondTheFlag.
Football is the most-watched sport in America. There is a reason why other leagues avoid scheduling their games during the NFL season or on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays during the football season. Fans would choose to watch football, resulting in lower viewership for other sports. The Daytona 500 has traditionally taken place on the President’s Day weekend throughout its 66-year history.
NASCAR will need to make significant changes if the NFL proceeds with this proposed alteration. The 36-race schedule begins with the Great American Race on the President’s Day weekend.
An alternative option would be to adjust the race timings, but it would not be a foolproof solution as fans are more likely to prioritize watching the Super Bowl. Additionally, the race is expected to have high attendance.
Furthermore, NASCAR will encounter another issue in terms of broadcasting the race, specifically the primary 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 because it lags behind the NFL in terms of popularity and finances. If the league decides to proceed with an 18-game season, there is little that 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 one to back down, particularly when he is determined to achieve his goals.