Packers fans react to schedule release, expanded flex scheduling
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Fans greeted the release of the 2023 Green Bay Packers schedule with excitement while also expressing concern over the expansion of National Football League flexible scheduling procedures.
"I'm just excited about the good number of primetime games," said Brian Lief of Milwaukee.
Reports from The Athletic and Sports Illustrated showed the schedule ahead of its programmed release Thursday night.
Fans expressed optimism for the season ahead, even with the start of a new era with Jordan Love as the expected starting quarterback.
"You got to give him a chance and let him prove himself," one fan said.
"I'm just excited to see what [Jordan Love] can do," Carlton, of Menomonee Falls, told CBS 58. "I think the team as a whole, minus the quarterback, is pretty experienced, so we should be in good shape."
The excitement extends to ticketing agencies like Ticket King who are gearing up for a busy stretch following the release of the schedule.
"This is one of our favorite days of the year, the NFL schedule drop," said John Lamoreaux, president of Ticket King in Milwaukee.
The business expects a general drop in prices for Packers regular season game tickets following the departure of Aaron Rodgers. But premiere home and away matchups against the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings among others are projected to still drive high demand.
Something new ticketing agencies have to consider this year is the addition of Monday Night Football to the NFL flexible scheduling procedure and discussions of expanding that into Thursday night games.
After a certain point in the season, the NFL is able to move games from earlier start times up to the Sunday night primetime slot to highlight premiere matchups. Now, the league will be able to move Sunday games to Monday night at its discretion between weeks 13 and 17.
Ticket King told CBS 58 fans in Wisconsin are used to shifting start times from noon or 3 p.m. to primetime on Sunday night but moving to different dates may be concerning.
"If they start flexing games to different days, that's problematic," Lamoreaux said. "I know the fans will be unhappy."
Fans who spoke with CBS 58 said as much.
"I just think it's a really bad idea," Dan Riedel, of Wauwatosa, said. "We make plans, you know, you make it a whole event to go up to Green Bay […], that's all going to make it really difficult and very un-fan-friendly."
"I'm not too happy with that," Brian Lief said. "I also understand where the NFL is coming from in terms of the money, and why they're doing it, but I think from a fan perspective it's going to make things a little difficult."