Does anyone know how they determine the start time of these games? Why is the game in Pittsburgh a 940pm (local time) while the game in Salt Lake was an AM start locally?

(03-23-2024 07:58 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  Does anyone know how they determine the start time of these games? Why is the game in Pittsburgh a 940pm (local time) while the game in Salt Lake was an AM start locally?

I honestly couldn't tell you. I'm as perplexed as you are.

I know that they target specific windows, then stagger each start time so that there's not an overlap on game endings. Local time doesn't matter at all, it's just luck of the draw.

Idk. I haven't cared enough to figure it all out since they went to these faux regions years ago.

Idk, but as someone making a 2 hour drive home after the 2nd Pittsburgh game, not a fan of it, but so far, great basketball.

(03-23-2024 07:58 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  Does anyone know how they determine the start time of these games? Why is the game in Pittsburgh a 940pm (local time) while the game in Salt Lake was an AM start locally?

CBS decides what games they want first. If it's at a site where games are on during breakfast time...there's nothing they can do about it. Like FOX playing Big Noon Saturday at 10am in Colorado last year, the networks have everyone wrapped around their thumbs.

(03-23-2024 08:47 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  Idk, but as someone making a 2 hour drive home after the 2nd Pittsburgh game, not a fan of it, but so far, great basketball.

They have hotels in Pittsburgh.

(03-23-2024 09:36 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 08:47 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  Idk, but as someone making a 2 hour drive home after the 2nd Pittsburgh game, not a fan of it, but so far, great basketball.

They have hotels in Pittsburgh.

Lots of $$$$$, unless GoBuckeyes1047 wants to stay at a Red Roof Inn.

(03-23-2024 10:00 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 09:36 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 08:47 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  Idk, but as someone making a 2 hour drive home after the 2nd Pittsburgh game, not a fan of it, but so far, great basketball.

They have hotels in Pittsburgh.

Lots of $$$$$, unless GoBuckeyes1047 wants to stay at a Red Roof Inn.

I'm assuming they're all booked up too. It's like 98% interstate driving back so plenty of places to stop and rest if needed. Also spent the last couple nights staying up late to try to shift my sleep schedule some as well.

(03-23-2024 07:58 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  Does anyone know how they determine the start time of these games? Why is the game in Pittsburgh a 940pm (local time) while the game in Salt Lake was an AM start locally?

Pretty sure it had something to do with Oregon beating South Carolina. These games were scheduled for a 1:00/3:30 start when I checked on Thursday. Went to buy tickets on Friday until I saw the start time was bumped to 7:00 and 9:40.

(03-23-2024 10:33 PM)Jeff Smithers Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 07:58 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  Does anyone know how they determine the start time of these games? Why is the game in Pittsburgh a 940pm (local time) while the game in Salt Lake was an AM start locally?

Pretty sure it had something to do with Oregon beating South Carolina. These games were scheduled for a 1:00/3:30 start when I checked on Thursday. Went to buy tickets on Friday until I saw the start time was bumped to 7:00 and 9:40.

The game times aren't decided until after all the games are complete (or the last game is near-complete). They always come out around midnight.

Whichever site had a 7/9:40 start on Thursday for Saturday's games had incorrect information, as that information wasn't decided yet. The networks decide it - and they need to see the conclusion of the 1st round games before finalizing their picks.

(03-23-2024 10:38 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 10:33 PM)Jeff Smithers Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 07:58 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  Does anyone know how they determine the start time of these games? Why is the game in Pittsburgh a 940pm (local time) while the game in Salt Lake was an AM start locally?

Pretty sure it had something to do with Oregon beating South Carolina. These games were scheduled for a 1:00/3:30 start when I checked on Thursday. Went to buy tickets on Friday until I saw the start time was bumped to 7:00 and 9:40.

The game times aren't decided until after all the games are complete (or the last game is near-complete). They always come out around midnight.

Whichever site had a 7/9:40 start on Thursday for Saturday's games had incorrect information, as that information wasn't decided yet. The networks decide it - and they need to see the conclusion of the 1st round games before finalizing their picks.

The site was Ticketmaster and they didn't have a 7/9:40 start time on Thursday. The start times were around 1/3:30 when I checked on Thursday. Figured I could probably get cheaper tickets if I waited until Friday after four of the teams lost and people were trying to unload their tickets. When I checked Friday afternoon, the start times were listed as 7/9:40.

(03-23-2024 10:51 PM)Jeff Smithers Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 10:38 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 10:33 PM)Jeff Smithers Wrote:  

(03-23-2024 07:58 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  Does anyone know how they determine the start time of these games? Why is the game in Pittsburgh a 940pm (local time) while the game in Salt Lake was an AM start locally?

Pretty sure it had something to do with Oregon beating South Carolina. These games were scheduled for a 1:00/3:30 start when I checked on Thursday. Went to buy tickets on Friday until I saw the start time was bumped to 7:00 and 9:40.

The game times aren't decided until after all the games are complete (or the last game is near-complete). They always come out around midnight.

Whichever site had a 7/9:40 start on Thursday for Saturday's games had incorrect information, as that information wasn't decided yet. The networks decide it - and they need to see the conclusion of the 1st round games before finalizing their picks.

The site was Ticketmaster and they didn't have a 7/9:40 start time on Thursday. The start times were around 1/3:30 when I checked on Thursday. Figured I could probably get cheaper tickets if I waited until Friday after four of the teams lost and people were trying to unload their tickets. When I checked Friday afternoon, the start times were listed as 7/9:40.

Yeah, I meant the 1/3:30 was incorrect information. My brainfart.

For future years, all 2nd round gametimes are decided when all the corresponding 1st round games (Thursday for Saturday, Friday for Sunday) are complete or near-complete. If TicketMaster or whoever is listing gametimes for Saturday on Thursday afternoon or evening, don't trust it. The networks haven't even made their picks yet.

What does a 7/9:40 start mean? I'm not familiar with those listings. When does that game tip off?

Networks might be considering who is the likely audience for a particular game. If a game is in Pittsburgh, but the featured (higher seeded) team is from the west coast, the network may want to put that game in the latest window. The TV audience is more important to them than the audience at the gate.