Are there any markets in MLS that could pull off a midnight match? I always loved the idea of how NCAA basketball used Midnight Madness as a marketing tool. MLS needs to showcase it's young partying face a little more. The supporter groups would give midnight madness a very distinct look that could be a great marketing tool. I'd personally love to see DC United inaugurate it's eventual new stadium with a midnight game. That would set the stage for an anniversary midnight game for each following season. There's nothing like tailgating deep into the night, climaxed by a game from 12 to 2. Of course I'm not sure how that works with the alcohol license (last call is 2:30 AM in DC), or with the city police/fire marshall in general.
I'm not sure that the additional crowds it would draw for partying would match (let alone outweigh) the losses in family types who don't want their kids up late. Any adults who wouldn't stay up late on their own should just move to Arizona and get on with the end of their lives.
But for all the marketing aimed at kids like "Youth Soccer Night" and "Free soccer ball for first 1000 kids" etc..., would it kill them to add a "supporter night"? I'm not saying any MLS team needs to pull a 180 on its marketing target, but a little inclusion under the tent would be nice. And believe me ... having a midnight sporting event in the city will raise eyebrows with the general public.
Dosent Midnight madness only feature teams from out west like Gonzaga home games where its only 9 pm?
I would love to see a midnight match at BMO. Night games at BMO are going to be incredible with the skyline in the background (my first is this wed, but the sun is going down too late). Sadly, I doubt the TFC will do it anytime soon, we need to solidify ourselves before trying crazy gimicks like that (though I doubt we would lose many of our supporters for a midnight game, good public transit for late night Toronto, and most fans would not miss a game not matter the time).
Midnight Madness generally refers to the start of the allowed practice period when teams have a practice/scrimmage at midnight on the first legal day. Lots of schools make those into big events to kick off the season but they aren't real games. There are Mountain/West Coast games on TV at midnight Eastern time but I don't think those are referred to as Midnight Madness.
In addition to the official midnight madness practice sessions, I think some schools have the pajama party games that start late. The students sections come to the game all decked out in pajamas. I think Cincinnati may be one of these schools ... I really can't remember, it's been a few years since I've followed NCAA closely.
bmo should have a midnight madness game, then have an after party at guvernment night club, since its down the street.
toronto fans deserve nothing... theyve had a team for only a few weeks and they have their own stadium.. we DC fans have been going out to the swamp for 10 years and what do we get?
Late games, sure, usually driven by TV but "Midnight Madness" events are scrimmages. I don't think anyone has games starting at midnight local time. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.
I'm pretty sure this is the only thing midnight madness refers to. Hence my confusion about what this thread could be about since there are no restrictions on when MLS teams can practice. I've never heard of a real college basketball game starting at midnight local time. The only sporting event I've ever heard of starting at midnight is a summer solstice baseball game played in Fairbanks, Alaska (with no lights) played by the local semi-pro baseball team in the Alaskan league.
i'd settle for a little madness at the regulary scheduled time. you know, a full house. noisy fans. they won't come out at 7 p.m. but yeah ... i could see midnight working. of course, if ESPN says we'll put the game on TV if you play it live at midnight, you can bet your ass that MLS would do it. they'd even dress the players up in chicken costumes if ESPN said they'd show the highlights on sportscenter.
LOL Anyways. This will never happen. Who are you kidding? The Leafs or Yankees could sell out a game 3am if they felt like it. But why would anyone want to. As has been said, it sounds like 'Midnight Madness' is just an intra-squad game.
Weirdly enough, I remember Barcelona playing a game that kicked off at 1 am once. Something to do with them wantong to maximise the rest time between the league game and a Champions' League match. Seriously though, unless a club had a reason like that to do it, what would be the attraction of a midnight kick off in any league?
Seeing as most municipalities throw a shit fit if an outdoor event goes past 11:30-midnight, I find it HIGHLY unlikely that any town is gonna say "ya know what, yeah...let's toss 10-20K people into a stadium and let em yell til 2:30 am...and then drive home drunk" As much as I'd love to get hammered at midnight watching a match, I can't see it happening with any regularity. Maybe a one-off type event but that's about it.