What do you think of the 5:35 Saturday start times?

by Dex on Sep 15, 2009 2:40 PM PDT

Just reading about the Padres 2010 schedule and I saw this comment:

POed_padre_fan wrote:

saturday games at 5:35, that doesnt create more options, it just means now if i want to eat/drink anything i have to get it at the ball park and pay for crappy overpriced food/beer

I also saw that SDPads_1 doesn't like the change.

Meanwhile, I've gotta say that I love the idea of a 5:35 start time. As someone with a family that includes a young child, a 5:35 PM start time means that I actually have an outside chance of watching a whole game at the ballpark without ruining a bedtime for the kid.

Also, in terms of free parking, it's much much easier to find free parking downtown at 5:00PM than it is at 6:30PM.

Also, also, as a temporary East Coaster, being able to watch home games without staying up past midnight must seem like a godsend.

And finally, if I were in the mood to do something after the game, there's a good amount of evening left over including a late dinner if one were so inclined.

But that's just me. It seems like there are people who really dislike it and I'm curious as to what makes it unattractive. Honestly, Tom Garfinkel wants I want to know.

Poll

5:35 PM Saturday start times?

Hate them. Way to cater to the elderly and the very very very young.

37 votes

Love them. I'm elderly and I like hanging out with babies.

80 votes

117 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I went to the game last saturday

And I was in my seat at 5:35. On the first base side, sec 119 and under the overhang. (I’ve also sat first base side before and I’m usually in my seat just after gates open at 5) The sun completely blinds you. You cannot see the field (except the outfield) In the summer time, the sun goes down low enough to stop blinding just before a 7:05 game time. The other night it went down about 6:15ish…
So basically if you sit first base side not only will you be missing most of the game while getting blinded (and sunburned), you could get hit with a ball! I was wondering if they knew how bad the sun is at that time. The sun was my first concern when I heard the new game time. Me and my friends and family already decided we probably wouldn’t go to saturday games then. The sun being in fans eyes is probably not a good selling point.

"Real baseball should be played in the daytime, in the sunshine." - Lou Gehrig

by C8LIN B on Sep 15, 2009 2:53 PM PDT reply actions

The sun is my only concern

but I can’t knock it until I’ve seen it play out yet.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Sep 15, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions

all i know is

i’ve been in those seats at 5:35 many times and you can’t see a single thing. Me and my friend actually sat with our sweaters over our heads until the sun went down. sunglasses do nothing. I decided that they can build a huge retractible sunshade to stick up over there and block it out.

"Real baseball should be played in the daytime, in the sunshine." - Lou Gehrig

by C8LIN B on Sep 15, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Merch opportunity!

Friar Burqas!

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Sep 15, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

a great idea lol

except the sun is in your eyes too so you still can’t see the game.

I think that maybe the solution is to lower sun screens over the first base side seats and project the game onto them, then just pull them back up when the sun goes down.

"Real baseball should be played in the daytime, in the sunshine." - Lou Gehrig

by C8LIN B on Sep 15, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Basically like you said Dex

Unless you are old or have kids you probably won’t be a fan of that early of a start time. I am neither old nor do I have kids therefore I’m not a fan. I’m also not a fan of Garfinkel but that’s another story all together.

.400 in '94

by SDPads_1 on Sep 15, 2009 3:07 PM PDT reply actions

Like it

Though being in 135, I’ll have to battle the sun for a hour, as will the right fielder. I especially like the new afternoon weekday start times of 3:05. More chances to play hokey from work.

by Section 135 on Sep 15, 2009 4:14 PM PDT reply actions

I like the giant shade idea

or have a special baseball time zone around the park When you get there, you turn your watch back an hour and a half. When you leave, you turn it forward. That way, everyone would be happy.

"Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted."

Groucho Marx

by planetjeffy on Sep 15, 2009 4:51 PM PDT reply actions

Im old and I don't the 5:35 start time

First off, I love going to dinner before a night game, and 4:00 is a might early for dinner for me and I am not going out for dinner at 8:30 or 9 pm after having a dog and a soda or two at the game.

2nd, if you sit in the outfield or in the field or upper deck seats out past 1B you are not going to be able to see the game. Sit in Petco Porch? You wont see the ball before it hits you. If you have ever been to a game that was changed to 5:05 to accommodate Fox you know they suck for the fan at that game.

I think this one will be changed pretty fast.

Do you know what we get to do today? We get to talk baseball!

www.websoulsurfer.com

by websoulsurfer on Sep 15, 2009 6:41 PM PDT reply actions

Oh great

Websoul is against the time change?? I would like to withdraw my previous opinion and would like to state that I think the time change is a BRILLIANT idea!

.400 in '94

by SDPads_1 on Sep 15, 2009 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Old and in the way

To heck with all you whippersnappers, we are old and in charge. This is great. We can make the early bird at Hometown, catch the game and still get home in time for Matlock. Gas up the Buick mother; we are going to see the Padres.

by field39 on Sep 15, 2009 7:53 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs