Who Schedules this Stuff?!

[stealth1]

I'm a federal worker. We still have to work.

I used to work private...they're still open.

I think it's mostly schools that recognize it, or provincial employees.

So schools and teachers are off...but retail, service, federal, etc are still working.

I work retail in Ontario and we are closed today

 

[Ted Hoffman]

Overall, I guess my point is, who schedules this shit and how do they still have a job?

I completely agree. We should fire the computer that puts this together and find a new computer to do it.

Not Siri, though. I asked Siri to create a 2024-25 schedule, but like in the NFL commercials she didn't answer.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I completely agree. We should fire the computer that puts this together and find a new computer to do it.

Not Siri, though. I asked Siri to create a 2024-25 schedule, but like in the NFL commercials she didn't answer.

Must be the same computer that writes Dom Lusczczysnsncyzyzyn's articles.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Not true. Federal government is still working. It's not a federal holiday. It's a provincial one. Only provincial government is closed. So, teachers for example. But most provincial stuff, like medical or provincial police, etc are obviously still working as they're essential.

It's only a small percentage of adults who get today off. It's mostly for the kids and schools.

Again - a fine line. Federal crowns follow provincial holiday guidelines (for the most part). So most federal crowns have the day off.

As far as adults that have the day off. I said a lot. You said a small percentage - it all depends on the provincial guidelines for the holiday. Out here on the prairies - family day is a holiday a lot take off - exceptions being retail. Point is it’s not a nothing holiday. Literally everyone on my bay has it off - so for those that didn’t head to Mexico or skiing we are having a shinny game on a neighbours backyard rink.

 

[Voight]

Not true. Federal government is still working. It's not a federal holiday. It's a provincial one. Only provincial government is closed. So, teachers for example. But most provincial stuff, like medical or provincial police, etc are obviously still working as they're essential.

It's only a small percentage of adults who get today off. It's mostly for the kids and schools.

Those services are working 24/7..... bad example.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Those services are working 24/7..... bad example.

I mean, he did say "As they're essential".

 

[jbeck5]

Private is not open, it's a stat holiday in most Provinces except for Quebec. Shocking that Feds have to work, TBH, but then again you do get more days than private.

But to answer to the original post, these day games today are fantastic for younger kids and families to go and see a game. Weekday games that get you home at 11:00 PM are not ideal, and the Saturday night games are a very tough ticket to find.

No. Private is a choice thing. Only the provincial government has it off.

Private companies is up to the individual company.

Things are still open. GoodLife is open. The move theatres are open. Restaurants are open. Fast food is open. Pharmacies are open. Certain grocery stores. It really depends on the company.

It depends on the places. It's dealers choice.

Only provincial workers are guaranteed to have it off (provided they aren't essential)

Those services are working 24/7..... bad example.

What? I said they're obviously still running as they're essential.

What's the issue?

I was clarifying that all provincial workers have off, by then realized many provincial workers are essential and still might be working.

So it was a clarifier that not "ALL" provincial workers have today off.

It's a very accurate clarifier and statement.

 

[ijuka]

The schedules are terrible, indeed.

AI should be able to create an optimal schedule in relatively little time, but I imagine NHL isn't using that,

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Exxxxaccctllllyyy lol.

But for real, is "Family Day" even a recognized thing in Canada? Are government employees getting the day off and/or are kids off school?

Yes. Though possibly not everywhere (didn't look). All stores and such closed here.

 

[Brodeur]

NHL's done this for Columbus/MLK/President's Day at least for the last few years. Last year was fun for MLK, I flew up to San Jose to catch a Devils/Sharks matinee, met up with a college friend for dinner, then flew back home. There's something very satisfying about jumping on an airplane with no luggage.

As others pointed out, the NHL tends to be Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday while the NBA tends to be Wednesday-Friday-Sunday. Still a number of shared arenas that you'd have to schedule around. One thing I always check for my Yahoo fantasy league to see which NHL teams tend to have Friday/Sunday home game (ie Anaheim) which can help in terms of maximizing games played. Clippers/Lakers usually get (the former) Staples Center for Friday/Sunday, so visiting teams will usually get the Ducks those nights and play the Kings the night before/after.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I’m pretty sure a computer algorithm does

 

[TheNumber4]

Was wondering why the NHL kept stacking a boatload of games on the same day. Haven’t come up with a good theory why except to reduce streaming quality and increase buffering.

 

[CheerstoBeers]

Again - a fine line. Federal crowns follow provincial holiday guidelines (for the most part). So most federal crowns have the day off.

As far as adults that have the day off. I said a lot. You said a small percentage - it all depends on the provincial guidelines for the holiday. Out here on the prairies - family day is a holiday a lot take off - exceptions being retail. Point is it’s not a nothing holiday. Literally everyone on my bay has it off - so for those that didn’t head to Mexico or skiing we are having a shinny game on a neighbours backyard rink.

No retail open in my province, pretty quiet day with most folks having the day off. Kind of weird see Canada Post trucks rolling around delivering mail (federal)

 

[hockeykicker]

Remember, a lot of NHL teams share arenas with other teams

 

[Alicat]

Presidents Day in the US and in MA, February vacation is this week. A Monday matinee is an annual thing.

 

[wingsfan17]

This season has been brutal in general. Tons of days with 3 or less games, sometimes back to back.

On Friday you have no MLB, NFL, NCAAF, NBA (other than celebrity all star game) and you decide to schedule ONE game. And it's in a 5,000 person arena. Golden opportunity to attract some viewers and you blow it.

 

[Djp]

3 rd Monday of February in the states is a fed holiday. Most states observe it. If schools don’t have a holiday, it’s used as a winter break/ training days on teachers.

earlier games are designed around families attending the games and marketed as such.

nba had its all star game Sunday so no nba going on.

friday…historically hasn’t had many games. When I was a kid back in the 70s and early 80s. Friday home was more common. Then sat on the road. Occasionally we’d have Sunday afternoon games.

since 90s Friday night haven’t been as common. Think it’s conceding to Friday night high school sports.

in scheduling they likely want to give teams some schedule flexibility by not doing much on Friday night to move Saturday games to afternoon. Also to allow national tv to move games. Local games can move as well. Same between Sunday and holiday Monday.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

I do, apologies.

 

[Djp]

NHL's done this for Columbus/MLK/President's Day at least for the last few years. Last year was fun for MLK, I flew up to San Jose to catch a Devils/Sharks matinee, met up with a college friend for dinner, then flew back home. There's something very satisfying about jumping on an airplane with no luggage.

As others pointed out, the NHL tends to be Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday while the NBA tends to be Wednesday-Friday-Sunday. Still a number of shared arenas that you'd have to schedule around. One thing I always check for my Yahoo fantasy league to see which NHL teams tend to have Friday/Sunday home game (ie Anaheim) which can help in terms of maximizing games played. Clippers/Lakers usually get (the former) Staples Center for Friday/Sunday, so visiting teams will usually get the Ducks those nights and play the Kings the night before/after.

They also have concerts, college basketball, indoor lacrosse, indoor soccer events.

 

[Mattilaus]

Every kid has today off in both countries.

So did a lot of adults, it’s not a ridiculous schedule. In fact - if every kid is home today it’s good marketing.

Give that scheduler a raise!

Enjoy work today, I’ll crack a beer as I watch hockey with my family and cheers you.


Yes. It’s a little different in each province. But I think everyone outside of maybe QC has today off. Either as family day, Louis riel day, etc. no kids have school today across the country, no teachers, no government workers, etc.

Territories don't get today off either. Well NWT doesn't anyways.

 

[Pink Mist]

Begs the question, how many people are really getting President's Day/Family Day off to go to, or watch a game at home on a Monday afternoon? I somehow doubt there are more than would be going to or watching a game at home on a Friday night.

Most of Canada had the day off today for Family Day (or some variation of the holiday).

 

[Djp]

Is that the claim? Or does the NHL schedule around the NBA purposefully to reduce the overlap?

NBAs lightest days schedule wise throughout the year are Tue/Thu/Sat. Those are the heaviest days for the NHL. Probably not a coincidence.

They tend to schedule around each other and tv rights.

For nba
abc does Saturday night as and sunday afternoon games, MLK day are scheduled, TNT nights are tursday as nd thursday ESPN gets Wednesday as nd friday night

For nhl it flips where wednesday and late season sunday are TNT, saturday is abc, tursdsy, thurs is espn occasional days.

The arenas notify schedule of block out times like special events in an arena like -- circus, Disney on ice. Ncaa basketball playoffs. Those become b ln Ave out dates.

Sometimes they doub ln e book for saturday so local scheduling adjustments might be made to minimize switch flooring. When nhl team had the week off and nba was homr yhat week theyd probably do early nba and then hockey.

Scheduling is fonr by software and building schedule flexibility locally.

Knowing thus Saturday was afternoon hockey they limited Friday schedule to allow afternoon movement. Similarly with Sunday game movement or moving a Sunday night game to early afternoon on monday.

Teams with ngk teams they as do build some flexibility into this and bring sd bike to adjust a saturday evening famr to 12pm on Saturday as y if their football team is also home that day. Fir example detroit hockey arena is very close to the football stadium. If playoff game the same day, they could shift earlier on Saturday or shift to sunday afternoon.

 

[Djp]

I've noticed the last month or so that TNT hasn't been showing a late game on Wednesday, which I thought was kinda strange. Last season it was double headers pretty much the entire season.

They didn't the past few weeks due to light schedule off weeks where half teams off, all star, half teams off, valentine's day.

Since you are going into the vnn pkayoff push now you get more double headers.

It would be nice if they could do a fee more games or designate tue/wed or wed/ thu option games to possibly move them to tnt wed night.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10087748-nhl-on-tnt-2023-24-schedule-full-list-of-matchups-dates-times-revealed

 

[Djp]

Was wondering why the NHL kept stacking a boatload of games on the same day. Haven’t come up with a good theory why except to reduce streaming quality and increase buffering.

Holiday matineyrsterdsy you had Daytona 500 and NBA all star game. Th ok s are big events. Monday is a light day and kids holiday for 95% of kids. It makes it a day to bring young kids to the game. NBA does afternoon games for the same reason to bring the young kids to games

 

[Ted Hoffman]

The schedules are terrible, indeed.

AI should be able to create an optimal schedule in relatively little time, but I imagine NHL isn't using that,

I’m pretty sure a computer algorithm does

This article does a pretty decent job of explaining how it all comes together. I suspect little in the process has changed in the last 10 years.

Short: they already were using AI. It's called "a computer" and even AI can't get everything perfect on the first try. Or the 2nd. Or the 5th. Sometimes, human intervention is required. Sometimes, it's specifically requested by the teams.