Jets to NFL: What about our Jewish fans?

[TexasTerror]

The Giants requested to play on the road during the High Holy Days. Apparently, the Jets or someone dropped the ball - though the NFL is taking the blame.


The New York Jets' first two home games are against two of the AFC's elite teams -- the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans. A large segment of the team's fans might not be able to attend the heavyweight matchups, however.

The Jets' home opener against the Patriots is scheduled during Rosh Hashanah. The next week, the Jets host the Titans hours before Yom Kippur starts. The conflict with the two holiest holidays on the Jewish calendar may keep the team's Jewish fans who observe the holidays from attending.

New York boasts the country's largest Jewish population.

On Wednesday, the Jets called the NFL to complain about the scheduling conflict, according to the New York Daily News.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4073075

[Retro]

Tough! So, christians go on christmas? The NFL is a private company and they can't bend over backwards for every little religion or holiday.. If your religion is that important to you, then you shouldn't be concerned about a GAME!xrolleyesx

[93henfan]

I think the pagans should bitch about the NFL playing on Halloween.

I'll have to agree with Retro here. If you pander to every religion, there won't be any days left to play any games. The NBA already plays on Christmas, so nothing is sacred anymore.

Have a problem with the scheduling? Sell your tickets on StubHub for twice face value and get to the synagogue. Problem solved.

[TexasTerror]

Tough! So, christians go on christmas? The NFL is a private company and they can't bend over backwards for every little religion or holiday.. If your religion is that important to you, then you shouldn't be concerned about a GAME!xrolleyesx

Figure the Jets and Giants are concerned they'll take a huge hit in attendance and revenue by playing on the High Holy Days. I'm sure they are very well aware of their fan bases and the impact playing on an important holiday would play. It's evident in the fact the Giants already requested not to play on these dates...it's not like these are "Hallmark Holidays" (no offense to anyone, as I believe Hannukah is one nowadays) - where cards are sent out and the true meaning of the holiday is ignored.

[andy7171]

They share the same stadium, one team HAS to play there week one and two.

They play on Christmas and MLB plays on Easter, what gives?

[TexasTerror]

They share the same stadium, one team HAS to play there week one and two.

There are 17 weeks to the calendar I'm guessing the Jets are concerned that they rub up against BOTH both dates instead of one, if they shifted the schedule accordingly. There was no way for both teams to avoid it (though the Giants did).

[andy7171]

There are 17 weeks to the calendar I'm guessing the Jets are concerned that they rub up against BOTH both dates instead of one, if they shifted the schedule accordingly. There was no way for both teams to avoid it (though the Giants did).

Fair enough. But you have to figure, there are people, be it different religion or non practicing Jewish, that will buy the tickets of those who are observing the High Holy days.

BTW, what exactly are the High Holy Days and why would they stop a Jewish NFL fan from going??

[bluehenbillk]

They play on Christmas and MLB plays on Easter, what gives?

I agree and have no pity for the Jewish NFL fans of New York. That's what StubHub was invented for right?

[TexasTerror]

Fair enough. But you have to figure, there are people, be it different religion or non practicing Jewish, that will buy the tickets of those who are observing the High Holy days.

Again - I guess none of us know how much of the typical attendees are Jewish. And the only thing we do know is that the Giants said they do not want games on these dates, so apparently it's enough of an impact to get a team to request a schedule change.


BTW, what exactly are the High Holy Days and why would they stop a Jewish NFL fan from going??

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur - the holiest days on the calendar. I'm not knowledgeable on religions, so I can not tell you what day compares. I'd guess Easter, but then again, that holiday is largely marked by an Easter bunny and egg hunts. Can't say the same for neither of the Jewish High Holy Days.

There's many school districts that cancel classes and make them "teacher development days" - especially in areas with decent Jewish populations - as they lose way too many teachers, who are in synagogue and there's not enough substitutes to make up for them.

[Gil Dobie]

Again - I guess none of us know how much of the typical attendees are Jewish. And the only thing we do know is that the Giants said they do not want games on these dates, so apparently it's enough of an impact to get a team to request a schedule change.

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur - the holiest days on the calendar. I'm not knowledgeable on religions, so I can not tell you what day compares. I'd guess Easter, but then again, that holiday is largely marked by an Easter bunny and egg hunts. Can't say the same for neither of the Jewish High Holy Days.

There's many school districts that cancel classes and make them "teacher development days" - especially in areas with decent Jewish populations - as they lose way too many teachers, who are in synagogue and there's not enough substitutes to make up for them.

Minnesota High School football plays on Wednesday that week.

[appmaj]

I am a member of the Keepmyjob Church...my religion prevents me from leaving New Mexico for the most of this season. I think the NFL should force the Panthers to play their home games here at the local high school....xwhistlex

[OL FU]

Figure the Jets and Giants are concerned they'll take a huge hit in attendance and revenue by playing on the High Holy Days. I'm sure they are very well aware of their fan bases and the impact playing on an important holiday would play. .

That's the key. Understand your customerxnodx What is an issue in New York may not be one in Dallas. They should have thought aheadxnodxxnodxxnodx

[danefan]

Minnesota High School football plays on Wednesday that week.

So does NY and NJ.

UAlbany is closed as well (we have a home game that weekend and attendance will suffer)

[Retro]

That's the key. Understand your customerxnodx What is an issue in New York may not be one in Dallas. They should have thought aheadxnodxxnodxxnodx

The problem is once you start catering to one team in the NFL, it affects every other team and their own schedule and then may put them in a bigger bind.xrulesx

[TexasTerror]

Issue resolved. Smart move. They worked with the most flexible date and as it says, neither the Giants or Jets "should have to bear completely the brunt of this issue" (as in one team dealing with both High Holy Days).


“By changing the time of the Tennessee game from 4:15 p.m. to 1 p.m., the NFL has provided the best compromise to resolve our scheduling conflict,” Johnson said in a statement issued by the team. The Jets owner also thanked Goodell and Howard Katz, the league’s senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations, for their prompt response.

Jets officials called the league offices first on Wednesday to express their concern, and Johnson followed with a formal letter Thursday.

In the letter to Goodell, Johnson wrote: “There has long been an understanding that neither the Jets nor the Giants fans should have to bear completely the brunt of this issue since we are in the largest Jewish market in the country.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6379266.html

[jstate83]

The Giants requested to play on the road during the High Holy Days. Apparently, the Jets or someone dropped the ball - though the NFL is taking the blame.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4073075

If sport's in this country can be played on Christmas and Easter without anyone protesting or blinking an eye, then it can be played during this time also.
End of story.xsmhx

[bluehenbillk]

It's about catering to vocal minorities. Just like it's taken up to Obama's recent actions to change policies with Cuba...

[jstate83]

It's about catering to vocal minorities. Just like it's taken up to Obama's recent actions to change policies with Cuba...

This is sport's.
Can we leave OBAMA out of just this one discussion.xlolx

[Husky Alum]

I'm Jewish so hear me out on this.

1. Jewish holidays begin the night before, at sundown, and these two holidays typically begin with a family dinner late in the afternoon before going to temple that evening (which starts at sundown).

2. Most Jews, even the lesser observant ones spend a significant amount of time at temple for these holidays. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and I know I'm in temple the first night, and then most of the day for the two days of the holiday.

I'm not professing to be an expert on catholicism, but from what I remember, most of my Catholic friends wound up at a local bar the afternoon/evening of Christmas and Easter so they could be with friends they haven't seen in a while - just a difference in tradition for the holidays.

3. Yom Kippur is a day of fast, which starts with a dinner the night before the holiday, then a pretty moving/emotional service the night before (it's called Kol Nidre) that starts at sundown. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year (as many know) and it's inspired many athletes who are not that observant to not play that day.

4. The Kraft and Tisch families are Jewish, and are very philanthropic, so it's no surprise that they asked the NFL to be on the road for the holiday. Woody Johnson's a WASP, and it doesn't surprise me he didn't ask.

5. When I was in High School, we played on Weds or Thurs if the holidays were on a weekend. In fact, there were two Catholic schools (St. Joseph's and Notre Dame) that didn't play on the Jewish Holidays because 2/3 of the offensive lines from both schools were Jewish.

6. No one's saying not to play the games, they're just asking to move the start times so the fans can get home by sundown. I don't think it's that much of an inconvenience.

7. In Boston, one year the Red Sox were supposed to open their season on Good Friday AND Passover. The Catholic Church pressured the Red Sox not to serve beer that day. So, again, it's a "KYC" issue.

Northeastern has played games on the Jewish holidays in the past, including Yom Kippur, purely out of convenience - I've been against it, but what can you do, you really can't fight gravity.

[TexasTerror]

jstate83 - if you read what I posted above...

The issue is that the Jets were getting hit hard by BOTH High Holy Days - which is what the NFL did not want - a team in a major Jewish area feeling the burden of both. I am sure if the Giants and Jets both had their own stadiums, neither would be at home on either weekend.

[andy7171]

I'm Jewish so hear me out on this.

1. Jewish holidays begin the night before, at sundown, and these two holidays typically begin with a family dinner late in the afternoon before going to temple that evening (which starts at sundown).

2. Most Jews, even the lesser observant ones spend a significant amount of time at temple for these holidays. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and I know I'm in temple the first night, and then most of the day for the two days of the holiday.

I'm not professing to be an expert on catholicism, but from what I remember, most of my Catholic friends wound up at a local bar the afternoon/evening of Christmas and Easter so they could be with friends they haven't seen in a while - just a difference in tradition for the holidays.

3. Yom Kippur is a day of fast, which starts with a dinner the night before the holiday, then a pretty moving/emotional service the night before (it's called Kol Nidre) that starts at sundown. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year (as many know) and it's inspired many athletes who are not that observant to not play that day.

4. The Kraft and Tisch families are Jewish, and are very philanthropic, so it's no surprise that they asked the NFL to be on the road for the holiday. Woody Johnson's a WASP, and it doesn't surprise me he didn't ask.

5. When I was in High School, we played on Weds or Thurs if the holidays were on a weekend. In fact, there were two Catholic schools (St. Joseph's and Notre Dame) that didn't play on the Jewish Holidays because 2/3 of the offensive lines from both schools were Jewish.

6. No one's saying not to play the games, they're just asking to move the start times so the fans can get home by sundown. I don't think it's that much of an inconvenience.

7. In Boston, one year the Red Sox were supposed to open their season on Good Friday AND Passover. The Catholic Church pressured the Red Sox not to serve beer that day. So, again, it's a "KYC" issue.

Northeastern has played games on the Jewish holidays in the past, including Yom Kippur, purely out of convenience - I've been against it, but what can you do, you really can't fight gravity.

Hold up! We can't drink on Good Friday!?! xoopsxxoopsxxoopsxxoopsx

[andy7171]

And who opens the season on a Friday?

[TexasTerror]

And who opens the season on a Friday?

May have been a home opener on a Friday for the BoSox.

[brownbear]

Harvard originally scheduled the Brown-Harvard game for the friday night of kol nidre, but after their fans complained (about 30% of Harvard students, and probably a good amount of alumni and season ticket holders as well, are Jewish), so they moved the game to Saturday night, after Yom Kippur ended.

For the Jets situation, the game on the sunday (kol nidre that night) was moved from 4:30 to 1. I don't see any problem with that. The game the previous weekend is on the second day of rosh hashanah anyways, so even if they wouldn't move it to Sunday night (which they aren't), it affects a much smaller population.

[TexasTerror]

Jimmy Kimmel on NY Jets/High Holy Days snafu...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvY98WQ5n9g