Earlier this year, NFL owners shook things up by slashing the notice time for flexing Thursday night games on Amazon’s Prime Video to just 21 days.
So, how does that sit with the league’s promise to its loyal fans?
Let’s just say Roger Goodell’s response didn’t exactly calm any nerves.
Pressed by CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Squawk on the Street Wednesday, the commissioner was put on the spot by a longtime Eagles season ticket holder who wanted to know: how can fans plan when the league can shift a game on three weeks’ notice? Cramer called the policy “open air” and questioned whether the NFL truly values its most loyal customers.
It’s one of the few times Goodell has taken live heat over this issue, and while his response didn’t exactly land with force, he’s now on the record.
“That’s one of the things we really focus on,” Goodell replied. “We average two games a year that we flex. It’s very infrequent that we do it. That is the No. 1 concern: What is the impact on our fans? Last year was the first time we flexed a Thursday game. It worked very well. We had very little fan reaction. We monitor that very closely. But it also helps us work to make sure the best game is on for a broader fan base around the country, and around the world now. But that is a singular focus for us. We don’t take it lightly when we move a game. But it doesn’t happen very frequently.”
Flex scheduling clearly gives the league the power to put its best foot forward nationally, and the results speak for themselves. When the NFL flexed the Broncos-Chargers into the Week 16 Thursday night spot, it paid off handsomely. The Chargers erased an 11-point deficit, scoring 15 fourth-quarter points to beat Denver 34-27 in a heated divisional matchup.
Meanwhile, the Bengals handled the Browns 24-6—a snooze fest no one wanted on prime time. Hardly the kind of game you want Al Michaels calling with Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center.
But it’s also a balancing act.
That 21-day flex window might check the boxes for TV partners and streaming giants, but for fans who drop serious cash months in advance, it’s a constant game of “wait and see.” At the same time, the NFL has an entire national — and now global — audience to serve. Their priority is to put the best matchups on the biggest stage, wherever those fans are watching.
Flexibility is fine, just don’t expect season ticket holders to enjoy being left hanging.