Explainer: Why Georgia soccer never ever plays any night time games | Georgia Athletics

Ga soccer games are a ought to-look at for approximately any Georgia college student, alum or fan. 

Some of the most prized recollections from these games are from when they took area at night, these kinds of as Georgia’s victory around Notre Dame in 2019 to the most recent night activity — a blowout from South Carolina in 2021.The brilliant red lights that fill the stadium, coupled with the excitement that fills Athens, change night time video games into a kind of spectacle.

Thankfully for Ga lovers, the team’s very first sport of the time versus UT Martin on Sept. 2 is a night video game. However, there are several issues arising around this choice. Why had been there no night game titles in 2022? Why is Georgia’s likely only night activity from a non-conference group or massive-time opponent? Is an individual at Ga fearful of the darkish and that is why there are no evening games?

Although all fantastic concerns, the lack of night time game titles is a great deal extra easy than a fear of the darkish. It’s all due to scheduling about tv specials.

The SEC is currently section of a deal with CBS. It’s a portion of a broadcast recognised as “College Football on CBS Athletics.” The SEC and CBS have been partnered due to the fact 1996, giving CBS distinctive rights to pick out which online games the community prioritizes.

With Georgia becoming 1 of the finest teams in school football — having received two nationwide titles in again-to-back seasons — CBS has these days prioritized Georgia’s online games in its primetime slot. The difficulty? CBS’s primetime place is at 3:30 p.m., which is why several of Georgia’s best online games had been scheduled at that time.

From Georgia’s home online games towards the rated Arkansas and Kentucky in 2021, to its matches towards Auburn and No. 1 Tennessee in 2022, all four of these games have been scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Even this period, the Bulldogs’ match from South Carolina — a extremely anticipated matchup — is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. to be televised on CBS Sports activities.

The fantastic news for all people hoping for much more Bulldogs online games at night is that 2023 is the remaining year that CBS has the legal rights to air SEC games, with the legal rights transferring above to ESPN — who owns the SEC Network — in 2024. This deal will operate right until 2034. CBS signed a lucrative deal with the Major 10 to air their game titles instead.

ESPN’s primetime slot is usually reserved for afterwards in the day, ordinarily about 7 or 8 p.m. dependent on the spot of the video game. Possibly way, with ESPN major the cost for SEC games, Ga fans can finally satisfy their dream of observing extra massive-time matchups when the sun is down and Sanford’s lights are vibrant.