You may have forgotten that the 2016 NFL Hall of Fame game was canceled. You’d certainly be forgiven if that’s the case, because generally it’s not really a newsworthy event. But the manner in which it had to be canceled was certainly entertaining, as the field was found unsafe for play.
It was a nice reminder that the NFL can offer up bumbling fiascoes with the best of them.
In response, the league has taken action, and will move the traditional Sunday night game to Thursday night, according to a Pro Football Talk report:
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced this morning that next year’s Hall of Fame Game will be played on Thursday, Aug. 3, two days before the Class of 2017 enshrinement ceremony on the same field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
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This year’s game had to be cancelled because of unplayable conditions, in part because of the short turnaround time between the Saturday night enshrinement and the Sunday game.
Crews were unable to get the field uncovered and painted with enough time for the paint to dry, and when clumps of paint and rubber pellets began to form, it became clear the Colts and Packers couldn’t play safely, so the game was canceled.
The merits of even having this preseason game, already held a week earlier than other opening week preseason games, are already tenuous. It forces participating teams to play five preseason games, which is about four too many as it is. But if the league is going to insist on continuing the tradition, we have just one small favor to ask, since the 2017 game will be on NBC:
Please, please, please let it be a special Thursday night edition of Sunday Night Football. Obviously that makes even less sense than this Saturday’s special edition of Thursday Night Football, but still. The whole game makes no sense. Imagine the full graphics package, the tongue-in-cheek commentary, Bob Costas practically winking at everyone.
It almost makes me sad to know that this likely won’t happen.
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