1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: Hig and everybody. I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: the Bengals Booth Podcast. Duh, I know there's an answer addition, 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 1: as NFL Executive Vice President Hans Schroeder joins me to 4 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: discuss a wide variety of topics, including why the Bengals 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: are playing a night game in Baltimore for the fourth 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: year in a row, and the possibility of the NFL 7 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: Draft coming to Cincinnati. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought 8 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: to you by pay Corps, proud to be the Bengals 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: official HR software provider, by Ulta Fiber, future proof fiber 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: Internet designed to elevate your home, business, and community to 11 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: a new level, and by Kettering Health the best care 12 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: provider of the Bengals. Now here's a quick reminder that 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered 15 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing wherever 16 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since a 17 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: pull through parking spot. For me, one of the simple 18 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: joys in life is when you're looking for a spot 19 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: in a busy lot and you not only find one, 20 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: but have the opportunity to drive through that spot right 21 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: into another open one that allows you to exit in 22 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: the same direction that you entered. For what it's worth, 23 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: the American Automobile Association or Triple A, advises pull through 24 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: parking whenever possible, since it allows for a safer view 25 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: when exiting. As far as I'm concerned, it could have 26 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: been the subject of a Seinfeld episode. Can't you picture 27 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: George saying, you gotta love a pull through? Jerry, everybody 28 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: loves a pull through. Now let's get to football. This 29 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: is a short but timely episode of the podcast Following 30 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: Wednesday's schedule release. I was among many Bengals fans who 31 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: questioned the fairness of Cincinnati having a play a night 32 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: game in Baltimore for the fourth year in a row 33 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: and the third straight time on a Thursday. So I 34 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: discussed it the next day with one of the NFL 35 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: executives involved in putting together the schedule. The league's executive 36 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:20,119 Speaker 1: vice president of Media Distribution, Hans Schroeder, ods, I appreciate 37 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 1: you joining me on the Bengals Booth podcast. You have 38 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: Cincinnati ties, correct, I. 39 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: Do, Dan. 40 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 3: I am a proud Cincinnati and I grew up most 41 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 3: of my life there. My dad was born in Cincinnati 42 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 3: in thirty six and lived most of his years in Cincinnati. 43 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 3: Went to Withrow and he played football at University of Cincinnati, 44 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 3: and I went to high school in Cincinnati, played football 45 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 3: at Sinsid Country Day, and then played football Princeton University 46 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 3: after that. So a lot of ties back to the 47 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 3: Queen City. 48 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: Did you attend a lot of Bengals games as a kid, 49 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: and if so, do you have a favorite memory. 50 00:02:56,120 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 3: We did attend a few, you know, there was one 51 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: game in particular, it was right around the Christmas time, 52 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 3: I think against the Vikings that stood out. I just 53 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 3: I don't know why that was so memorable. The other 54 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 3: one that was very memorable in a different way was 55 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 3: I think would have been the eighty seven strike season. 56 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 3: We were at the game the week before the strike, 57 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: I think, where they were ahead against the Niners. At 58 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 3: the end of the game. We were with friends. We 59 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 3: left early thinking the victory was in the books, and 60 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 3: then we got to the car and heard what had 61 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 3: happened at the tail end in that last minute touchdown 62 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 3: I think till Jerry Rice at. 63 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: The end of that game. So the different highs and lows. 64 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 3: I think we won that Vikings game, and that was 65 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: another game that that broke the other way. 66 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: So I think the Vikings game you're talking about they 67 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: won on a field goal at the gun by Doug Pelfrey, 68 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: and the forty nine Ers game they won that they lost. 69 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,040 Speaker 1: Sam White famously went for it on fourth down the 70 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: Bengals in their own territory, thinking they could like run 71 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: around in the backfield and kill the remaining clock. They didn't. 72 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: It gave the forty nine Ers one last chance touchdown 73 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: pass to Jerry Rice. 74 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: Not a great memory, but they're all fun. 75 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 3: As a kid, going to an NFL game and being 76 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 3: able to go to a football game like that was 77 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 3: always special. Even though Dad coached and was around the 78 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 3: game a lot, it was always just that magical experience 79 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 3: of walking into an NFL stadium. 80 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: All Right, we appreciate you joining us on the podcast 81 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: to talk about the NFL schedule. We have established your 82 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,040 Speaker 1: Cincinnati bonafide, so I think I can get right to 83 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: the biggest gripe that Bengals fans have after seeing the 84 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: schedule release. This is the fourth straight year that the 85 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: Bengals are going to play a night game in Baltimore. 86 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: It's the third straight year that the game is on 87 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: a Thursday night. It's obviously tough to win under those circumstances. Now, 88 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: I think we all get you've got thirty two teams 89 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: to satisfy. It's impossible to come up with a complete 90 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: fairness when you put the schedule together. But was there 91 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: an effort made to try to avoid having that happened 92 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: for the fourth year in a row. 93 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 3: There, you know, there was, And look, we look at 94 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 3: things over time year to year. Things are going to happen. 95 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,239 Speaker 3: They may happen a couple of years in a row, 96 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 3: but we were certainly aware of that. We were also 97 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 3: aware of being on the road a lot recently in 98 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 3: prime time, particularly against division opponents, and those were things 99 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 3: we looked at some options along the way, and certainly 100 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 3: saw some schedules with different mixes of prime time for 101 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 3: the Bengals. But I think then, like what we tried 102 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 3: to look at is the totality of it. And you know, 103 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 3: one of the things the Bengals have done over the 104 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 3: last four or five years has played their way onto 105 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 3: the national stage, and I think their schedule reflects that. 106 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 3: You see that across their primetime windows, but you also 107 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 3: see that across the doubleheaders and them being featured with 108 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: Green Bay and featured in Buffalo and featured with Detroit, 109 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 3: which those are also really big wins for us, are 110 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 3: our biggest windows across the ear and so we certainly 111 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 3: saw it. We saw it when we were in Baltimore again, 112 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 3: and I'll come back to Thanksgiving in a second, but 113 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 3: we also saw the totality of the schedule, and I 114 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: think if you look at the Bengals, no three game 115 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 3: road trips, you know they're away obviously have this this 116 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 3: year just based on who they play, the shortest travel 117 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 3: time of any team in the league, which hopefully makes 118 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 3: your life a. 119 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: Little bit easier. 120 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 3: But you know, every team looks at things differently, but 121 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 3: we thought there was a really nice mix of being 122 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 3: on the road. 123 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: Being at home. 124 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 3: You know, different teams will look at when they're in 125 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 3: Green Bay or when they're in Miami. You know, you're 126 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 3: in Green Bay a little bit earlier this year, you're 127 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 3: in Miami a little bit later. Teams will probably sort 128 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 3: of like that based on the weather and the dynamics 129 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 3: or otherwise, and so well, ultimately we were a little 130 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: bit more focused on the right overall schedule. You know, 131 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 3: we saw some schedules late for Cincinnati that had a 132 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 3: three game road trip in it for an example, and 133 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 3: again Visa VI this schedule, we thought this was a 134 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 3: better overall schedule for the club. But seeing that again 135 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 3: they're in four primes, I think threer on the road. 136 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 3: You know, we're mindful of that, and I think as 137 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 3: we get into next year will probably be even a 138 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 3: little bit more forceful on how we think about that. 139 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 3: But overall, we really like the Bengals schedule, like we 140 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 3: try to do for all thirty two teams, and be 141 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 3: really fair and make sure we're not doing anything to 142 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: disrupt the competitive aspect. The last thing I'd say then 143 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 3: on Thanksgiving specifically, Look, we went into the year. Thanksgiving 144 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 3: has become such a big day for NFL fans and food, 145 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 3: family football, and you can see across that day. We 146 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 3: saw last year there are forty million viewers that tuned 147 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 3: into Detroit's game in Chicago against Chicago after two thirty. 148 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 3: The highest few regular season games ever are that four 149 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 3: to thirty game in Dallas, and so we saw there 150 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 3: as an opportunity with a lot of really good matchups 151 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 3: this year to really try to cater to our fans 152 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: we know are tuning in and really big and high 153 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 3: levels that day, and so we put our thumb on 154 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 3: the scale to try to get really great matchups across 155 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 3: that Thanksgiving Day and into Black Friday too. And so 156 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 3: one thing I'd say to the Cincinnati fans is, you know, 157 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:16,679 Speaker 3: a lot of that's a sign of where the Bengals 158 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 3: have come and played too. 159 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 2: They've played their way into prime. 160 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: They played their way into the biggest stages in primetime 161 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 3: on Thanksgiving nights one of those. 162 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: No doubt about it. And in fairness, the Bengals do 163 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: have a Thursday night home game against the Steelers this year, 164 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: so they do have an AFC North primetime game at home, 165 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: which they hadn't had for a few years. I just 166 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: want to quickly get back to the Baltimore thing, though, 167 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: final question on that topic. This might be overly simplistic 168 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: on my part, but couldn't they simply have been flip 169 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: flopped Bengals at home. I'm Thanksgiving against Baltimore Ravens in 170 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: Cincinnati at one o'clock two weeks later. 171 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 3: Look, we looked at we certainly saw some configurations like 172 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 3: that and flipped again, it's it's solving for a really 173 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 3: complex puzzle with all and how the different pieces come 174 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 3: together and in this one and where the final one 175 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 3: that we like the best for everybody. But I will 176 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 3: tell you for Cincinnati too, we like their schedule with 177 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 3: this configuration a little bit better. But I think we 178 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 3: totally get it, We totally hear it. You know, we'll 179 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 3: try to mix that up. I think, you know, great example, 180 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,559 Speaker 3: green Bay has been on the road to start the 181 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 3: year a lot of straight years. 182 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 2: You see him at home this year. 183 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 3: So there's things that when we've seen that happen for 184 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 3: an extended period, and I think we're getting close to 185 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 3: that with the Thursday night in Baltimore. I think that we'll, 186 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 3: you know, we'll look at that maybe a little bit 187 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 3: differently in the future, but we really like the overall 188 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 3: schedule this year for Cincinnati. 189 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: NFL Executive vice President Hans Schroeder is our guest. You 190 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: have seven media partners. Now, do those media partners say 191 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: we want a Joe Burrow game. 192 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: Yes. 193 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a simple and straightforward question. And Joe is 194 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 3: obviously incredible and in that you know, handful of of 195 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 3: you know, best quarterbacks in the league, but there's a 196 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 3: lot more to it. You know, they're they're an exciting 197 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 3: you know last year you know No. Nine and eight, 198 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 3: but a lot of really exciting games. I mean, both 199 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 3: those Ravens games are super exciting. The Commander's game on 200 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 3: Monday Night super exciting. They're a fun team to watch, 201 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 3: and so yeah, they're definitely a team that that partners 202 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 3: asked for, and partners are excited when they see them 203 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 3: on their schedule, and I think they're on you know, 204 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 3: put aside that the one offs of of maybe Christmas Day, 205 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: I think you know, you'll see the Bengals across to 206 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 3: all our partners or at least all our major days 207 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 3: like a Thanksgiving too. So they're on Amazon, They're on 208 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 3: Monday Night, They're on Sunday Night, They're on both Box 209 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 3: and CBS's key big double headers going across the entire country. 210 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 3: I think in back to back weeks weeks five and 211 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 3: six against Detroit and then coming back in Lambeau the 212 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 3: next week, those are our biggest dude windows of the 213 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 3: of the weeks. So definitely you see that interest across 214 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:06,719 Speaker 3: our partners. 215 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 1: I read today that more than four thousand computers are 216 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: involved and trying to put together as close to a 217 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: perfect schedule as you possibly can. What are the things 218 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: that you input that you try to avoid. You referenced 219 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: trying to avoid three game road trips, that's obviously one. 220 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: What are the some of the things that you're trying 221 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: to get those computers to avoid. 222 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 3: You know, it starts with the really basics. Every stadium 223 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 3: across the league has certain dates for whatever reasons, they're 224 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: just not available. So Cincinnati is a great one. Almost 225 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 3: every year we have a weekend or two early in 226 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 3: the year where the Reds are at home, and that's 227 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 3: a challenging date. 228 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 2: For us to play Cincinnati at home. 229 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 3: So think about that first lens of we go in 230 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 3: and say, here are the dates we just can't play right, 231 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 3: and then you layer on things like travel and sort 232 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 3: of again, we mentioned three game road trips or things 233 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 3: we like to avoid. We're never perfect. I think this 234 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 3: year's final schedule had three of those. But we look 235 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 3: to avoid things like teams playing on the road road 236 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 3: after a Monday night. You know, we try not to 237 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 3: have teams be on the road, traveling home, getting late 238 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 3: to their facility Monday night, back on the road the 239 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 3: following Sunday, try to put them at home on Thursday night. 240 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 3: We have certain geographic distances, you know, we can't play 241 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 3: and don't play three time zone travel and trips, so 242 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 3: that limits who and where and where you can play 243 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 3: on a Thursday night. Again, we try to look across 244 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 3: the year with division opponents and sprinkle those up when 245 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 3: and where and look at the pairings. Again, this isn't 246 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 3: necessarily an AFC North the issue, but you know, one 247 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 3: of the things we liked about the schedule this year 248 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 3: is in the NFC East is an example, Washington and 249 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 3: Dallas had played each other in Week eighteen the last 250 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 3: three or four years in a row. We remixed that 251 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,079 Speaker 3: up this year and changed the shuffle. So we look 252 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 3: at some things like that. There's bye weeks and trying 253 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,959 Speaker 3: to be equitable for the bye weeks all but also 254 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 3: see where they're short weeks with Thursdays fall. There's the 255 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 3: European and the international travel that gets layered on there, 256 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 3: and so it's a bit of a jigsaw puzzle as 257 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 3: all those different things come together. Then trying to make sure, 258 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,479 Speaker 3: like you said, we get teams into different partners packages 259 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 3: as well. So that's another limitation Okay, I want to 260 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 3: make sure I see Cincinnati in a Thursday night, in 261 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 3: a Monday night, in a Sunday night. So all those 262 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 3: things sort of go into the soup of how the 263 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 3: computer has to think about it. Computers only as smart 264 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 3: as we ask it to be, with the rules and 265 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 3: the things we act, you know, we asked it to do. 266 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 3: But all those factors are things we asked them to 267 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 3: wait and include in the schedules they output to us. 268 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: And you referenced international games. I was a little bit 269 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: surprised the Bengals weren't selected to play in an international 270 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: game this year. Katie Blackburn has already come out and 271 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: said publicly that she expects to host one in twenty 272 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 1: twenty seven, the next time the Bengals have nine home games. 273 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: If that's the case, does it make it less likely 274 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: that the Bengals would play as a road team next year, 275 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: knowing there's a high probability there'll be a home team 276 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: the year after. 277 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 2: Nope. 278 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 3: In fact, we saw a lot of schedules this year 279 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 3: that had the Bengals playing in international games. We saw 280 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 3: a lot that had them. I know, there was a 281 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 3: lot of speculation for some reason, and maybe Joe said 282 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 3: it at. 283 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: Some point, but I think maybe I saw along the way. 284 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, So the mayor of Madrid came out publicly and 285 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: said that Cincinnati was going to be Miami's opponent. We 286 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: don't know where the mayor of Madrid got that, but 287 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: it led to all this speculation that somehow that had 288 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: been leaked to the mayor and it was going to happen. 289 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 3: So that's a great example, right of how this all 290 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 3: ties together. And this isn't a hard and fast rule, 291 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 3: but one of the things that we saw with just 292 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 3: how the timing laid out was if the Bengals, which 293 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 3: were very very much a candidate to go to Madrid, 294 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 3: if they went to Madrid, then they would come home, 295 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 3: have a week, and then potentially be on the road 296 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 3: on a short day Thursday. Because we really liked that idea, 297 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 3: not that it had to necessarily be Baltimore, but like 298 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: the idea of Cincinnati in primetime on Thanksgiving Night, particularly 299 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 3: with Baltimore, given those games when you stitch it all together, 300 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 3: then we weren't going to necessarily make them go to Madrid, 301 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 3: come back, have one week, and then play a short 302 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 3: week Thursday. We were allowed to do it but it 303 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 3: was one of the things we just felt, you know what, 304 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 3: for the right schedule for them, probably something we avoid 305 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 3: this year. So great example of how these things connect 306 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 3: to one another, and sort of the Thanksgiving Thursday probably 307 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 3: definitively impacted how we were thinking about them in Madrid, 308 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 3: But they were certainly a candidate and will certainly be 309 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 3: a candidate again next year for international slate of games. 310 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: This is only the second time the Bengals have played 311 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: on Thanksgiving, and the previous time was a long time 312 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 1: ago twenty ten. Was that one of the things that 313 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: you considered, Hey, I have not had that team on 314 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving in a long long time. 315 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 3: For sure, And look, I think it's such a big 316 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 3: stage now for us, you know, it has to be 317 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 3: a game and a matchup that we feel good about 318 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 3: as that threshold. But then we also love, you know, 319 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 3: the traditions in Detroit and Dallas are awesome. I mean, 320 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 3: even for somebody that's not from either place, it feels 321 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 3: like Thanksgiving. It feels like watching John Matten back in 322 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 3: the day covering a game, like they feel naturally organic 323 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 3: to Thanksgiving into the NFL and the football. But we 324 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 3: also love the fact that we can rotate that primetime 325 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 3: game around and it can go to different places and 326 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 3: other markets. Green Bay last year was one of them. 327 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 3: As an example, that felt like a really cool way 328 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 3: to end Thanksgiving Thursday of football in Lambeau. Like again, 329 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 3: it feels like a really great football game to Baltimore 330 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 3: in a Rayvends Bengals game. 331 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 2: How you're ending Thanksgiving night? That feels very special. 332 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 3: I know NBC is thrilled to have that game to 333 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 3: end that day, but yeah, we try to rotate and 334 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 3: get different exposures, whether it's there or now we have 335 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 3: Black Friday, now we have Christmas. You know it is 336 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 3: delivered for us. We wanted different teams to host some 337 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 3: things will play on both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but wanted 338 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 3: to mix that up a little bit, give different teams 339 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 3: the opportunity to host on Christmas. So definitely something we 340 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 3: look at. 341 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: NFL Executive VP Hunts Schroeder is our guest. Last year, 342 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,679 Speaker 1: the Bengals played Dallas in a game that featured an 343 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: alternative Simpsons telecast. Will there be something similar this year? 344 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: And do you try to pick different teams every year 345 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: for those special productions? 346 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 3: Definitely do the latter, and you know that was something 347 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 3: we came up with a couple of years ago. We 348 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 3: really like Disney has been an awesome partner, first with 349 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 3: the Toy Story experience and then last year with the 350 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 3: Simpsons experience. Probably not going to be in Cincinnati game 351 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 3: again this year. I think your Monday night game for 352 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 3: that game on is side by side where you're in 353 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 3: Denver alongside another game that we so we'll probably look 354 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 3: to do something else for another Monday Night game with 355 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 3: Disney throughout the year. But for us, those are really 356 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 3: fun ways to take football and present the differently it's available, 357 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 3: and it ultimately goes available to ninety plus countries around 358 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 3: the world, and to take sort of that ip that 359 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 3: Disney has, that's really fun to marry it to an 360 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 3: NFL game, to use the next gen stats platform that 361 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 3: we have, just a different and fun expression of the game. 362 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 3: So we thought it was really cool last year. The 363 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 3: Bengals were great to work with and that game, obviously 364 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 3: if you're a Cincinnati fan, was really special with how 365 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 3: it ended and seeing I think was it Barter was 366 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 3: at least that was playing Jamar with that touchdown down 367 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 3: the sideline to sort of bring it home was just 368 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,679 Speaker 3: a fun way when you saw the replays of that 369 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 3: were pretty cool. 370 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's the only time in Bengals history that they 371 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: had their own punt blocked and that enabled them to 372 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 1: win the game when Dallas kind of botched the recovery 373 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: of the block punt. I'm always in intrigued cons by 374 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: things that we don't even think about that impact the 375 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: NFL schedule. Are there any big concert tours or other 376 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: unusual events that pose challenges this year? 377 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 3: There's always something, and there's always something you know there 378 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 3: you hit on some of them, the concerts. Some of 379 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 3: them are baseball stadiums and shared parking lots. Some of 380 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 3: it are marathons, right. Some of it you never know 381 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 3: what the events and where it's going to be. Sometimes 382 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 3: it's an international soccer game or something that that's happening. 383 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's college football based on some of those buildings. 384 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 3: So you know, there's a handful of things that that 385 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 3: all can factor into that. You know, our buildings are 386 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 3: incredible facilities or incredible facilities for football. You know, they're 387 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 3: incredible facilities for other events that oftentimes our clubs do 388 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 3: really good jobs. Are giving us the flexibility so we 389 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 3: can try to get to the best NFL schedule we can, 390 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 3: but there's certainly a handful of other things that will 391 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 3: pop up from time to time, and all of a 392 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 3: sudden you find and sale kid as a handful of 393 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 3: dates here or there. 394 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 2: We just can't get into it a building. 395 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: I don't know if this topic crosses your desk or not, 396 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: but I'll ask the question anyway. The Bengals in the 397 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: city of Cincinnati are hoping to host the Draft in 398 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: twenty twenty eight or shortly after that. As a city 399 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: that doesn't have a dome and therefore will probably never 400 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: host a Super Bowl, does that increase the chances of 401 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: Cincinnati potentially hosting the Draft? 402 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 3: Look, I would certainly hope, so, you know one to 403 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 3: you know, I'm not super close to how we choose 404 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 3: locations today, but I will say one of my projects 405 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 3: earlier in my career was leading the work that led 406 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 3: to us to take the Draft on the road and 407 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 3: so put the Draft in Chicago the first year, and 408 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 3: so was intimately involved in sort of driving that and 409 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 3: leading this to do that, obviously with the Commissioner's overall 410 00:20:55,840 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 3: guidance in leadership. But you know, I caninue to be 411 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 3: amazed and it's just so cool with that event's become 412 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 3: to see in even Green Bay, Wisconsin, hundreds of thousands 413 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 3: of people and those visuals of what the draft looks 414 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 3: like over those three days is spectacular. And to your 415 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 3: point earlier, you know, I'm not sure we're going to 416 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,159 Speaker 3: get to every market for a super Bowl, but the 417 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 3: Draft is an event. I think we've done a great 418 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 3: job with it to day about how we take that 419 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 3: to different NFL markets and how we give fans in 420 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 3: those markets, not only in that direct city, but it's 421 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 3: amazing how fans travel from all different areas around to 422 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 3: come in for that Draft weekend. And I think knowing 423 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 3: the city, knowing what we do for great events, not 424 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 3: only sporting events. Octoberfest in the fall is obviously a 425 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 3: big what they do big of an opening day for 426 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 3: the Reds like we do big events well in Cincinnati, 427 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 3: and I think they do an incredible job with the Draft. 428 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 3: So I'll leave it to my colleagues as they work 429 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 3: through that process, but certainly something I love seeing is 430 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 3: how we go to different markets nique ways and to 431 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 3: draft the great event to do that with. 432 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: If Cincinnati can get a draft and a Thursday night 433 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: home game against Baltimore. You will get no complaints from 434 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: the fans in your hometown. 435 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 2: Noted. 436 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 3: I'll make sure I share that back with the team, 437 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 3: so I'll take my graters next time I come into town. 438 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 2: Make sure it's okay, Tomes. 439 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time. This has been informative and 440 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: fun for me. Thanks so much for joining us. 441 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 3: Thank you Dad anytime, Take care, stay well, and really 442 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 3: appreciate you having me on. 443 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: That's going to do it for this episode of the 444 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to you by pay Core, Proud 445 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta 446 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business 447 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 448 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 449 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. If you haven't 450 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and if 451 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: you have a minute, give it a rating or share 452 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,640 Speaker 1: a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. I'm 453 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: Dan Horde and thanks for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast.