Thoughts/opinions on the (Thurs) 'NFL Kickoff Game'

[Jay Z]

IIRC the Tampa Bay Bucaneers opened the NFL season at home on Saturday Nights in the late 70s-early 80s (I remember a game against Detroit and another against Minnesota). I remember a topic on the forum that those games weren't broadcasted nationally.

Around thatr time, in the second week of the season usually was a Thursday Night game broadcasted by ABC (IIRC a couple of times at Denver and I think the Patriots and/or Jets played in another).

They did do that. Curious as to why Tampa had those Saturday openers? Was there some regular event that happened at the Sombrero on Sunday early September back then?

I think they were just trying to beat the heat.

[nicefellow31]

IIRC the Tampa Bay Bucaneers opened the NFL season at home on Saturday Nights in the late 70s-early 80s (I remember a game against Detroit and another against Minnesota). I remember a topic on the forum that those games weren't broadcasted nationally.

Around thatr time, in the second week of the season usually was a Thursday Night game broadcasted by ABC (IIRC a couple of times at Denver and I think the Patriots and/or Jets played in another).

They did do that. Curious as to why Tampa had those Saturday openers? Was there some regular event that happened at the Sombrero on Sunday early September back then?

I think they were just trying to beat the heat.

Yes. Here's a link discussing their Saturday Night history. As a child it used to surprise the heck out of me when I found out the season started on a Saturday and I didn't know about it.
http://www.bucpower.com/crawford88.html