Cincy Headliners Politically Correct

[cork_screw]

Don't know why cincy open keeps doing this but they keep headlining the women's matches over the mens, even if there are better match ups playing. I understand partially that Serena Williams gets a lot of those primetime 8pm/830 time slots. But I don't understand why Roger/Rafa are getting the 7pm And Azarenka / Wozniacki are getting the 830p slot. The majority of people come to see the men play. I have no idea why they do this other than to be politically correct.

 

[Moose Malloy]

ESPN wanted Fed-Nadal at 7(and aren't televising the 2nd night match, Boxing starts at 9ish) so that's why they are on at 7, nothing to do with political correctness. This is the only way Fed-Nadal would be on national TV, by putting them on at 7.

 

[Bobby Jr]

The reason they have the men first - as they have started to do at the Aussie Open sometimes too - is that having the men play first means the stadium is full much quicker. If the women start they can be 3/4 empty until the match is half way through. I've seen it many, many times when visiting the Aussie Open.

 

[CDNguy87]

The reason they have the men first - as they have started to do at the Aussie Open sometimes too - is that having the men play first means the stadium is full much quicker. If the women start they can be 3/4 empty until the match is half way through. I've seen it many, many times when visiting the Aussie Open.

I can understand the intuition behind that but, on the flip side, doesn't putting the men first also mean the stadium empties much, much quicker (i.e: the moment the men's match is finished and fans realize the only thing left is the women's match).

At least by putting the women's match first, the women might get a lot of spillover from ATP fans towards the end of their match. In contrast, putting the men first leaves fans of only the ATP no reason to stick around and watch any of the women's.

 

[dirtballer]

I think it's all determined by ESPNs TV schedule.

 

[Bobby Jr]

I can understand the intuition behind that but, on the flip side, doesn't putting the men first also mean the stadium empties much, much quicker...

...In contrast, putting the men first leaves fans of only the ATP no reason to stick around and watch any of the women's.

Not necessarily. It is much easier to keep a crowd than it is to get them there early.

ATP fans for the most part don't watch women's tennis. Tennis fans who go to stadiums for the most part are not hard-core followers.