playoff semi-final dates

Ah, does seem a bit strange they've changed it...maybe that person is right about it something to do with Sheff Utd/Blackburn being in the Quarters of the FA Cup.

Still even so, it's still very silly for anyone to book non-refundable transport/accommodation, when no teams are guaranteed to be in the play off finals until the Play Off Semi's have concluded.
The dates they release at the start of the season are always holding dates that are subject to change.

There’s only being one Monday Championship play-off final in the last five seasons.

Many things can alter it - police advice, teams progression in other tournaments, fixture congestion, Sky preference, etc.

The only date it certainly wasn’t going to be on was Sunday as they weren’t going to have it on the same day as the final day of the Premier League season.

Hopefully it’s not a concern next season as we’ll be in the Prem, but it’s one for people to note for future reference it’s not confirmed until it’s actually confirmed. Same as the league fixtures.
 
Ah, does seem a bit strange they've changed it...maybe that person is right about it something to do with Sheff Utd/Blackburn being in the Quarters of the FA Cup. Still even so, it's still very silly for anyone to book non-refundable transport/accommodation, when no teams are guaranteed to be in the play off finals until the Play Off Semi's have concluded.

It’s cos they know SUFC are getting a deduction but are more likely to get to the final than anyone else. 🙂😀
 
It may be foolish to book non refundable transport and hotels, but people have lots of aspects to their lives.
There are masses of situations where people take their lead from precision expressed in official communication.
The EFL website specifically stated the Championship Final was Monday. They have only communicated a different date this week.
Countless work patterns and transport arrangements have been made; other events have been either planned, or invitations accepted, most of which will have financial ramifications, all will lead to others being disappointed.
The thing is there is absolutely no reason to have changed this. None whatsoever.

This huge inconvenience happens every time a match is re-arranged for TV. I used to live in Berkshire for many years and never missed home matches. You plan around the fixtures to be there.
Nobody much makes a sound when lots of long distance Boro fans have to make this sort of hugely inconvenient readjustment for regular season fixtures. I'm alright Jack in Yarm, Ingleby Barwick, Acklam etc.
But this sort of Play off change thing impacts tens of thousands of people directly and many more indirectly.
If there is a real reason to change published dates, then explain it and communicate it clearly as soon as possible.
 
My brother lives in MK so if we do get there I will drive down and we will get the train in on the Saturday morning.
 
The dates they release at the start of the season are always holding dates that are subject to change.

There’s only being one Monday Championship play-off final in the last five seasons.

Many things can alter it - police advice, teams progression in other tournaments, fixture congestion, Sky preference, etc.

The only date it certainly wasn’t going to be on was Sunday as they weren’t going to have it on the same day as the final day of the Premier League season.

Hopefully it’s not a concern next season as we’ll be in the Prem, but it’s one for people to note for future reference it’s not confirmed until it’s actually confirmed. Same as the league fixtures.

Sorry but I'm not buying this as it being a holding date. It was set as that date. Every club published those dates as the days that the finals would take place at the start of the season. Holding dates are when they say the play-offs semi will be played between such and such date. Or when they say games would be played week commencing this date. Fans understand that individual games are subject to change during the season. They accept that some games have to change for reasons beyond control but the dates for the Play-off Final are usually fixed. They do not change and there was no small print saying that they dates are subject to change. The EFL needs to come out and say why the dates have changed instead of just slowly updating their websites etc in the lead up to this change as though it had possibly been the date all year.

People are silly to book none-refundable tickets for those games. Not because the date might change but because you don't know if your team would make it and it's a big risk to take to save some money.
 
I don't understand why people are booking non-refundable train tickets in advance. Can you change the date on them if we didn't get there?
 
Sorry but I'm not buying this as it being a holding date. It was set as that date. Every club published those dates as the days that the finals would take place at the start of the season. Holding dates are when they say the play-offs semi will be played between such and such date. Or when they say games would be played week commencing this date. Fans understand that individual games are subject to change during the season. They accept that some games have to change for reasons beyond control but the dates for the Play-off Final are usually fixed. They do not change and there was no small print saying that they dates are subject to change. The EFL needs to come out and say why the dates have changed instead of just slowly updating their websites etc in the lead up to this change as though it had possibly been the date all year.

People are silly to book none-refundable tickets for those games. Not because the date might change but because you don't know if your team would make it and it's a big risk to take to save some money.
None of this is new. The same happened last season when the final was eventually confirmed to be on Sunday.

When Chelsea played Man City in the Champions League final it was at one point discussed about moving it to Wembley which would have meant changing the dates or even the venue of the play off finals.

Those dates are never set in stone.
 
It may be foolish to book non refundable transport and hotels, but people have lots of aspects to their lives.
There are masses of situations where people take their lead from precision expressed in official communication.
The EFL website specifically stated the Championship Final was Monday. They have only communicated a different date this week.
I’ve been checking since January and from that point it’s always stated 27th-29th May.

Same info source as this website article from the 6th March.

061F6FEA-5A4D-42BF-9017-AD890F7041CC.jpeg
 
None of this is new. The same happened last season when the final was eventually confirmed to be on Sunday.

When Chelsea played Man City in the Champions League final it was at one point discussed about moving it to Wembley which would have meant changing the dates or even the venue of the play off finals.

Those dates are never set in stone.

Yes they were. Pretty much every club sent out a press release at the start of the season with the dates. None of them gave a 3 day window. They all said Monday. The EFL website said Monday until recently. Then it changed to the three day period and recently changed to Saturday. Trying to erase the fact it was set as a Monday to begin with.

Quick one found. Blackburn


Screenshot 2023-03-24 at 12.35.46.png
Rotherham:


Huddersfield:


Burnley:


I can keep going if you want?
 
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Yes they were. Pretty much every club sent out a press release at the start of the season with the dates. None of them gave a 3 day window. They all said Monday. The EFL website said Monday until recently. Then it changed to the three day period and recently changed to Saturday. Trying to erase the fact it was set as a Monday to begin with.

Quick one found. Blackburn


View attachment 55197
Rotherham:


Huddersfield:


Burnley:


I can keep going if you want?
Please do.

I refer to my earlier quote.

“In June it was originally listed as Monday.”
 
Then how can it not be set in stone? Nowhere did it ever say this is subject to change or that the game could take place on any of the three days. I'd like to see one situation where the game was actually moved after the date had been announced. I doubt you can provide it because I don't think it has ever happened before when fans have been able to attend the game.

Your only suggestion is about last season. People suggested moving the CL's final to Wembley and that would have ment moving the game. It was set in stone at that point too. It was suggestion made by people as that would have been the only logical solution as money trumps everything. The game would have to have been moved to a completely different weekend.

Basically I'm wanting to see some kind of precedent to show that fans shouldn't expect the Championship Play-Off Final to take place on the date announced. And there isn't one. The only unconfirmed bit is the kick-off time. There wouldn't have been 24 Championship clubs releasing a press release on fixtures saying the Monday without any kind of warning it may change unless it was set in stone. They need to hold their hands up and say that it has been changed and apologise. Rather than midway through the season making out like it was subject to change.
 
None of this is new. The same happened last season when the final was eventually confirmed to be on Sunday.

When Chelsea played Man City in the Champions League final it was at one point discussed about moving it to Wembley which would have meant changing the dates or even the venue of the play off finals.

Those dates are never set in stone.
So, we can't plan at all then? Just all sit around until the last minute then bang. It was still Monday when I booked the middle of February. It was still Monday as of last week.
 
So, we can't plan at all then? Just all sit around until the last minute then bang. It was still Monday when I booked the middle of February. It was still Monday as of last week.
It I see Saturday 27th may Steve , so plan around that .
Personally I am not booking anything because believe we will get 2nd place . In MC we trust . UTB .
 
Why the **** would they not publish a date then stick to it?
The EFL must be unbelievably dim and clearly don't give a damn about impact on hundreds of thousands of supporters not knowing the day of their final.
Talking like a man doomed to be at a wedding on the big day.
 
Get a hotel somewhere on the Chiltern Line heading out of London - Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, Wycombe, Amersham, Aylesbury - it'll be much cheaper and a (relatively) quieter journey back after the match rather than heading into London. Wembley Stadium station is on that line.

That's what I did for the PlayOff final against Norwich
Even better. St Albans is a better option

Great town full of pubs and restaurants just off the M1. Has a Premier Inn and Travelodge in the town centre. Its 17 mins to West Hampstead on Thameslink. Change for the 4 stops up to the stadium. You can get into central London in 20 mins fast and there sre rrains throughout the night back!
 
Please do.

I refer to my earlier quote.

“In June it was originally listed as Monday.”
I find it incredible that you are persistently defensive of the change and of the comms.
Why would there be a need to change the date?
Why would there be no need to formally communicate and explain that change of date, to many many people who will have made arrangements, with financial commitment or not?
 
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