Australian Football League side Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury "has backed suggestions for the AFL grand final to be shifted from its traditional afternoon timeslot," according to Jon Pierik of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Pendlebury and Gold Coast Suns skipper Gary Ablett "were in New York earlier this month, representing their clubs in a fitness program run by a major sports drink company." The tour also "took in the Super Bowl." For the NFL's marquee match, "the hoopla around the night clash contributed to it being the highest-watched program" in the U.S. The AFL "has so far resisted a push for a night grand final despite there being support for it within the industry." A night grand final "is also likely to generate more broadcast rights revenue, while attracting an even greater audience." Pendlebury said that "he was open to change." Pendlebury said, "It [Super Bowl] was certainly something that opened my eyes over there how well they did it although they did mention that the hardest tickets to get in the world are AFL grand-final tickets. So our code is doing well" (SMH, 2/18).
