Re-starting First down !

[SuperRaider]

Just had a thought; if First Down was started again....do you think if could survive!

We would have to sell the newspaper on the cheap and cheap labor; but most of the stuff can be found on the internet, so the people working would be part-timers and doing it from home!

Just an idea

[psj3809]

Dont think it would survive at all.  Just no point what with the internet and getting NFL news by the minute.

A special First Down NFL Season Preview would have been good and hopefully a success but again with the ease of ordering preview mags from the US they would have a lot of competition.

I did feel bad when i stopped subscribing in 2002 but i just rarely read it anymore what with the stuff on the net.  Shame as during its heyday it was so essential for news/stats etc

But as a weekly paper no way would it come back, just wouldnt survive

[R8RMR]

The news available on the net and the various forums make it basically redundant.

It had its' niche and filled the gap it the early years but has now, imo, been superceded.

[SuperRaider]

Thing is; First Down can be now done on the cheap; but today newspaper are struggling so it would be tough.

[psj3809]

I'm sure they were trying to do it on the 'cheap' before it folded but it just wasnt working. Like i say a First Down Season Preview i think would be a good idea, you know a one-off every year

[R8RMR]

Even producing a one-off could be too costly when you see the cost of preview magazines from other sources. But it would be interesting to see.

[psj3809]

Even producing a one-off could be too costly when you see the cost of preview magazines from other sources. But it would be interesting to see.

Yep totally agree.  Back in the day it would have been much easier but now because of the net just a few clicks and you've got several NFL preview mags coming your way.  Shame though as back then it was such an iconic name.

Pity NFLUK cant do one every month, one of those 'e-mags' where you click to turn over the page etc.  Just be a different way of putting some Keith Webster columns together and try and add some old skool adverts/articles.

But because of the net and the wealth of different sites its just tricky either way

[SuperRaider]

Plus one of the killers was that First-down was not in the store till thursday; a sooner date would have been better

[psj3809]

Plus one of the killers was that First-down was not in the store till thursday; a sooner date would have been better

Thought thursday was a good day, just before the weekends games etc .  For years thursday to me was 'first down thursday'.  Remember at school getting the local newsagent to always get me a copy, my mates would flick through it seeing if the middle poster was a player from their favourite team.

The first year they did fantasy football was great.

A lot of great moments with first down.  It reminded me of old retro computer mags from the 80's where they used to get thinner and thinner (because people had moved onto other computers) and then stopped. Same for first down, sad how thin it was in its final months

[R8RMR]

It was sad to see it go, but it did fill a gap inthe market which realistically no longer exists.

[the watchman]

I loved First Down, and bought it till the day it closed. Ok I knew I could get the stuff on the net but I like reading paper. Use to stick it in my back pocket and carry with me. Great for buses and trains, or if the wife was shopping I could wait outside with something to read.