Step I - constraint identification 
The following rules are in place for game scheduling:
     - no team can play more than 2 games in any 3 consecutive days
     - no team can play more than 3 games in any 5 consecutive days
     - each team must play at least 1 game in any 4 day period
       (excluding dark days, see below)
     - each team must play at least 2 games in any 7 day period
       (excluding dark days, see below)
     - no game other than a marquee game can be scheduled on a dark day
       (see below for definitions of marquee games and dark days)
     - no team can play a matinee game (starting before 4pm local time)
       the day after playing an evening game (starting after 4pm)
     - if the standardized travel times (see below) between any two
       locations is greater than 5 hours then a team cannot play
       games in the two locations on consecutive days
The standardized travel times are determined by a panel and specify
    a typical travel time between each pair of league arenas.

Step II - matchups and arena availability
By November 15th each year the league provides a table indicating how
    often each team hosts each other team in the upcoming season.
By November 15th, each team is responsible for providing a list of
    the dates when their arena is available for games in the coming
    season, specifying availability for both day and evening games.

Step III - league specified games/dark days
By December 1st, the league will identify marquee games (games
    with a specified matchup, date, and location) and a list of
    'dark' days - days on which no other games can be scheduled.

Step IV - preliminary scheduling
    The league schedulers will take the information from steps 1-III
    and produce and distribute a preliminary schedule by February 15th.

Step V - change requests
Teams have until May 1st to file change requests - requests to move
    a specific game from one date to another at the same arena.

If the requests violate any of the constraints from steps I-III
    they will be rejected, otherwise the league will consult with the
    other team affected and render a decision.

Step VI - final schedule distribution
The official schedule will be released July 1st, following which
    changes can only be made through emergency change requests.

Step VII - emergency change requests
Should rescheduling become necessary because of unforseen circumstances
    (facility issues, severe weather, etc) teams can file an emergency
    change request to be handled by the league on a case by case basis.