The New WCHA (2013-14)

[moose97]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

That's the issue. Only one school would be able to do that each year. The others would be missing at least a week of classes to do it.

Why only one school?

Thanksgiving break is usually one week long - send team A up to play UA_ Sat/Sun before Thanksgiving and team B plays UAA, then flip opponents the Fri/Sat after Thaksgiving.

Just after Christmas (rather than going to a holiday tourney), team C plays UA_ and team D plays UAA, flip opponents the following weekend.

Spring break - same deal; team E plays UA_ while team F plays UAA Sat/Sun, then flip the following weekend.

That looks like 6 schools could take advantage to me.

Now, the downside is that UAA and UA_ are locked in to some pretty bad attendance home dates every year, and that, more than anything, would kill making it work for 6 teams. but you could certainly do one of the three options every year if you wanted...

[MavsFan]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Why only one school?

Thanksgiving break is usually one week long - send team A up to play UA_ Sat/Sun before Thanksgiving and team B plays UAA, then flip opponents the Fri/Sat after Thaksgiving.

Just after Christmas (rather than going to a holiday tourney), team C plays UA_ and team D plays UAA, flip opponents the following weekend.

Spring break - same deal; team E plays UA_ while team F plays UAA Sat/Sun, then flip the following weekend.

That looks like 6 schools could take advantage to me.

Now, the downside is that UAA and UA_ are locked in to some pretty bad attendance home dates every year, and that, more than anything, would kill making it work for 6 teams. but you could certainly do one of the three options every year if you wanted...

Yeah, you're right, but as was pointed out above, that would mean the Alaska schools would always have to stay home at those times, and they apparently take advantage of those to cut down on their travel.

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

That's the issue. Only one school would be able to do that each year. The others would be missing at least a week of classes to do it.

Not really - schools have breaks at different times. Tech used to be, but are any WCHA programs still on quarters vs two semesters? I think with a close look you could find at least four teams a year that COULD do this, but WOULD they is a different story. Also I agree that that Thursday gate money would be less than Fri / Sat BUT if the hosting team can cut the travel money offered to the visiting team by 50% maybe that is $7500 in savings or in other words you need 750 less fans in the building to get the same cash flow. Of course I would rather have fans in the seat than bucks in the bank, but if it comes to bean counting to keep the WCHA healthy on the balance sheet, there may be some creative thinking required. I never even though of the obvious possibility of two teams being in AK and just swapping cities after the first weekend. MTU and BSU share a plane from Duluth to AK and back. There are a lot of ways to cut cost, but they take much more upfront planning to execute.
Ryan J

[giwan]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Not really - schools have breaks at different times. Tech used to be, but are any WCHA programs still on quarters vs two semesters? I think with a close look you could find at least four teams a year that COULD do this, but WOULD they is a different story. Also I agree that that Thursday gate money would be less than Fri / Sat BUT if the hosting team can cut the travel money offered to the visiting team by 50% maybe that is $7500 in savings or in other words you need 750 less fans in the building to get the same cash flow. Of course I would rather have fans in the seat than bucks in the bank, but if it comes to bean counting to keep the WCHA healthy on the balance sheet, there may be some creative thinking required. I never even though of the obvious possibility of two teams being in AK and just swapping cities after the first weekend. MTU and BSU share a plane from Duluth to AK and back. There are a lot of ways to cut cost, but they take much more upfront planning to execute.Ryan J

Though things like this can be complicated to plan, it would be smart of the conference to think about dealing with such issues to benefit ALL. May sound a little socialist but there is bargaining power in numbers. The conference as a group should make use of that group power, but do they get along well enough?

Is the nWCHA of like minds?

[Jimjamesak]

Why only one school?

Thanksgiving break is usually one week long - send team A up to play UA_ Sat/Sun before Thanksgiving and team B plays UAA, then flip opponents the Fri/Sat after Thaksgiving.

Just after Christmas (rather than going to a holiday tourney), team C plays UA_ and team D plays UAA, flip opponents the following weekend.

Spring break - same deal; team E plays UA_ while team F plays UAA Sat/Sun, then flip the following weekend.

That looks like 6 schools could take advantage to me.

Now, the downside is that UAA and UA_ are locked in to some pretty bad attendance home dates every year, and that, more than anything, would kill making it work for 6 teams. but you could certainly do one of the three options every year if you wanted...

I'm gonna throw monkey wrench into to your plans right now. I want you to Google "Great Alaska Shootout", the UAA Athletic Department's prime moneymaker that is held Thanksgiving week.

[Flashy Man]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

I'm gonna throw monkey wrench into to your plans right now. I want you to Google "Great Alaska Shootout", the UAA Athletic Department's prime moneymaker that is held Thanksgiving week.

But won't they have that shiny new $100m arena that would be the perfect size for hockey, except for the fact they decided not to design around an ice floor?

[Jimjamesak]

But won't they have that shiny new $100m arena that would be the perfect size for hockey, except for the fact they decided not to design around an ice floor?

And you think the small UAA athletic department will want to manage a major event like the GAS and a hockey weekend, with attendance at both being affected?

[seawolfpunk]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

But won't they have that shiny new $100m arena that would be the perfect size for hockey, except for the fact they decided not to design around an ice floor?

to what i've been told the shootout will still be played at the sullivan even when the new arena is complete.

[Flashy Man]

to what i've been told the shootout will still be played at the sullivan even when the new arena is complete.

That's absurd.

[seawolfpunk]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

That's absurd.

That's our atheltic department for ya.

[Squarebanks]

to what i've been told the shootout will still be played at the sullivan even when the new arena is complete.

Why? Capacity?

[Hal9K]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Why? Capacity?

Capacity is not an issue any longer. The Great AK Shootout is a shell of its former self.
You can chalk it up to the same reason that the new UAA arena has no ice....no brains behind the decision process.

[Squarebanks]

Capacity is not an issue any longer. The Great AK Shootout is a shell of its former self.
You can chalk it up to the same reason that the new UAA arena has no ice....no brains behind the decision process.

That's a shame if the Shootout stays at Sully. Sullivan Arena is a passable hockey barn, but it stinks as a basketball venue, IMO. You'd think UAA would want to show off one of its premier events in the new building.

[moose97]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

I'm gonna throw monkey wrench into to your plans right now. I want you to Google "Great Alaska Shootout", the UAA Athletic Department's prime moneymaker that is held Thanksgiving week.

I'm well aware of the Shootout. All I did was show a scenario where 6 teams could do the alternate/stay a week (rather than the 1 that was alleged). I admitted it was an unlikely/bad idea. The Shootout is one of the reasons, but so is the unfairness to UAA/UA_, no? In fact, there are plenty of reasons to not use the idea. That, however, does not mean that you couldn't use it if you wanted.

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Looks like you can scratch the Resch Center in Green Bay off the tourney venue list.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...text|FRONTPAGE