The Frozen Four

[Siouxfaninseattle]

Re: The Frozen Four

Boston did very little that I saw to promote the event. Every other FF city I've been to has made it an event in and around the arena. It wasn't bad but it ranked as the least satisfying FF that I've been to, other than the games.

The Garden itself ... why do you close concessions for a sold out game? Besides that, you have a brand new arena. There's no excuse for the garbage concessions that were available. Cold hot dogs, fries cooked beyond the point of being edible, and $6 sodas.

I ate something that they called chicken at the Gahden - absolutely terrible.

[The Rube]

Re: The Frozen Four

I don't know, maybe promotion was the wrong word. I do know that everywhere I went in Denver was supportive of the event and I even got some good "specials" at the local restaurants. Interesting about St. Paul. I'd love to see a FF in Minnesota. I couldn't go to the last one, planning on being there in '18.

Denver places were aware of the event. Funny story, a buddy of mine got married to another friend of mine (both former USCHOers) a couple years back. They had the "post-reception" reception at Pat's Pub in DT Denver. The bar said..."We remember you guys...hockey fans, sang all night?"

Get to St Paul. I live here (about 20 minutes west of the Xcel) and I am getting a hotel room (cost-effective: gas/parking/happyfuntimes). It's very fun.

[Priceless]

Re: The Frozen Four

A couple of random things:

According to this morning's Globe, the two goals in four seconds beat the previous record (Michigan) by one second. Not sure this record can be beaten. I don't think you could possibly score more quickly unless you shot it directly from the faceoff.

The Nate Leaman coaching tree is looking pretty good, even though the protege won first.

The overall record is CC scoring in 2 goals in 2 seconds back in the 50's. That clock must have been malfunctioning or something.

The Nate Leaman coaching tree goes back to Shawn Walsh (which itself is a branch of the Ron Mason tree).

I can't wait for Tampa! I've already made my hotel reservations.

[The Rube]

Re: The Frozen Four

The overall record is CC scoring in 2 goals in 2 seconds back in the 50's. That clock must have been malfunctioning or something.

The Nate Leaman coaching tree goes back to Shawn Walsh (which itself is a branch of the Ron Mason tree).

I can't wait for Tampa! I've already made my hotel reservations.

I think there is a discrepancy between the records, involving recognized NCAA tourneys, but I could be wrong.

[FireKnight]

Re: The Frozen Four

The overall record is CC scoring in 2 goals in 2 seconds back in the 50's. That clock must have been malfunctioning or something.

The Nate Leaman coaching tree goes back to Shawn Walsh (which itself is a branch of the Ron Mason tree).

I can't wait for Tampa! I've already made my hotel reservations.

Two of my former employees (married to each other) live in Tampa and have a spare bedroom. I've already claimed it for Wed-Sun of the FF week next year.

[FireKnight]

Re: The Frozen Four

Denver places were aware of the event. Funny story, a buddy of mine got married to another friend of mine (both former USCHOers) a couple years back. They had the "post-reception" reception at Pat's Pub in DT Denver. The bar said..."We remember you guys...hockey fans, sang all night?"

Get to St Paul. I live here (about 20 minutes west of the Xcel) and I am getting a hotel room (cost-effective: gas/parking/happyfuntimes). It's very fun.

I want to get out there in general. I've wanted to see games in Mariucci and Ritter for years. I almost pulled the trigger when we played in the Mariucci Classic in 2010 but it's so expensive from where I am to get a plane into the TC. I'll bite the bullet for the FF... heck, maybe I'll even drive. I'm already planning on doing the drive to Chicago.

[The Rube]

Re: The Frozen Four

I want to get out there in general. I've wanted to see games in Mariucci and Ritter for years. I almost pulled the trigger when we played in the Mariucci Classic in 2010 but it's so expensive from where I am to get a plane into the TC. I'll bite the bullet for the FF... heck, maybe I'll even drive. I'm already planning on doing the drive to Chicago.

Get here. Jucy Lucys, Premo, ALLTHEHOCKEY, good people...It's fun.

[Craig P.]

Re: The Frozen Four

The Garden itself ... why do you close concessions for a sold out game? Besides that, you have a brand new arena. There's no excuse for the garbage concessions that were available. Cold hot dogs, fries cooked beyond the point of being edible, and $6 sodas.

It's going on twenty years old. That's a little old to qualify as "brand new."

[BCeagle]

Re: The Frozen Four

Boston did very little that I saw to promote the event. Every other FF city I've been to has made it an event in and around the arena. It wasn't bad but it ranked as the least satisfying FF that I've been to, other than the games.

The Garden itself ... why do you close concessions for a sold out game? Besides that, you have a brand new arena. There's no excuse for the garbage concessions that were available. Cold hot dogs, fries cooked beyond the point of being edible, and $6 sodas.

I think there needs to be some complaining but I think it is better during Bruins or Celtic games. Still the beers are way overpriced at 11.50 at the Garden for pro games, and like someone said, the food is terrible besides being overpriced. A large soda was $10 and I think the Jacobs just milk people.

That's why I usually eat outside the Garden but still on Thursday, I found my pasta meal overpriced as it was small portion for 21.00.

Saturday, I just order pizza at my house before heading in for the game. The traffic at the government center exit was holding us up and the parking went from $20 in recent years to $30 now at the garage I usually park at.

If Boston wants to host again, then they should make it more friendly and make sure things are done well, and not just serve overcooked and old food at the Garden, and not close off access to the highway near the garden. On Thursday night, they put cones on the street where we usually access the highway and I went to Charlestown to access the highway as it was too much traffic in areas near the garden to get on the highway.

Boston is my home city and I live outside it but like you I find the FF experience better in other cities because I think they want to make a good impression and want to host again.

There is a move to promote the Olympics here but I am leaning against it for financial reasons and what a traffic problem it will create here in a city that is not suitable to host it.

[thebrain]

Denver made a little effort in 2008. Signage everywhere, but for promotion? Average from what I've heard over the years. St Paul closed down the street in front of the arena the day of the game(s) and made a true fest of it. And it's a main thoroughfare to get to the arena/parking lots. I was shocked, honestly.

The only other times I've seen it where they shut down West 7th is on St. Patrick's Day and during the Republican National Convention.

[walrus]

Re: The Frozen Four

The 2000 FF in Providence was the best FF I've ever been to. They closed every street around the arena and it was a giant party. Helped the weather was awesome. Hobey ceremony was right there also. I had a great time this year also. I thought Boston did well but not so sure it would have been as good without 2 local teams? For a Mainer its an easy drive, drove to hotel, parked car and never got in car again until the drive home. Walked around the city on Friday and Saturday, Wife got to go shopping, I found some different FF teeshirts in some sports related stores away from arena. The games were good, not sure what more anyone could have wanted except good arena food and maybe beer in the arena. Actually I'm glad they don't sell beer in Arena.

I have no interest in Chicago but St Paul I do. Not sure I can afford it but we'll see. I'll bet I have a hard time getting rid of Chicago tickets???

[pgb-ohio]

Re: The Frozen Four

There were a lot of complaints about how the 2004 Frozen Four came off in Boston, so it was not all that surprising that it took a while for the tournament to return. The overall impression of this event seems a lot better, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a quicker return this time.

This is the bottom line.

Boston did very little that I saw to promote the event. Every other FF city I've been to has made it an event in and around the arena. It wasn't bad but it ranked as the least satisfying FF that I've been to, other than the games.

True enough, but the hosting went from seriously problematic in 2004 to acceptable in 2015. Given that a significant percentage of the Frozen Four Fanbase lives within commuting distance of the Garden, and that Boston is a great city for the rest of us to visit, I'd say that Boston should once again be a frequently chosen site.

Focusing specifically on the lack of promotion, the track record is quite clear -- starting with the absence of supporting materials in the ticket shipments. But it's a trade-off. Other cities have other weaknesses.

The Garden itself ... why do you close concessions for a sold out game? ...There's no excuse for the garbage concessions that were available. Cold hot dogs, fries cooked beyond the point of being edible, and $6 sodas.

Again, I can't really disagree. I'd add that it was odd that the seafood stand was sold out of pretty much everything early on Thursday. Was it that hard to grasp that out-of-town visitors might be interested in the more unique concessions? That said, I was later advised by a local that the seafood items were usually of poor quality. In other words, the seafood sellout may have been a blessing in disguise.

Silver lining: With the 5:00 start time on Thursday, it was possible to eat an early meal outside the arena. Needing only a snack between games, the mediocre concessions weren't that big a problem. And obviously on Saturday it was possible to eat at the normal dinner hour and get seated in plenty of time for the opening face-off. Lots of great choices within walking distance of the Garden.

I have no interest in Chicago but St Paul I do. Not sure I can afford it but we'll see. I'll bet I have a hard time getting rid of Chicago tickets???

My thought is that Chicago has the potential to be like DC. Desirable tourist city. Drivable for a good percentage of us. Genuinely neutral site. Up front, it probably won't be a hard sellout. But that's been true for a number of years now, regardless of the host city. The secondary market? That will depend on the participating schools. While I certainly wouldn't purchase tickets to the Chicago FF as an investment vehicle, I doubt many ticketholders will be stuck with extras -- unless the tournament winds up with a full slate of teams that don't draw well. But again, all of that has been the norm for a while now. The hard sellouts of 1998, 2002, 2004 & 2006 are a thing of the past. Maybe they'll be back in the future. But at the present, I'd expect Chicago to compare very favorably with 2009, 2013 & 2014, to name a few.

[FireKnight]

Re: The Frozen Four

It's going on twenty years old. That's a little old to qualify as "brand new."

Fair enough. I guess I'm comparing it to the older than dirt arena where my NHL team plays its home games.

[mookie1995]

Re: The Frozen Four

It took three hours for police to clear the young revelers, one of whom threw a 1.75-liter vodka bottle that struck Patrolman Michael Clary and sent him the hospital to get 20 stitches in his head.

“We have reached out to the police to apologize and to the officer to apologize,” said Steve Maurano, associate vice president for public affairs, community and government relations at Providence College. “But other than the fires and the bottle thrown, the majority of the celebration was controlled.”

While police complained that the celebration “created a very perilous situation,” as it required the department to send 60 officers, leaving other areas of the city “minimally protected,” the school played down the seriousness of the issue.

“For the most part it was a predictable response,” Maurano said. “Your student body is going to be enthusiastic celebrating something like this. The large majority were just letting off steam.”

[Rover]

Re: The Frozen Four

While it may be splitting hairs, I think the high prices and crappy food are a direct result of the Bruins (the owners of the arena) being run by a real life version of Monty Burns, their awful owner Jeremy Jacobs, who's used to screwing Bruins fans with a crappy product (until recent years) for top dollars.

Beyond that though, the atmosphere outside the arena was great. Was there any bar in the neighborhood that didn't have a big line outside of it? Lots to do nearby and good representation out of fans who's schools didn't make it, as well as all the UND fans who stuck around for the final game. Its a little tough to do a 4 day extravaganza with both the Bruins and the Celtics having games during that stretch while both were trying to make the playoffs but all in all I hope it comes back again soon.