2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

[Nowheresville]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

Again, things did turn out well. But comparable cities have done a little better, and deserve to be closer to the front of the line, IMHO.

I'm really curious as to what comparable cities you think have done better?

I was only there Saturday, but it seems like my experience was the exact opposite of yours. I came in pretty skeptical, and and little disappointed because Philly isn't a very easy place to get to for me, and its never been a place I've had a desire to spend a lot of time, and came out extremely impressed. I thought Philly did a fantastic job of hosting, and I can't think of how they would have improved it much. The city really embraced the event, as you saw signs up all over town. There's plenty of stuff to do to fill up a weekend, and it's pretty easy to get around, and the entertainment complex right next door was a big plus too.

Obviously on Thursday, you're going to get people who only go to one of the two games, but that's going to be true anywhere. Saturday night, while you had scattered open seats around the rink, the only spot I saw large sections of empty seat was up at the top of the upper decks. I also saw a fair number of people with Flyers gear on, and really, when you're pricing an event at $100+ a night, you're counting on the college hockey die-hards and the fans of the specific teams. Outside of Boston and St. Paul, I don't know you can expect more much anywhere from the locals.

I'm not saying that Philly is going to be in the running to get the event every time, but I'd like to see the FF back there again maybe 8-10 years down the road.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

I'm really curious as to what comparable cities you think have done better?

DC; St. Louis; Denver.

I was only there Saturday, but it seems like my experience was the exact opposite of yours.

The contrast between Thursday-only & Saturday-only might explain a lot. Also, gotta admit I had to leave town early for non-hockey reasons, and I was a little discouraged by that. Maybe that's coloring my judgment a bit.

I came in pretty skeptical, and and little disappointed because Philly isn't a very easy place to get to for me, and its never been a place I've had a desire to spend a lot of time, and came out extremely impressed. I thought Philly did a fantastic job of hosting, and I can't think of how they would have improved it much. The city really embraced the event, as you saw signs up all over town. There's plenty of stuff to do to fill up a weekend, and it's pretty easy to get around, and the entertainment complex right next door was a big plus too.

Outside the arena, I wouldn't say the city fell short. I was also pleased by the city, including the sports complex. But inside the arena, my expectation is the public allotment should sell out, or come very close to it. To my eye, Thursday in Philly was the worst public turnout since Anaheim in 1999. Never has the NCAA tried so hard to sell Frozen Four tickets to the public. Yet they only achieved so-so results.

One nuance to consider: CLS made the point that many ticketholders from the Upper Bowl moved down to Lower Level on a "festival seating" basis. Perhaps that made the "corporate friends" look a little better than they really deserved; while public ticket buyers actually purchased ducats in greater numbers than was readily apparent.

Obviously on Thursday, you're going to get people who only go to one of the two games, but that's going to be true anywhere.

Well, yeah, but... When an unusually high percentage of the crowd comes from the participating schools, that factor will be magnified. That's what happened Thursday, IMHO. More turnover between games than usual.

Saturday night, while you had scattered open seats around the rink, the only spot I saw large sections of empty seat was up at the top of the upper decks. I also saw a fair number of people with Flyers gear on, and really, when you're pricing an event at $100+ a night, you're counting on the college hockey die-hards and the fans of the specific teams.

If Flyer fans really turned out in strong numbers on Saturday, good for them. And as I've previously posted, if a tournament gains momentum as it moves forward, that's a selling point for a return visit.

Outside of Boston and St. Paul, I don't know you can expect more much anywhere from the locals.

I'd add Milwaukee to that list, but I agree with you. It's unfair to compare a first time host to the college hockey hotbeds. But that's not what I had in mind at any point on this thread.

I'm not saying that Philly is going to be in the running to get the event every time, but I'd like to see the FF back there again maybe 8-10 years down the road.

If that happens, I'd personally benefit. So sure, bring it on. But now you're putting Philly in with the hotbeds. Boston waited 11 years for another chance. St. Paul waited 9 years, then next will wait 7 years. Milwaukee last hosted in 2006 and is still waiting. OK, if I understand it correctly, UW is involved in hosting the next Tampa tournament. Now that shouldn't really count as a hotbed FF. But even if UW's involvement makes it so, that's still a 10 year wait. Philly just doesn't belong with that group; not that you'd necessarily disagree. But I also can't accept that Philly is among the "best of the rest," a point on which we apparently do disagree.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

So I just got an email from the NCAA pushing signing up for priority staus for tickets to nest years FF. It says if you already have priority staus, you don't have to. Now, I haven't been to a FF since the last time it was in Boston in 2004, but back then, I did have priority status, as it existed then. Does that mean that I'm still priority, although probably a bit further back down in the pecking order, or has the process changed since then?

Most likely, your points are fine. To the very best of my knowledge, the point system hasn't changed. The worst case scenario should be that you'd have to work with Customer Service to have your points restored. Over the years Customer Service has done a fairly solid job when individual priority holders have taken the initiative and contacted them.

I wouldn't read too much into the e-mail. Marketing efforts are what they are. Often the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Who knows for sure why you got on a particular e-mail list?

As an example, the NCAA typically sets up a table at each FF, and offers a drawing for free tickets to the following year's tournament. Registrants are supposed to provide an e-mail address. Conversely, no one is asked whether they are a priority holder. It wouldn't surprise me at all to hear that these addresses are used in marketing, even if the list winds up being over-inclusive. I realize this example isn't directly applicable to your case, but you get the idea.

 

[Nowheresville]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

I'd add Milwaukee to that list, but I agree with you.

I've got some bad news for you then, the FF is likely not coming back to Milwaukee anytime soon, and it has nothing to do with Wisconsin hosting in Tampa. UW also made a bid to host in Milwaukee, but the NCAA has basically said it doesn't believe the Bradley Center is a championship caliber venue anymore. I also would disagree that Milwaukee is a college hockey hotbed, although I'd love for them to try to prove me wrong and make an attempt to host a regional or the B1G tournament and get a strong crowd.

But I also can't accept that Philly is among the "best of the rest," a point on which we apparently do disagree.

Maybe it should be 10-15 years, instead of 8-10 - although I'd note that St. Paul is only going 7 years between hosting, and Tampa just 4. It's my understanding that there were some issues between the NCAA and Boston after the last time it was there, leading to the relatively long lag time. But more to the point, yeah, I'd think Philly would fall into the best of the rest category. I'd also say that moving forward, I don't think we're going to see many new venues, like we've seen in the past decade. With the possible exception of Brooklyn or another nontraditional location like Nashville, I think we're mostly going to be repeat cities in the upcoming years.

But I'll also admit, this was only my second time going to the men's frozen four. I was also in Tampa and also just for the Saturday there, so I don't have a lot to compare it to. I will say though, after Tampa, I left thinking they did a really nice job and thinking it was something I needed to go to again in the future. After Philly, I left wondering why I don't make it a priority to go every year, and that has to be a big win for the NCAA and Philly.

 

[hobeydog]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

You are correct and there was some bad blood between the NCAA and the Bruins in '04. The Bruins wouldn't remove their logo from center ice and elsewhere because they made the playoffs that year and had a game with the Habs on the Friday off-day. Possibly, there were more problems.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

Lulz. If that's the case, then the NCAA overreached. I don't blame the bruins for a second for not removing the logo during the playoffs.

 

[alfablue]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

With a lot of people putting reviews in, might as well, too....

Rink Location- we must not be ones who enjoy the tailgaiting aspect of the event, as I'd rather be able to walk directly to the rink instead of driving or taking public transportation. So that was a minus for me (just me in our party). But it turned out ok- I was worried that getting a train back to the city would be a pain, but both nights it turned out not to be. I'm sure leaving early for the not all that entertaining UND-Minny game helped (I'm ok missing the last 0.6 seconds), but even after the NC game it was pretty easy. The system had express trains that skipped a ton of stops, going directly to ours. That, and we were delayed finding my parents a cab to get back to their hotel post game.

Atmosphere- I noted the lower bowl holes as well, thougth they should have been better filled. Even Saturday night, the upper bowl appeard to be more full than the sides of the lower. I wish they allowed more lottery selections mid-rink- which would give us better end-zone seats. Even then, our priority got us good seats close to were we sit at our home rink. For the most part, the typical people who show up plust the 4 teams defined the crowd- which was good. We had a great time there.

City- way more than I expected it to be. To the point where we may even think about travelling to Philly just for fun. Access was really great for us- we would fly this far regardless- and really liked the train access to the city. But for this trip, we had a pre-trip that had us come in from roughly Newark airport. Given the option- next time we would just take a train. (we took a bus that did cruise transportation, which was just o.k.). In terms of places to eat, stuff to see, entertainment- Philly was really great. In terms of places to run- the river area was really, really cool- and adding in the museums as sights was awesome.

All in all, I hope that we can go back to Philly before we grow tired of attending Frozen Fours. We had a really good time. (although, that may have helped that the FF was the 3rd part of the trip, all of which was a TON of fun)

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

I've got some bad news for you then, the FF is likely not coming back to Milwaukee anytime soon, and it has nothing to do with Wisconsin hosting in Tampa. UW also made a bid to host in Milwaukee, but the NCAA has basically said it doesn't believe the Bradley Center is a championship caliber venue anymore. I also would disagree that Milwaukee is a college hockey hotbed, although I'd love for them to try to prove me wrong and make an attempt to host a regional or the B1G tournament and get a strong crowd.

I have no direct ties to UW, other than conference loyalty. Milwaukee is a place I enjoy, but again there's no personal stake. So I don't really take this as "bad" news.

You could do an entire thread on the Badger Hockey fanbase. Short version of a long story: For many years, no college hockey fanbase made a bigger splash in NCAA play than UW. The organized cheers and the band generated something of a "wow factor" for those seeing "the show" for the first time. Some purists scoffed, thinking the revelry was unnecessary or even a negative. Everyone had an opinion. But there was no denying the energy they brought to the rink.

In recent years, that impact has waned a bit. Maybe the fanbase aged. Maybe the current coaching staff runs an effective but boring system. Maybe the ascendancy of Badger Football & Hoops has stolen some of the Hockey team's thunder. Maybe all of the above. Regardless, my feeling is that the history is there, and that they have the potential to rise again.

I am very surprised to hear that Bradley Center has been deemed to be below minimum standards. Obviously there's been a facilities arms race is pro sports generally. And no doubt Bradley Center lacks some of the bells and whistles of the newer buildings. But classified as unacceptable? That one leaves me scratching my head.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, aren't you actually from Madison? You'd know the history of UW Hockey a lot better than I do.

Maybe it should be 10-15 years, instead of 8-10 - although I'd note that St. Paul is only going 7 years between hosting, and Tampa just 4. It's my understanding that there were some issues between the NCAA and Boston after the last time it was there, leading to the relatively long lag time. But more to the point, yeah, I'd think Philly would fall into the best of the rest category. I'd also say that moving forward, I don't think we're going to see many new venues, like we've seen in the past decade. With the possible exception of Brooklyn or another nontraditional location like Nashville, I think we're mostly going to be repeat cities in the upcoming years.

I'm good with all of this; I've got no problem agreeing to disagree on Philly's specific ranking.

Agreed, Tampa after only a 4 year wait was a spectacular surprise. But the NCAA hit the trifecta with Tampa: truly neutral site, close to sellouts, universally thrilled customers. If 2016 goes just as well, Tampa may become a regular stop for the FF.

But I'll also admit, this was only my second time going to the men's frozen four. I was also in Tampa and also just for the Saturday there, so I don't have a lot to compare it to.

Since 1989 I've only missed two tournaments. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say my database is a little deeper than yours. Of course that doesn't automatically make me right on any disagreements we might have. Still, I'm going to suggest that if you were pleased by Philly, you would have been thrilled by DC in 2009, to cite just one example.

I will say though, after Tampa, I left thinking they did a really nice job and thinking it was something I needed to go to again in the future. After Philly, I left wondering why I don't make it a priority to go every year, and that has to be a big win for the NCAA and Philly.

Go for it; you're my kind of poster. When you're willing to go to the Frozen Four with or without a rooting interest, you've taken your game to the next level.

 

[hobeydog]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

For those interested, TV ratings and views on smartphones and tablets was up significantly this year...

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/20...on-i-frozen-four-increases-viewership/254790/

 

[LTsatch]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

I just received an email survey concerning some specific frozen four items. Asked alot of questions about the video boards, the frozen fest. Also offered up ten cities for future hosting and my ranking of each. Asked what I would change , I told them to lower ticket prices, sell beer, and allow re-entry at semis. They also asked if i downloaded the digital program, which i did not even know about.

 

[BigAl]

I just received an email survey concerning some specific frozen four items. Asked alot of questions about the video boards, the frozen fest. Also offered up ten cities for future hosting and my ranking of each. Asked what I would change , I told them to lower ticket prices, sell beer, and allow re-entry at semis. They also asked if i downloaded the digital program, which i did not even know about.

They did offer re-entry. You had to go out a specific exit and get a stamp and come back and show your stamp and your tickets

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

They did offer re-entry. You had to go out a specific exit and get a stamp and come back and show your stamp and your tickets

Boy, they did a sh**t job of getting word out for that... Cripes.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

They did offer re-entry. You had to go out a specific exit and get a stamp and come back and show your stamp and your tickets

Never knew that either, I guess I was pre-programmed during the regional, and didn't even think to ask.

 

[CLS]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

Boy, they did a sh**t job of getting word out for that... Cripes.

Probably because they didn't want too many people to do it. They've done that in the past also (severely restricted where you could do it and just generally made it difficult). I guess my question is, though, with the setup in Philly, where could you go, other than maybe out for a smoke? I could understand wanting to do it in Boston, where there are bars and restaurants right across the street.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

Yeah. It would have been nice because the food inside the arena was not good. I would have definitely gone to more of the first game if I could have gone to eat between the games. Even if it was just at xfinity.

After thinking about this, I just wanted to clarify that me saying I thought the food was t great isn't a shot at anyone. It all comes down to the tastes you gravitate towards. Just thought I'd throw that out there since I didn't want it to be read the wrong way.

 

[melmac]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

Probably because they didn't want too many people to do it. They've done that in the past also (severely restricted where you could do it and just generally made it difficult). I guess my question is, though, with the setup in Philly, where could you go, other than maybe out for a smoke? I could understand wanting to do it in Boston, where there are bars and restaurants right across the street.

Xfinity Live, perhaps?

 

[LTsatch]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

From seat to Xfinity Live was at least a 30 minute round trip, most likely not enough time to have a meal and return by the second game start time. Enough time for a beer or two? Absolutely!

 

[claver2010]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

I told them to lower ticket prices, sell beer

Ha neither are going to happen.

No beer goes way beyond hockey.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

Ha neither are going to happen.

No beer goes way beyond hockey.

The funny thing is that in Philly, between the club and luxury boxes plus the Cadillac Club, about 1/4 of the fans had access to beer AND hard liquor. I understand that selling a higher priced "hospitality" ticket makes the money makers more money, but you can't say it's for crowd control purposes.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: 2014 Frozen Four Info Thread

They have always had the stamp door for smokers