Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Actual averages for regional attendance since we went to 16 teams for the 2003 tourney:

City	Games	Avg. Attendance
Albany, NY	15	4613
Allentown, PA	3	6702
Amherst, MA	3	3562
Ann Arbor, MI	3	6792
Bridgeport, CT	15	6623
Cincinnati, OH	9	4837
Colorado Springs, CO	6	5881
Denver, CO	3	11183
Fargo, ND	6	5265
Fort Wayne, IN	3	3823
Grand Forks, ND	3	11266
Grand Rapids, MI	15	4404
Green Bay, WI	9	5161
Madison, WI	3	9917
Manchester, NH	21	7360
Minneapolis, MN	9	8764
Providence, RI	12	6425
Rochester, NY	3	3765
Sioux Falls, SD	3	8000
South Bend, IN	3	3982
st. Louis, MO	3	5024
St. Paul, MN	12	7625
Toledo, OH	3	2812
Worcester, MA	27	7090
Grand Total	192	6330

I understand these are boxscore numbers but I have to believe that numbers at Notre Dame were at least similar to other regionals, and the number 3982 had no basis in reality as far as butts in seats. It is, on the other hand, a believable number if we talk tickets sold. I was at all three games and can accurately estimate the number of people in the building with one of my eyes closed. There were perhaps 1500 in there on the first day when the place was most full, from the 3rd period of the first game through the 1st period of the second. The final was attended by perhaps 1200. But keep in mind as I posted elsewhere, Notre Dame season ticket holders were required to purchase tickets, so around 2200 tickets were sold that way. And also as I posted elsewhere I saw perhaps a dozen of the regulars in the crowd, and at the time I recognized, at least by face, many hundreds of our season ticket base. People just don't want to watch anyone but their own team.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Regionals are fine except hosts are bullsh-t.

 

[TeamPoland]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Shootin from the hip here.
How about we assign semi-permanent regions for the west and midwest, but rotate them.
Here is a plan, just an idea.
West regional rotates between fargo and target center(mpls). Midwest region rotates between excel (stp) and any location in wisc/mich/ohio/indiana depending on what school(s) host. The west regional in fargo is all und. When it rotates to target duluth and kato host. The midwest in excel is hosted by gophers and scsu. When rotates out to the 4 states schools can open bid (keeping 1 location somewhat open). Und in Fargo is obvious, they wont get every year, but every other. Umd and kato have target center. They were picked due to location, different conferences, and 1 team has history of a championship. Gophers and scsu to seperate umd and scsu(same conf) with gophs having the championships. This would help to reduce cost for all schools, provide logical centered locations(allentown?) and hopefully provide(eventually) decent attendance. They would never fill the big arenas got it, but we need to do something instead of whinning. This option is feasible with cooperation and patience.
You may go ahead and shhot it up.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

That’s more or less how it works out east. There’s generally five sites that see regionals on a somewhat regular basis, with a few other locations here and there.

That said, there isn’t really a good solution for the difference in density (for lack of a better term) of teams out here.

 

[TeamPoland]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Agreed. In my scenario colorado teams will always travel, not that i hate them, just trying to find the sweet spot. I just think with how mamy creative minds we have out there we could at least find a semi-solution. Not great, but acceptable.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

There’s only three teams out there. The next two closest teams are near Phoenix and Omaha.

Pretty much everything there is a flight, especially since odds are good that only DU would be there anyway.

That said: both Denver and Colorado Springs have better attendance numbers than any of the Ohio or Indiana locations, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[joecct]

There’s only three teams out there. The next two closest teams are near Phoenix and Omaha.

Pretty much everything there is a flight, especially since odds are good that only DU would be there anyway.

That said: both Denver and Colorado Springs have better attendance numbers than any of the Ohio or Indiana locations, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What's wrong with a Phoenix region??

 

[TeamPoland]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Phoenix would be expensive to try entice other team fans to travel. Flights. Could assign a conference a regional but that has its own issues as well.

 

[chickod]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Phoenix would be expensive to try entice other team fans to travel. Flights. Could assign a conference a regional but that has its own issues as well.

Besides, in the desert, you can't remember your name...

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

There’s only three teams out there. The next two closest teams are near Phoenix and Omaha.

Pretty much everything there is a flight, especially since odds are good that only DU would be there anyway.

That said: both Denver and Colorado Springs have better attendance numbers than any of the Ohio or Indiana locations, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That can easily be explained with: Where would you rather go for vacation? Denver, Columbus, or Indianapolis? I don't think that's a remotely close vote.

 

[tape]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

That’s more or less how it works out east. There’s generally five sites that see regionals on a somewhat regular basis, with a few other locations here and there.

That said, there isn’t really a good solution for the difference in density (for lack of a better term) of teams out here.

The eastern pair of regionals is mostly* 4 sites now, alternating Manchester/Providence and Worcester/Bridgeport pairs. Albany got thrown back in for 2016 (after being a rotation mainstay from 2003 when the 16-team field began and 2010) and it was awful. No one was there in 2016, and that place holds 14,000 for hockey. It was a sad, empty cavern. I believe the only other eastern site they've tried was Rochester, which hosted exactly once. The other four seem to generally work out decently enough - it'd be nice if the crowds were a little bigger but they're always decent.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Phoenix would be expensive to try entice other team fans to travel. Flights. Could assign a conference a regional but that has its own issues as well.

A flight is a flight is a flight. So if you're going to host in Colorado, Phoenix is effectively the same.

The proposal of semi-permanent rotating sites has been floated a number of times on here and offline. It makes sense honestly. Thus it will never happen. Also, a city would have to make some money on this for any city to even entertain being a permanent host. It makes a hell of a lot of sense to Bridgeport, Providence, Manchester, and Worcester for them to keep hosting because of the school density.

If you want to do that out west, you would need it to be in Minnesota or Michigan to have that kind of density. I'm not sure you could convince the Target Center or Xcel to be a permanent host unless the NCAA gives up a lot of bid requirements, which frankly are absurd. If I were a city I wouldn't even answer the phone call from the NCAA until they drop these requirements. The NCAA thinks this is an event like the Final Four. Each regional is an event that features less than 10% of the teams, from a niche sport with a tiny following, and the teams that participate are usually from a fairly long distance away. Why should any city want a piece of that turd unless it's going to make them cash?

 

[thebrain]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

I’m guessing Target Center has no interest in hosting. The arena does make ice for Disney on Ice, which was recently at the arena, but they’ll make more money hosting other events.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Target Center hosted the 2014-2017 NCHC tournament.

 

[davyd83]

That can easily be explained with: Where would you rather go for vacation? Denver, Columbus, or Indianapolis? I don't think that's a remotely close vote.

But it’s a little tough to plan your vacation with only 4 days advance.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

But it’s a little tough to plan your vacation with only 4 days advance.

That just makes my point even stronger. Where are you more apt to go on short notice?

Driving distance would be ideal, but you just don’t have that west of Pennsylvania outside of Michigan and Minnesota. And hell, Michigan is hard to include because it’s a shorter drive from Minnesota than it is from the UP if you’re going to Detroit or Grand Rapids. So you really only have lower half of Michigan to include in that count.

 

[TeamPoland]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

Trust me, if target could host they would. But i digress. It takes enthusiasm from the fan base and thats not easy. It beats a regional in a place that doesnt make sense bjout we will see.

 

[cetihcra]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

That just makes my point even stronger. Where are you more apt to go on short notice?

Driving distance would be ideal, but you just don’t have that west of Pennsylvania outside of Michigan and Minnesota. And hell, Michigan is hard to include because it’s a shorter drive from Minnesota than it is from the UP if you’re going to Detroit or Grand Rapids. So you really only have lower half of Michigan to include in that count.

Add in that teams from Michigan seem to dislike even MAKING the tournament, and that takes them out of the running....

r

 

[davyd83]

That just makes my point even stronger. Where are you more apt to go on short notice?

Driving distance would be ideal, but you just don’t have that west of Pennsylvania outside of Michigan and Minnesota. And hell, Michigan is hard to include because it’s a shorter drive from Minnesota than it is from the UP if you’re going to Detroit or Grand Rapids. So you really only have lower half of Michigan to include in that count.

Marquette to Detroit 6 hr 45 min
Minneapolis to Detroit 9 hr 45 min
Marquette to Minneapolis 6 hr 30 min

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Annual thread in which the absurdity of the current regional system is discussed

I dunno. We can get to Houghton faster than our friends from down in the lower half.

Regardless, I suppose neither is driving to Detroit.