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Attendance
- Thread starter J.D.
- Start date
Re: Attendance
Bridgeport looked pretty good tonight. Worcester was excellent I thought...will be interesting to see what tomorrow is like with only one local team left. Didn't really see any of Allentown and South Dakota seemed decent given it's Air Force and UMD.
Bridgeport looked pretty good tonight. Worcester was excellent I thought...will be interesting to see what tomorrow is like with only one local team left. Didn't really see any of Allentown and South Dakota seemed decent given it's Air Force and UMD.
Re: Attendance
In Sioux Falls, the West seems to have found a neutral site that actually works. First time in a long time. No, Fargo does not count. Fargo worked financially. For neutrality, it was hypocrisy on steroids.
The other part of the 2018 package was three Eastern Regionals. For truth-in-advertising, Allentown probably should have been called the Mid-East Regional.
Again, I'm grateful for this year's success. But having three Eastern Regionals on a permanent basis would definitely raise a fairness question.
Let's see what happens for the next couple of years before getting too excited. Maybe this really is the start of a new, positive trend for the regionals. Or maybe it's a one year aberration.
After many years of embarrassment and disaster, it was really nice to see respectable crowds at each of the venues. But for the same reason, it's WAY too early to be declaring victory on this.
In Sioux Falls, the West seems to have found a neutral site that actually works. First time in a long time. No, Fargo does not count. Fargo worked financially. For neutrality, it was hypocrisy on steroids.
The other part of the 2018 package was three Eastern Regionals. For truth-in-advertising, Allentown probably should have been called the Mid-East Regional.
Again, I'm grateful for this year's success. But having three Eastern Regionals on a permanent basis would definitely raise a fairness question.Let's see what happens for the next couple of years before getting too excited. Maybe this really is the start of a new, positive trend for the regionals. Or maybe it's a one year aberration.
Re: Attendance
The regional final in theory will almost always be fewer people but the semifinal totals were very good. Despite ticket prices still being too high, good turnout. Definitely not saying it's a sign of things to come. All depends on where the regionals are and who is in them.
The regional final in theory will almost always be fewer people but the semifinal totals were very good. Despite ticket prices still being too high, good turnout. Definitely not saying it's a sign of things to come. All depends on where the regionals are and who is in them.
Split-N
All Hail
Re: Attendance
I think the committee got it right this year by putting a premium on maximizing attendance and minimizing travel. Hockey has always been somewhat unique among the team sports because it is and always has been bifurcated along east-west lines. So what we got this year were two eastern regionals with mostly eastern teams and two western regionals with mostly western teams. I have no problem with that.
As for Allentown, the name of a regional is just a label. Despite the fact that it's in PA, it's as good a location for most of the Midwest teams if places like Cincinnati choose not to bid.
I think the committee got it right this year by putting a premium on maximizing attendance and minimizing travel. Hockey has always been somewhat unique among the team sports because it is and always has been bifurcated along east-west lines. So what we got this year were two eastern regionals with mostly eastern teams and two western regionals with mostly western teams. I have no problem with that.
As for Allentown, the name of a regional is just a label. Despite the fact that it's in PA, it's as good a location for most of the Midwest teams if places like Cincinnati choose not to bid.
RPI fan 4 life
Season Ticket Holder since 1974
Re: Attendance
I attended both days at Bridgeport it appeared there were about 3-3.5K folks on Friday and at least 5K on Saturday. Spoke to some Michigan Tech folks and that trip they took was horrible 15 hour drive or no easy flights into NYC for them. For the distance they turned out well. For whatever reason Clarkson did not travel well Friday. Providence fans saved the day attendance wise on Saturday, although when ND scored the winning goal on Saturday, I was surprised at the size of the cheer that went up.
I attended both days at Bridgeport it appeared there were about 3-3.5K folks on Friday and at least 5K on Saturday. Spoke to some Michigan Tech folks and that trip they took was horrible 15 hour drive or no easy flights into NYC for them. For the distance they turned out well. For whatever reason Clarkson did not travel well Friday. Providence fans saved the day attendance wise on Saturday, although when ND scored the winning goal on Saturday, I was surprised at the size of the cheer that went up.
Re: Attendance
The Irish have alumni everywhere (we always called them the "subway alumni")
The Irish have alumni everywhere (we always called them the "subway alumni")
Re: Attendance
Exactly right. And I have another theory as well. Regarding this rule about "avoiding intra-conference matchups" in the first round...despite what they may say it's NOT so that you get to "mix up" the games (not having teams that play each other all year play each other in the first round), it's for ATTENDANCE reasons. Imagine in the Northeast, for example, if you had BU/NU in the first round. There would be NOBODY there today. So they try to maximize potential for both days. Obviously they'll get it the first day, but if both local teams are knocked out before the final, it would be a disaster. Now, admittedly, this is easier to do in the East to the geographical concentration of schools and the closer proximity to major population centers.
Exactly right. And I have another theory as well. Regarding this rule about "avoiding intra-conference matchups" in the first round...despite what they may say it's NOT so that you get to "mix up" the games (not having teams that play each other all year play each other in the first round), it's for ATTENDANCE reasons. Imagine in the Northeast, for example, if you had BU/NU in the first round. There would be NOBODY there today. So they try to maximize potential for both days. Obviously they'll get it the first day, but if both local teams are knocked out before the final, it would be a disaster. Now, admittedly, this is easier to do in the East to the geographical concentration of schools and the closer proximity to major population centers.
Re: Attendance
Lots of local SO-CT "Irish" ethnically hockey fans as well. Myself included. The ND band was a treat to hear. Still hate the helmets.
The Irish have alumni everywhere (we always called them the "subway alumni")
Lots of local SO-CT "Irish" ethnically hockey fans as well. Myself included. The ND band was a treat to hear. Still hate the helmets.
WeAreNDHockey
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Re: Attendance
Not sure what the prices for 2-day passes were elsewhere but I think they were $70 dollars at Bridgeport. This is at least within the realm of reasonable pricing, although I find $70 a bit too high for casual fans. I'm not sure what it cost to get in for just Saturday's ND/PC final. It would be nice if the NCAA (or is it NC$$) would reduce the required financial guarantee host institutions must pay to the NCAA, and they'd likely reduce ticket prices to maximize attendance. The more people in the building the more they make from parking and food and other trinkets.
From the TV shots, it did look like the buildings were all a little better than some regionals in the recent years. Perhaps the nadir was reached and we've seen an uptick as we've seen a steadier (if not completely healthy) economy.
One thing I'd like to see is all conferences go to a home ice format for their conference tournaments. You eliminate the travel required for half the fan bases to see their team play the weekend before the NCAAs and that alone may make people more willing to make a drive, spend a night at a hotel and all of the other costs associated with traveling to see yor team.
Not sure what the prices for 2-day passes were elsewhere but I think they were $70 dollars at Bridgeport. This is at least within the realm of reasonable pricing, although I find $70 a bit too high for casual fans. I'm not sure what it cost to get in for just Saturday's ND/PC final. It would be nice if the NCAA (or is it NC$$) would reduce the required financial guarantee host institutions must pay to the NCAA, and they'd likely reduce ticket prices to maximize attendance. The more people in the building the more they make from parking and food and other trinkets.
From the TV shots, it did look like the buildings were all a little better than some regionals in the recent years. Perhaps the nadir was reached and we've seen an uptick as we've seen a steadier (if not completely healthy) economy.
One thing I'd like to see is all conferences go to a home ice format for their conference tournaments. You eliminate the travel required for half the fan bases to see their team play the weekend before the NCAAs and that alone may make people more willing to make a drive, spend a night at a hotel and all of the other costs associated with traveling to see yor team.
Re: Attendance
Ironically the formation of the B1G Hockey Conference has made it somewhat easier to have West vs. West match-ups that are nevertheless contests between two conferences.
If you want to say that having a Midwest Regional in Allentown was the lesser of the available evils, I can agree with that. I'll even go so far as to say it was the right call for 2018. But to suggest it's a "good" location for most Midwestern teams is extremely inaccurate, and quite frankly insulting.
For a comparison, note that my friends from Boston grumble about driving to Albany (3 Hours) and complain bitterly about driving to Buffalo. (8 Hours)
As long as there are no intra-conference match-ups in the first round, this is acceptable. You do need to have a little good luck with the tournament field. But this year was a pretty good result.
Ironically the formation of the B1G Hockey Conference has made it somewhat easier to have West vs. West match-ups that are nevertheless contests between two conferences.
I'm sorry, but I have to call you out on this. From the Upper Midwest, the drive to Allentown is 15-20 hours or more. It's a better situation from the Central States. But it's still 7-8 Hours from Columbus to Allentown; 10 hours from Ann Arbor.
If you want to say that having a Midwest Regional in Allentown was the lesser of the available evils, I can agree with that. I'll even go so far as to say it was the right call for 2018. But to suggest it's a "good" location for most Midwestern teams is extremely inaccurate, and quite frankly insulting.
For a comparison, note that my friends from Boston grumble about driving to Albany (3 Hours) and complain bitterly about driving to Buffalo. (8 Hours)
WeAreNDHockey
\../ \../
Re: Attendance
I hear people compliment the Irish band all the time, and I'm not sure I know why. Don't get me wrong, I think they're great, but as they are MY band I'm supposed to think they are great. What about them sets them apart? Frankly, I find most of the college bands great and love the atmosphere they provide. I hate it when a team in a regional or the FF doesn't bring a band, and I wish the NCAA would also provide dedicated transportation and per diem SPECIFICALLY for bands. All they require is space in the arena.
I hear people compliment the Irish band all the time, and I'm not sure I know why. Don't get me wrong, I think they're great, but as they are MY band I'm supposed to think they are great. What about them sets them apart? Frankly, I find most of the college bands great and love the atmosphere they provide. I hate it when a team in a regional or the FF doesn't bring a band, and I wish the NCAA would also provide dedicated transportation and per diem SPECIFICALLY for bands. All they require is space in the arena.
MTUHuskies
New member
Re: Attendance
My biggest complaint about the attendance is when they put the games in a building that is too big for the crowd. 8,000 fans in a 10,000 rink isn't bad. If that rink holds 15,000+, or if you have 4,000-5,000 in a rink that holds 10,000, then there is no atmosphere at all. I was at both WCHA Championship games on campus this year and last and nothing beats a full building even though the crowds were less than 4,500 each time. They don't have to move the NCAA onto campus, just "right-size" the venue. In my opinion if you fill a 10,000 seat arena and turn 2,000 fans away that is a good thing. Better than 12,000 in an NHL rink.
My biggest complaint about the attendance is when they put the games in a building that is too big for the crowd. 8,000 fans in a 10,000 rink isn't bad. If that rink holds 15,000+, or if you have 4,000-5,000 in a rink that holds 10,000, then there is no atmosphere at all. I was at both WCHA Championship games on campus this year and last and nothing beats a full building even though the crowds were less than 4,500 each time. They don't have to move the NCAA onto campus, just "right-size" the venue. In my opinion if you fill a 10,000 seat arena and turn 2,000 fans away that is a good thing. Better than 12,000 in an NHL rink.
Re: Attendance
Another funny thing after reading the host handbook was that the NCAA only allows 25 free seats for band members per team. I think the big "football" schools just seem to have large and well prepared bands with identifiable fight songs. The bands in the northeast that I am used to hearing are smaller and a little more rough around the edges.
Another funny thing after reading the host handbook was that the NCAA only allows 25 free seats for band members per team. I think the big "football" schools just seem to have large and well prepared bands with identifiable fight songs. The bands in the northeast that I am used to hearing are smaller and a little more rough around the edges.