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Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

Great post! And I suspect we'll be seeing similar comments about attendance at Regionals in a few weeks.

Get ready for that Allentown regional! Maybe they can get Billy Joel to perform.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

Regarding attendance - we have the same arguments here in University at Buffalo discussion forums. Everyone thinks there's something specifically wrong with their crowds at their games, when in fact this is a general problem across almost all college sports. There is an immense competition these days for people's time and attention, and it's too easy to just sit at home and follow sports (often from higher levels of play). Everyone says "our fanbase is big enough that we should never have a problem filling the arena/stadium." Maybe this is just a period when the powers that be can't simply assume everyone will show up, they're going to have to put some effort into marketing and making sure it's a fun time. Even something like the Beanpot.

100% correct. Unfortunately, I believe it goes beyond that. Not sure that marketing will help much. I'm quite sure people are "aware" of the events, but you have a generation of "observers." We PARTICIPATED in things. We didn't have social media, ESPN, a million games on every second, and "organized" activities. We PLAYED ball after school. We didn't get driven to "organized" practices where the "good" players play and the rest sit and watch. We ALL played. We mimicked our "idols" that we saw on TV (Yaz grabbing his crotch and spinning the bat, Fisk stepping out and staring at the bat with one foot behind him, Cousy with his one-hand push shot). That's how we learned...by DOING. You're not going to be "involved" by just looking at a Tweet about some game. We WENT to games because it was the only way to watch sports. We had three TV channels (Channels 4 5 and 7 and later 38 and 56). Some of us could get Channel 9 in Manchester or 10 in Providence (BTW I realize you are not local, but since this is a Beanpot thread I am speaking mostly to the local folks). There was a game on once a week. Channel 2 (PBS) would show college hockey maybe 5 times a year (usually Harvard). It was a different world. Personally, I don't think you will EVER see the audience participation as it was in "peak" times. Those days are gone forever. Frankly I think some of these schools are building arenas that are too large. I would buy into the concept that it is also to hold "other" events, like concerts, except that there are so many regional civic centers and mid-sized arenas now that I'm not even sure how long it will be before those are obsolete as well.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

Get ready for that Allentown regional! Maybe they can get Billy Joel to perform.

Nobody will be able to go. They're spending time filling out forms and standing in line...

(BTW he has a channel on Sirius/XM - Channel 30 - for a limited time. On his show he actually explained that song...it was meant to describe Bethlehem, a few miles down the road, but Bethlehem didn't rhyme with anything. He explained how it was easier to write "Well we're living here in Allen<b>TOWN</b> and they're closing all the factories <b>DOWN</b>" and that it just didn't sound right to use "Bethlehem". Interesting stuff...)
 
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Frankly I think some of these schools are building arenas that are too large. I would buy into the concept that it is also to hold "other" events, like concerts, except that there are so many regional civic centers and mid-sized arenas now that I'm not even sure how long it will be before those are obsolete as well.

the rest of your post is very good...
but the above, so very valid... and wait until the AI, AR applications hit in home entertainment.. gonna be a very different world & not sure how the dance around this goes...
except to embrace it, incorporate it somehow and hope for the best.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

Beanpot thread in 2011 had 759 posts.
Beanpot thread in 2017 had 214 posts.

Through the years the number of posts have declined in general. I'd be curious to see if posting on the message boards overall have gone down over the years too.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

Frankly I think some of these schools are building arenas that are too large. I would buy into the concept that it is also to hold "other" events, like concerts, except that there are so many regional civic centers and mid-sized arenas now that I'm not even sure how long it will be before those are obsolete as well.

I bet if BU and BC could magically replace their current arenas with versions containing about 2,000 fewer seats, they'd do it today. I've been to a handful of games at each rink, and the only one that sticks out to me as being even remotely full was the BU-BC game at Agganis last season, which was listed as a sell-out and looked pretty close to having every seat filled. Otherwise, I've never seen either arena more than 75% full. Same goes for Matthews and Bright, though those are obviously smaller buildings and the teams that play there aren't powerhouse brands like the other two Beanpot schools.

I bet UNH would also love to lower their capacity, since they never fill the Whitt anymore. And they seemingly used to sell out every game even within the past decade.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

The Beanpot this year means more to NU than any other school. So not a surprise that they're showing up in greater #'s and good for them. Good chance for them to finally win it this year and I'd expect them to contribute the vast majority of fans on Monday who make it to the arena.

I'm also speculating in BU and maybe BC's case the teams aren't as good as they have been in years past and there's no marquee players like Eichel skating around, so its not exactly a have-to-be-there event.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

This problem is not specific to the Beanpot. I recently tuned into a Minnesota-Notre Dame game on ESPN2 and there were tons of empty seats in Minneapolis.

From a BC perspective, I can go back and watch highlights from home games say 5 years ago and beyond...Conte Forum is packed. Not the case anymore and student turnout is abysmal.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

This problem is not specific to the Beanpot. I recently tuned into a Minnesota-Notre Dame game on ESPN2 and there were tons of empty seats in Minneapolis.

From a BC perspective, I can go back and watch highlights from home games say 5 years ago and beyond...Conte Forum is packed. Not the case anymore and student turnout is abysmal.

There is no doubt in my mind that cellphones/social media are a huge factor. I have two teenage boys, and if I would let them, they would spend all their free time on their phones, only taking a break to get on the X-Box (and by the way, they still want their phones while they play, so they can keep an eye on things, should they not be able to respond to a post/snap/tweet within seconds, heaven forbid). It is really scary to think of what the impact is going to be 10 and 20 years down the road. Having the screen time isn't the issue, it is all the things they AREN'T DOING, like going to a hockey game, reading a good book, getting creative outdoors, etc. Heck, even wandering a mall with friends would be a welcome social interaction at this point. Maybe other generations of parents had similar issues to deal with, but I feel like so we are the guinea pigs, unfortunately.
 
great post defkit. We went to the Head of the Charles this past year... have noticed over last couple yrs, not attended like it used to be, by far.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

There is no doubt in my mind that cellphones/social media are a huge factor. I have two teenage boys, and if I would let them, they would spend all their free time on their phones, only taking a break to get on the X-Box (and by the way, they still want their phones while they play, so they can keep an eye on things, should they not be able to respond to a post/snap/tweet within seconds, heaven forbid). It is really scary to think of what the impact is going to be 10 and 20 years down the road. Having the screen time isn't the issue, it is all the things they AREN'T DOING, like going to a hockey game, reading a good book, getting creative outdoors, etc. Heck, even wandering a mall with friends would be a welcome social interaction at this point. Maybe other generations of parents had similar issues to deal with, but I feel like so we are the guinea pigs, unfortunately.

100% agree.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

Also agree and taking defkit's thesis a step further, the addictive nature of social media and gaming seems to promote an indifference toward traditional competitive sports. Kids increasingly just don't see sports as relevant.

BTW, was watching recaps on the NHL Network last night and was taken by the number of empty seats in some places. Not happy times for sports marketing folks.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

There is no doubt in my mind that cellphones/social media are a huge factor. I have two teenage boys, and if I would let them, they would spend all their free time on their phones, only taking a break to get on the X-Box (and by the way, they still want their phones while they play, so they can keep an eye on things, should they not be able to respond to a post/snap/tweet within seconds, heaven forbid). It is really scary to think of what the impact is going to be 10 and 20 years down the road. Having the screen time isn't the issue, it is all the things they AREN'T DOING, like going to a hockey game, reading a good book, getting creative outdoors, etc. Heck, even wandering a mall with friends would be a welcome social interaction at this point. Maybe other generations of parents had similar issues to deal with, but I feel like so we are the guinea pigs, unfortunately.

1000% agree
 
I think the primary (but not only) reason for the drastic drop in hockey interest is that the game has effectively priced out kids from blue collar and middle class families. Just visit your local hockey shop and look at the price tags. Until recent years, ordinary kids who knew they had no shot at college or pro hockey would still play at a recreational level because a stick, helmet, and basic protective equipment was affordable. So they played, had fun, and developed an attachment to the game that they carried with them into adulthood.

Beyond equipment costs, the stratospheric expenses associated with elite travel programs also puts hockey beyond the reach of kids of modest means that have elite potential. And then there is the youth hockey culture that all too often seems so pre-occupied with grooming elite players that kids who just like to play get marginalized or ignored. And too many of them get frustrated and quit. The modern-day Eruziones/Craigs/O'Callahans/etc., are still playing sports. It's just not hockey.

So hockey has become a rich man's game and now finds itself paying the price in terms of plummeting interest at both the college and pro levels. Houston, we have a problem.

Just my BTC.00000000000000000000000002

He shoots! HE SCORES!!

I don't need a $300 hockey stick to play. Give me a $40 wooden stick that won't shatter anytime.

$900 for hockey skates?

This is getting worse than golf.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

I'm proud to report that I will be at Friday night's game at Agganis with my teenage son. Yes, he wants to go and he'll be paying attention the entire game. #Doesn'tOwnASmartPhone

I totally agree with the shift in viewing/attention spans. Heck, I fall victim to it myself. (Look a squirrel!)
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

He shoots! HE SCORES!!

I don't need a $300 hockey stick to play. Give me a $40 wooden stick that won't shatter anytime.

$900 for hockey skates?

This is getting worse than golf.

My son is so tired of me explaining that Bobby Orr used crappy skates (by today's standard) and Wayne Gretzky scored most of his goals with a wooden stick. He knows I will never spend more than $180 for skates for him and $90 for a stick.

The good thing is that for players that aren't really good (this group includes both my son due to age and me due to ability), the new sticks last a long time (much longer than the wooden ones did - those blades -used to get mashed up pretty good). I used to go through at least 3 wooden sticks per season, I have had the same $75 composite stick for about 4 years.
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

I'm sure NU fans are thrilled about this but I feel like Adam Gaudette should have been picked for the Olympic team
 
Re: Beanpot LXVI: The Tong Wars Resume

I'm sure NU fans are thrilled about this but I feel like Adam Gaudette should have been picked for the Olympic team

Absolutley. Also, after Sikura and Davies played in the Spengler Cup for Canada I thought it was a real possibility we'd be without at least 2 of the 3. With all 3 still here and Greenway in South Korea, it really feels like it better happen on Monday, or it's never gonna happen.
 
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