Big Ten 2015-2016

[The Rube]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I heard a rumor about tickets being way overpriced. Can anybody here either confirm or deny this?

Last night, it was a minimum of $30, but there was also some bait-and-switch going on (oh, we just sold out of all the cheap tickets in the 5 minutes you took to decide whether to buy or not, it's now $45). Also, scalpers last night weren't budging. Tonight was a little better, promo'd the student rush tix a bit more ($20, could buy 2 per ID).

There were still about 4K-4.5K in the building, last night was more like 3K.

If you pre-bought, I believe face value averaged around $40/game, but someone who actually pre-bought should weigh in.

Either way, you chose your own seat both nights, no matter what your ticket said.

 

[RedFreak]

So you are excited about just two home games all year? That's it? Why go to the rest, then? I don't get it.

Send all of that money and not be happy with the opponent? Sure seems like a waste of money.

You do know this isn't going to change anytime, don't you?

I would watch the Badgers play Timbuktu, I just don't feel the same ffervor as watching them play North Dakota, Duluth, or Tech.

Yes, I know it is not going to change. But if you're looking for why tournament attendance is dreadful, one reason is they've amputated the traditional rivalries. I enjoyed traveling to St. Paul and watching St. Cloud play North Dakota. Penn State vs. Ohio State? Meh. I'll stay home and watch it on TV (if at all).

 

[klbaum1077]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

Last night, it was a minimum of $30, but there was also some bait-and-switch going on (oh, we just sold out of all the cheap tickets in the 5 minutes you took to decide whether to buy or not, it's now $45). Also, scalpers last night weren't budging. Tonight was a little better, promo'd the student rush tix a bit more ($20, could buy 2 per ID).

There were still about 4K-4.5K in the building, last night was more like 3K.

If you pre-bought, I believe face value averaged around $40/game, but someone who actually pre-bought should weigh in.

Either way, you chose your own seat both nights, no matter what your ticket said.

I paid 80 for the whole tournament back in September

 

[The Rube]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I paid 80 for the whole tournament back in September

I cheated the system with help from a buddy last night, got in for free. Another buddy bought me a student rush ticket tonight for $20, so I cannot complain one bit.

 

[D2D]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

FYI, of all the conference tourney finals Hockey East had the best attendance while three others had lower reported attendance than the B1G:

Hockey East - 14,018
NCHC - 11,643 (combined both games)
Big Ten - 6,180
ECAC - 4,626
WCHA - 4,048
AHA - 3,372

 

[The Rube]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

FYI, of all the conference tourney finals Hockey East had the best attendance while three others had lower reported attendance than the B1G:

Hockey East - 14,018
NCHC - 11,643 (combined both games)
Big Ten - 6,180
ECAC - 4,626
WCHA - 4,048
AHA - 3,372

The B1G might have had 6K actual attendance the last two nights...combined.

Edit: if that is what you're getting at. Tickets sold was way over-reported for the night games in the B1G.

 

[MGoBlueHockey]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

This thing is gonna work in the long run. For the sport growing in terms of D1 schools adding it.

As for the FSUs, Northerns and Techs of the world.....distant future looks grim financially.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

This thing is gonna work in the long run. For the sport growing in terms of D1 schools adding it.

As for the FSUs, Northerns and Techs of the world.....distant future looks grim financially.

No, those 3 schools are fine. The AK schools, however...

 

[blackswampboy]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

This thing is gonna work in the long run. For the sport growing in terms of D1 schools adding it.

As for the FSUs, Northerns and Techs of the world.....distant future looks grim financially.

Ferris just completed a $1.5 mil hockey endowment. They're fine.
http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/2015-16/releases/20160304f0ympb

 

[Meese]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I was also bummed to see the low turnout for the tournament. As a fan of Ferris State (I grew up in Big Rapids, there was nothing else to do but watch hockey) and an Alumni and fan of Michigan State, I watched the formation of the Hockey Death Star with the same wariness as everyone else. Unfortunately, I think the biggest problem is that hockey fans aren't the same as football or basketball fans. I'm pretty sure none of use think twice about making a trip to a game or forking over the cash to see our teams play. However, hockey doesn't really have the number of casual fans that other sports do. I think the previous tournaments were established enough on their own and geographically positioned for attendance to not be as much of a problem but I'm not sure how the Big 10 (and other leagues) will figure this problem out. Which is a bummer because the hockey that is played is good hockey. It would just be nice if people came to see it...

 

[MGoBlueHockey]

Ferris just completed a $1.5 mil hockey endowment. They're fine.
http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/2015-16/releases/20160304f0ympb

I didn't say they'd fold. I said it'll be tight once more big boys learn how to play. I'm talking DISTANT future.

 

[blackswampboy]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I didn't say they'd fold. I said it'll be tight once more big boys learn how to play. I'm talking DISTANT future.

?
no, you said "the distant future looks grim financially".
obviously an endowment is designed to prepare for the financial future. they'll be fine.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I was also bummed to see the low turnout for the tournament. As a fan of Ferris State (I grew up in Big Rapids, there was nothing else to do but watch hockey) and an Alumni and fan of Michigan State, I watched the formation of the Hockey Death Star with the same wariness as everyone else. Unfortunately, I think the biggest problem is that hockey fans aren't the same as football or basketball fans. I'm pretty sure none of use think twice about making a trip to a game or forking over the cash to see our teams play. However, hockey doesn't really have the number of casual fans that other sports do. I think the previous tournaments were established enough on their own and geographically positioned for attendance to not be as much of a problem but I'm not sure how the Big 10 (and other leagues) will figure this problem out. Which is a bummer because the hockey that is played is good hockey. It would just be nice if people came to see it...

I can also say that, at least in Minnesota, there is some serious sourness about Big 10 hockey in particular, and the money grab/general direction of the program in general (and no, not the direction of the competitiveness).

I think that was very evident tonight, and was evident at Mariucci all season.
Anecdotally, I personally know 4 parties who dropped their season tickets and directly cited the conference as the reason. One was the first year the Big 10 formed, the others lasted 1 and 2 seasons. These were people that held season tickets for 10-30 years.
We've heard a lot of people say, "the Big 10 is here. Get over it and stop complaining. If you can't do that maybe you should stop being a fan."
Well, sadly, a number of people have chosen the latter.

It's hard for me to picture those people I know coming back. That's not to say the Big 10 and the Univ. of MN are doomed to lower fan interest in perpetuity, but they are going to have to be proactive and SMART about regrowing the fan base. Unfortunately it is becoming increasingly clear that the conference doesn't get that. It doesn't get what so many people loved about college hockey, and it doesn't get what set it apart from other NCAA sports.

I have a bit more optimism in the UMN, but they are going to be somewhat limited by what the conference as a whole chooses to do.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

If fans stop coming because you are playing MSU, OSU, PSU, and Michigan instead of Tech, North Dakota, Minnesota State, etc- that's fine with me.

Just as I'm ok with any Michigan fan going away because we are playing Minnesota, Wisconsin, and now PSU instead of Western, Miami, Ferris, etc...

To me, that's a weak reason to stop watching. And have no reason to try to get them back.

Fans leaving because of high prices or bad play- that should be fixed.

I will admit one thing- Minnesota and Wisconsin have a lot more history with Tech, CC, Denver, ND than we do with Ferris, OSU, etc. But we actually have the same history with those teams. As does State.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

If fans stop coming because you are playing MSU, OSU, PSU, and Michigan instead of Tech, North Dakota, Minnesota State, etc- that's fine with me.

Just as I'm ok with any Michigan fan going away because we are playing Minnesota, Wisconsin, and now PSU instead of Western, Miami, Ferris, etc...

To me, that's a weak reason to stop watching. And have no reason to try to get them back.

Fans leaving because of high prices or bad play- that should be fixed.

I will admit one thing- Minnesota and Wisconsin have a lot more history with Tech, CC, Denver, ND than we do with Ferris, OSU, etc. But we actually have the same history with those teams. As does State.

A lot of it is indeed pricing. I've mentioned before, and I'll mention it again: $35 for an SRO ticket against someone called BSU is just insane. Against "marquee" teams like WI/tUMD/etc, it jumps to $45 for SRO. Yeah.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I can also say that, at least in Minnesota, there is some serious sourness about Big 10 hockey in particular, and the money grab/general direction of the program in general (and no, not the direction of the competitiveness).

I think that was very evident tonight, and was evident at Mariucci all season.
Anecdotally, I personally know 4 parties who dropped their season tickets and directly cited the conference as the reason. One was the first year the Big 10 formed, the others lasted 1 and 2 seasons. These were people that held season tickets for 10-30 years.
We've heard a lot of people say, "the Big 10 is here. Get over it and stop complaining. If you can't do that maybe you should stop being a fan."
Well, sadly, a number of people have chosen the latter.

It's hard for me to picture those people I know coming back. That's not to say the Big 10 and the Univ. of MN are doomed to lower fan interest in perpetuity, but they are going to have to be proactive and SMART about regrowing the fan base. Unfortunately it is becoming increasingly clear that the conference doesn't get that. It doesn't get what so many people loved about college hockey, and it doesn't get what set it apart from other NCAA sports.

I have a bit more optimism in the UMN, but they are going to be somewhat limited by what the conference as a whole chooses to do.

Same experience here. Our group of five on Friday night has dwindled to three. Two couples in the same section who had both Friday and Saturday night tickets for decades have dropped out. We see them occasionally now, like when we play Minnesota. My wife and I are under active discussion about keeping both nights. I'm for dropping to one night but she wants to retain both. So far she's got her way, and I am reluctant to leave. But people are doing what some here urge; they are leaving.

Things change. That's life. But it is sad seeing what has happened to attendance. We had something special.

 

[SJHovey]

They're a great team, and they proved it tonight. With the Gophers season now over I will be cheering for Michigan all the way as a matter of conference pride.

I wonder how many times this was posted by MN posters about UND when Mn and UND were in the WCHA together? But don't worry. You can already feel that Michigan-Minnesota hate growing.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I wonder how many times this was posted by MN posters about UND when Mn and UND were in the WCHA together? But don't worry. You can already feel that Michigan-Minnesota hate growing.

I have no conference loyalty. If it ain't my team, I don't really give two craps who wins. I have preferences, sure, but won't be rah-rah-ing any other team.

 

[D2D]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I have no conference loyalty. If it ain't my team, I don't really give two craps who wins. I have preferences, sure, but won't be rah-rah-ing any other team.

Since the two teams have different recruiting bases I'll be (mildly) pulling for Michigan, if only to stem the tide of people bashing the conference. If they were to go one-and-done it would only give the haters and complainers more reason to hate and complain. Sometimes you just have to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation, and right now the Wolverines are carrying the B1G Flag.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Big Ten 2015-2016

I wonder how many times this was posted by MN posters about UND when Mn and UND were in the WCHA together? But don't worry. You can already feel that Michigan-Minnesota hate growing.

Very rarely. I for one won't be cheering for Michigan and I suspect that is more the norm. Of course you could have asked the same question about UND fans toward UM in the NCAAs many years ago but that wouldn't fit your narrative...