Re: Big Ten 2015-2016
I took one of my kids to the B1G semi for the Michigan game, a 2.5 hour drive down from Duluth. We had a blast, things worked out better than I could have expected, given the tepid feedback from previous B1G tourneys, but then again, that was kind of a feature rather than a bug. Concourses were empty, lines nonexistent, parking easy to get in and out--it was easiest access to a sporting event in my life. We just plain had fun. For a Michigan fan, the game was a blast as well. If the B1G tournament re-ups with the X, I'll definitely try to go back.
But it shouldn't re-up with the X. There's lots of conversation in this thread about it, but the results speak for themselves. This tournament significantly underperforms both the Final Five (no surprise) and the CCHA tournament (larger surprise). The reasons are evident, and a tournament that is unexciting to attend just doesn't draw even local fans with rooting interest. The tournament absolutely needs to become a home site event.
Now, about some of the arguments:
I appreciate what you're saying alfablue (I honestly do) but I, for one, will never support B1G hockey. It's been a disaster from day one and it'll remain a disaster. I think in the minds of many fans it IS conceivable that it'll eventually go away if this fan revolt continues for long enough. Personally, I enjoy seeing the conference getting embarrassed on their own network by 17,000+ empty seats. I enjoyed seeing the Gopher fan on the glass with his "B1G MISTAKE" jersey yesterday. The ripple effect caused by this dreadful conference has severely damaged college hockey and we're supposed to accept it? I don't. I won't.
"Severely damaged college hockey" is a statement that has no relationship with the facts. Those who have been around this forum for a while remember the constant drumbeat of "This is how we should re-align college hockey" threads that tried to theorize solutions to the conference gridlock problem. And it was definitely a problem--smaller programs were dying, others were on life support, and the only real path forward for smaller schools was to join a significant conference. And all of the conferences were full. Additionally, there was little space for teams to schedule non-conference games, and programs could go years without ever playing a decent team from outside of their region. People talked about schools adding college hockey, but it was a pipe-dream. There was nowhere for a new program to go.
Except for Penn State, to a new Big Ten conference.
The static death spiral of college hockey was a concern; it is not anymore. And the non-football schools are as successful as ever. As someone who hoped for growth and health in the sport, I believe that the B1G provided a vital realignment that has made it possible.
Now, has this omelette broken some eggs? Definitely. The Final Five was a crown jewel of the sport, and it is gone and lamented. For Big Ten teams, the loss of local road-trip rivalries is disappointing. That was a real appeal to me when I lived in Michigan and travelled to Kalamazoo, Bowling Green, Big Rapids, and so on. It's a problem up here in Minnesota, as well.
But the Big Ten can deal with all of that. There are real rivalries among these teams, as well. The problem has been a lousy tournament and, most of all, historically good programs fielding terrible teams. Wisconsin and Michigan State have both won national titles in the last decade and are national embarrassments. Ohio State never realizes the potential that should be found in its structure and facilities. And Michigan and Minnesota are "leading" the conference with teams that are mediocre by their own standards. Michigan will make the NCAA tournament as a Big Ten team for the first time this year, and Minnesota needs to win just to make it as a 4 seed.
That's the problem. The Big Ten should be able to put three or four teams into every tournament. Instead, it gets one or two. One of the great things about college hockey is ramping up for a "big series" against a rival or a top team; the B1G doesn't have much in the way of top teams, and Michigan and Minnesota fans can't get up for their major conference rivals when they literally pity the horrible programs they are playing against. It's not the same.
It can get better. Home sites for the tournament. Add a couple of teams, perhaps by associate membership. Quit the Friday-Sunday or Thursday-Saturday series. And get good coaches in Madison and East Lansing.
There will be things we will miss. But there can be new, great things to see.
