Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

I'm shocked they don't do a top 4 format. Higher seed hosts, two weeks of 2-out-of-3, bottom 2 teams better luck next year. Why does everyone have to make the playoffs in the first place?

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

It would be pretty cool if The B1G TEN and WCHA could get it figured out and have back to back weekends at the X...as much as I hate all of this. You could have the B1G Super Six and then have the WCHA Final Five the next weekend.

One thing that could potentially work (assuming that the two sides would work together) is have it all on one weekend. The WCHA could eliminate the 9th and 10th seeds after the Regular Season, and play down to a Final Four. So you would have the WCHA Four and the B1G Four playing semifinal games on Friday and then title games on Saturday. You could sell tickets to all the games in one package, or buy just your conference games in another. If you alternated years for prime slots, perhaps the sides would be up for it. It would also lessen any potential blow of Minnesota, Wisconsin or North Dakota missing their conference Final Four, as I would imagine that there would be a certain percentage of fans that would buy the all-games package.

I can't imagine that Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State would be on board though. It does surprise me that the B1G decided to go with a tournament that would yield a max of 9 games, all on campus. Plus, as has been mentioned, the 2 seed is basically screwed. It does however put a great emphasis on winning the Regular Season.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

One thing that could potentially work (assuming that the two sides would work together) is have it all on one weekend. The WCHA could eliminate the 9th and 10th seeds after the Regular Season, and play down to a Final Four. So you would have the WCHA Four and the B1G Four playing semifinal games on Friday and then title games on Saturday. You could sell tickets to all the games in one package, or buy just your conference games in another. If you alternated years for prime slots, perhaps the sides would be up for it. It would also lessen any potential blow of Minnesota, Wisconsin or North Dakota missing their conference Final Four, as I would imagine that there would be a certain percentage of fans that would buy the all-games package.

I can't imagine that Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State would be on board though. It does surprise me that the B1G decided to go with a tournament that would yield a max of 9 games, all on campus. Plus, as has been mentioned, the 2 seed is basically screwed. It does however put a great emphasis on winning the Regular Season.

I don't like it. I don't want to buy a Final 5 ticket package and be forced to pay for Big Mistake games.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Well I hate to tell you this but sooner or later the X wont host the Final Five. Gopher fans are not going to buy tickets (especially at the prices the X will charge) for a tourny they have no stake in and whether people like to admit it or not that is going to be a huge problem.

If the Big Ten did a Final Four it would not outdraw the Final Five as it is now, but it will sell plenty of tickets for the 3 games. Even if the Gophs and BADgers both miss it, that still leaves Michigan and State, plus local fans will still buy tickets. (just like they do for the Final Five)

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

One thing that could potentially work (assuming that the two sides would work together) is have it all on one weekend. The WCHA could eliminate the 9th and 10th seeds after the Regular Season, and play down to a Final Four. So you would have the WCHA Four and the B1G Four playing semifinal games on Friday and then title games on Saturday. You could sell tickets to all the games in one package, or buy just your conference games in another. If you alternated years for prime slots, perhaps the sides would be up for it. It would also lessen any potential blow of Minnesota, Wisconsin or North Dakota missing their conference Final Four, as I would imagine that there would be a certain percentage of fans that would buy the all-games package.

I can't imagine that Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State would be on board though. It does surprise me that the B1G decided to go with a tournament that would yield a max of 9 games, all on campus. Plus, as has been mentioned, the 2 seed is basically screwed. It does however put a great emphasis on winning the Regular Season.

You could keep the old 10 team Final Five as it was with just 1 Thursday game and still do that. I wonder if you could get away with having the B1G title game Sunday afternoon, with the NCAA tournament announcement Sunday night instead of in the morning? Then you could do WCHA 4 vs 5 Thursday, WCHA Semi Finals friday, B1G Ten Semis saturday afternoon, WCHA Championship saturday night, B1G Ten Final sunday afternoon.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Well I hate to tell you this but sooner or later the X wont host the Final Five. Gopher fans are not going to buy tickets (especially at the prices the X will charge) for a tourny they have no stake in and whether people like to admit it or not that is going to be a huge problem.

If the Big Ten did a Final Four it would not outdraw the Final Five as it is now, but it will sell plenty of tickets for the 3 games. Even if the Gophs and BADgers both miss it, that still leaves Michigan and State, plus local fans will still buy tickets. (just like they do for the Final Five)

I'm sorry but the rest of the WCHA travels far better than Michigan and Michigan State. The Final Five will be at the X as long as the remaining ten teams stick together. North Dakota fans will spend plenty to go and take over the X. Last year's lineup was just about as bad as it could be for the other 5 teams at the X. How often will Denver, CC and UAA make the Final Five? How often will the only 2 minnesota schools be paired up on the early Thursday game (hint: NEVER)? As long as North Dakota keeps making it and a performing and as long as a couple minnesota schools make it...or even UNO, they will be fine for quite awhile. Money will be made, and I will buy a pair of great all sessions tickets to that tournament as soon as I can get access to a great seat worth that investment.

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Correct me if I'm wrong but with the format that the B10 is going to use for its post season lasts for a few seasons than if Ohio St won the regular season title would attendance be a disaster?

Also would they allow for something like if Mich or Mich St where the winners of the reg season title for them to work out an agreement with Joe Louis Arena to host the final couple of games.

 

[Patman]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Correct me if I'm wrong but with the format that the B10 is going to use for its post season lasts for a few seasons than if Ohio St won the regular season title would attendance be a disaster?

Also would they allow for something like if Mich or Mich St where the winners of the reg season title for them to work out an agreement with Joe Louis Arena to host the final couple of games.

An NHL arena is not going to schedule on a short notice basis.

 

[aparch]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Also would they allow for something like if Mich or Mich St where the winners of the reg season title for them to work out an agreement with Joe Louis Arena to host the final couple of games.

As long as it wouldn't conflict with Wings games or with the CCHA finals. No guarantee that the CCHA finals will stay at JLA either.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

An NHL arena is not going to schedule on a short notice basis.

Yep. If they plan ahead for it, Michigan or Sparty could use the Joe or maybe even the Palace perhaps, but they're not going to want to hold those dates open for if Michigan or Sparty wins the regular season.

 

[4four4]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

No can do. State tourney is the weekend before the Final 5, and there is no chance in hell they move that. Nor should they. They'll get 3X as many people for the Boys AA tourney than the Big Mistake Tourney, if not more.

Maybe it is time to just except the fact the BTHC is coming into existence it will make your life easier. I know I have and not that I like it.

 

[Priceless]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Maybe it is time to just except the fact the BTHC is coming into existence it will make your life easier. I know I have and not that I like it.

Maybe it's time for you to get a new shtick.

Or at least learn the difference between "accept" and "except".

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Maybe it is time to just except the fact the BTHC is coming into existence it will make your life easier. I know I have and not that I like it.

That has nothing to do with the fact that they won't move the boys state tourney. They wouldn't move the boys state tourney for the WCHA Final 5, if they were asked!

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

I don't like it. I don't want to buy a Final 5 ticket package and be forced to pay for Big Mistake games.

You wouldn't have to. As I said in my post, they could sell an all-session package, or you could just buy your conference package. My guess is that there would be a percentage of diehards who would buy the all-session package.

Well I hate to tell you this but sooner or later the X wont host the Final Five. Gopher fans are not going to buy tickets (especially at the prices the X will charge) for a tourny they have no stake in and whether people like to admit it or not that is going to be a huge problem.

If the Big Ten did a Final Four it would not outdraw the Final Five as it is now, but it will sell plenty of tickets for the 3 games. Even if the Gophs and BADgers both miss it, that still leaves Michigan and State, plus local fans will still buy tickets. (just like they do for the Final Five)

Personally, I wouldn't mind if North Dakota hosted the Final Five every year (I've discussed before where I believe that if the Final Five at the X cannot draw 13k/game average that they would be better off financially, having it at the Ralph). That being said, I don't see it leaving the X anytime soon. As Shirtless Guy said, this past year was just about the worst possible scenario that could happen, and it was still a very successful tournament. Now, if there was ever a year where they had UAA, DU, CC, Tech and another school not named North Dakota, it could be a difficult draw.

You could keep the old 10 team Final Five as it was with just 1 Thursday game and still do that. I wonder if you could get away with having the B1G title game Sunday afternoon, with the NCAA tournament announcement Sunday night instead of in the morning? Then you could do WCHA 4 vs 5 Thursday, WCHA Semi Finals friday, B1G Ten Semis saturday afternoon, WCHA Championship saturday night, B1G Ten Final sunday afternoon.

That's definitely a possibility. I'm sure the NCAA wouldn't mind having their Hockey selection show at 7pm if it meant more $$$ for the schools.

 

[SOTA]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

I'm sorry but the rest of the WCHA travels far better than Michigan and Michigan State. The Final Five will be at the X as long as the remaining ten teams stick together. North Dakota fans will spend plenty to go and take over the X. Last year's lineup was just about as bad as it could be for the other 5 teams at the X. How often will Denver, CC and UAA make the Final Five? How often will the only 2 minnesota schools be paired up on the early Thursday game (hint: NEVER)? As long as North Dakota keeps making it and a performing and as long as a couple minnesota schools make it...or even UNO, they will be fine for quite awhile. Money will be made, and I will buy a pair of great all sessions tickets to that tournament as soon as I can get access to a great seat worth that investment.

What you are forgetting is the point that I believe Handyman is trying to make: Without Minnesota & Wisconsin fans buying tickets, this tournament isn't going to make the money that it currently is making. For as well as the Sioux fans travel or drive the 15-30 minutes to the X from the suburbs, it's going to be awfully difficult for them to support the F5 financially.

The WCHA has/had a pecking order of the cash cow teams for the Final Five: 1-Minnesota, 2-North Dakota, 3-Wisconsin, 4/5-St. Cloud/UMD in whatever order....the conference is now left with #1 & #3 gone. The conference can survive CC & DU making it when Minnesota & Wisconsin fans are buying up ticket packages...it most likely can't surivive when they're not buying them anymore.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

What you are forgetting is the point that I believe Handyman is trying to make: Without Minnesota & Wisconsin fans buying tickets, this tournament isn't going to make the money that it currently is making. For as well as the Sioux fans travel or drive the 15-30 minutes to the X from the suburbs, it's going to be awfully difficult for them to support the F5 financially.

The WCHA has/had a pecking order of the cash cow teams for the Final Five: 1-Minnesota, 2-North Dakota, 3-Wisconsin, 4/5-St. Cloud/UMD in whatever order....the conference is now left with #1 & #3 gone. The conference can survive CC & DU making it when Minnesota & Wisconsin fans are buying up ticket packages...it most likely can't surivive when they're not buying them anymore.

Well obviously it won't be the money maker it currently is but they can certainly restructure the ticket prices and still make a ton of money. That fact that every seat in the building is the same price except for upper deck ends is ridiculous anyway. I certainly think the WCHA Final Five will do just fine without Minnesota and Wisconsin especially if they create a few more tiers in the ticketing. I know plenty of WCHA fans of teams not names Minnesota and Wisconsin that will go and don't currently have ticket packages. The $$$ will be there, it just won't be as valuable as it was.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Well obviously it won't be the money maker it currently is but they can certainly restructure the ticket prices and still make a ton of money. That fact that every seat in the building is the same price except for upper deck ends is ridiculous anyway. I certainly think the WCHA Final Five will do just fine without Minnesota and Wisconsin especially if they create a few more tiers in the ticketing. I know plenty of WCHA fans of teams not names Minnesota and Wisconsin that will go and don't currently have ticket packages. The $$$ will be there, it just won't be as valuable as it was.

Exactly. The Final Five SHOULD be able to draw 13-15k/game (~65-70k overall) without Minnesota and Wisconsin. If they restructure the ticket pricing perhaps that number increases. If, for whatever reasons, they are consistently drawing 12k or less (~60k overall), then they should move the tournament to the Ralph. I just don't see that happening.

 

[pinch]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Correct me if I'm wrong but with the format that the B10 is going to use for its post season lasts for a few seasons than if Ohio St won the regular season title would attendance be a disaster?

Also would they allow for something like if Mich or Mich St where the winners of the reg season title for them to work out an agreement with Joe Louis Arena to host the final couple of games.

OSU fans might not travel well, but if they won the regular season, they would do just fine from an attendance standpoint....a championship regular season would probably see them avg 7,000+

 

[SteveP]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

Also would they allow for something like if Mich or Mich St where the winners of the reg season title for them to work out an agreement with Joe Louis Arena to host the final couple of games.

Why does the BTHC need to hold the tournament at the Joe or another NHL arena? Would it not be better using a smaller arena (Van Andel comes to mind right away) that would be closer to or at full capacity? Spartans and Irish were there for the 2007 Midwest Regional. I recall that the place was rocking for that game.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt III - Revenge of the Sith.

The playoff revenue (after expenses) will go to the conference. I wonder how tickets will be distributed. Will teams be able to distribute them with season ticket packages or will that be controlled by the conference.

Given that we won't know the location until late in the season, I'm not going to be planning to go.

I see this as a HUGE logistical issue for the B1G. My only assumption is that they are cool with letting the host team have their regular tickets and completely screwing over the rest of them. It just seems too complicated:

You either (a) give the tickets to the regular season ticket holders and screw the visiting fans, (b) give the tickets to season ticket holders, but not in certain sections and screw over a bunch of your season ticket holders or (C) force everyone to buy their tickets a week ahead of time, which is really one of the kisses of death for the NCAA regionals.

As long as it wouldn't conflict with Wings games or with the CCHA finals. No guarantee that the CCHA finals will <strike>stay at JLA either</strike> still exist in five years.

FYP.