USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
Conference Tourney Attendance
- Thread starter moose97
- Start date
FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Well, there's obviously the audition stage, but at this point, we're pretty much past auditions. The point is, though, that the league has to make money off of this somehow. I guess it all depends on how much of the expenses are able to be covered through a television contract. Obviously they also have a contract through AmericaOne, but since the quality of it is absolute ****, it's not worth it. Not to mention, I fully understand that companies will sacrifice revenue in one area in order to make up for it in a complement (like why concessions prices are insane, or why beer's expensive at the restaurant).
If I were a really sleazy CFO, I'd rig the league so the top four traveling fan base teams always made it to the finale. But that's no fun.
Well, there's obviously the audition stage, but at this point, we're pretty much past auditions. The point is, though, that the league has to make money off of this somehow. I guess it all depends on how much of the expenses are able to be covered through a television contract. Obviously they also have a contract through AmericaOne, but since the quality of it is absolute ****, it's not worth it. Not to mention, I fully understand that companies will sacrifice revenue in one area in order to make up for it in a complement (like why concessions prices are insane, or why beer's expensive at the restaurant).
If I were a really sleazy CFO, I'd rig the league so the top four traveling fan base teams always made it to the finale. But that's no fun.
MarkEagleUSA
C'mon Q!
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
I was told during the 1st year in AC that the ECAC did not pay, nor make, a dime on the tourney. The facility was provided by the AC Convention & Visitors Bureau in exchange for the gate and concessions. With the way attendance was over the 3 years, the league probably came out ahead!
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
That also rewards the winner of the regular season much more highly than the current system. I like this idea very much, that the winner of the regular season gets a bye into the final four of the conference tournament.
That also rewards the winner of the regular season much more highly than the current system. I like this idea very much, that the winner of the regular season gets a bye into the final four of the conference tournament.
FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Not to mention, let's assume that the top 7 make it. The regular season now actually means something, as teams will be knocked out before the playoffs even start.
Not to mention, let's assume that the top 7 make it. The regular season now actually means something, as teams will be knocked out before the playoffs even start.
MavHockey14
New member
Exactly. And not making money doesn't feed your kids, give them a too over their heads, etc.
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
In regard to the comments about AHA attendance ... IMHO, the real problem is that AHA hockey is mid-major and is perceived that way by hockey fans. That is not going to change until the league gets rid of their scholie limits so they can compete with the other four leagues, at least in terms of depth, i.e., quantity. It would also help if the perennially weak programs - those who draw about 100 family members to their games in the lousy community rinks - would get serious or get out. A less insular schedule, meaning more OOC games would help, too, in terms of attendance and an opportunity to improve PWR among AHA teams. Do all that and then there is a better opportunity to compete for higher caliber players that AHA teams can rarely, if ever, sign.
But to do all that- to make the leaguer better and attract more fans - will take the Eastern Bloc teams and RIT along whoever else is voting to remain a cost-containment league, to change their minds at the voting table.
In regard to the comments about AHA attendance ... IMHO, the real problem is that AHA hockey is mid-major and is perceived that way by hockey fans. That is not going to change until the league gets rid of their scholie limits so they can compete with the other four leagues, at least in terms of depth, i.e., quantity. It would also help if the perennially weak programs - those who draw about 100 family members to their games in the lousy community rinks - would get serious or get out. A less insular schedule, meaning more OOC games would help, too, in terms of attendance and an opportunity to improve PWR among AHA teams. Do all that and then there is a better opportunity to compete for higher caliber players that AHA teams can rarely, if ever, sign.
But to do all that- to make the leaguer better and attract more fans - will take the Eastern Bloc teams and RIT along whoever else is voting to remain a cost-containment league, to change their minds at the voting table.
ericredaxe
Veteran
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Except with the way that the pairwise is set up, there is no motivation for larger name teams to schedule the AHA teams.... if they lose it kills them in the PWR and if they win the best case is that the result is basically expunged from the record so the "weak win" does not hurt them. (didn't they have to make that fix in the PWR a couple of years ago?).
Except with the way that the pairwise is set up, there is no motivation for larger name teams to schedule the AHA teams.... if they lose it kills them in the PWR and if they win the best case is that the result is basically expunged from the record so the "weak win" does not hurt them. (didn't they have to make that fix in the PWR a couple of years ago?).
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Yeah but my understanding is that only a couple games all season were expunged as weak wins (probably SHU). Not every AHA team is weak; in fact, RoMo almost made the Tourn cut and we had others just above and below the TUC. I would suspect that some AHA teams (at least Niagara, Air Force, RoMo, RIT) are attractive enough to get more NC games scheduled. And for those who cannot get the extra NC games, they could play an extra game or games against AHA opponents but designate them as OOC (which should happen anyway so that the league schedule can be balanced instead of favoring the better teams in the East, e.g., UConn and HC get first round byes largely from the points they pick up for their extra games with perennial doormats SHU, AIC, Army and even Bentley).
Hey, do you notice I have a slight bias against the AHA Eastern Bloc teams?
Yeah but my understanding is that only a couple games all season were expunged as weak wins (probably SHU). Not every AHA team is weak; in fact, RoMo almost made the Tourn cut and we had others just above and below the TUC. I would suspect that some AHA teams (at least Niagara, Air Force, RoMo, RIT) are attractive enough to get more NC games scheduled. And for those who cannot get the extra NC games, they could play an extra game or games against AHA opponents but designate them as OOC (which should happen anyway so that the league schedule can be balanced instead of favoring the better teams in the East, e.g., UConn and HC get first round byes largely from the points they pick up for their extra games with perennial doormats SHU, AIC, Army and even Bentley).
Hey, do you notice I have a slight bias against the AHA Eastern Bloc teams?
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
From my understanding, you can take RIT off that list. I'm pretty certain RIT has voted with Niagara et al. to allow the scholarship limits to increase. While it means nothing for RIT directly, RIT would like the level, perceived or otherwise, of the league to increase.
(This is all second-hand knowledge, but I have heard it repeatedly from very reliable people and several closely associated with the program.)
I'd suggest that it might be even more important for AHA teams to step up on their rinks and other commitments where needed.
Edit: And RIT has Michigan coming to Rochester next season, and BC the year after. We must be doing something right!
From my understanding, you can take RIT off that list. I'm pretty certain RIT has voted with Niagara et al. to allow the scholarship limits to increase. While it means nothing for RIT directly, RIT would like the level, perceived or otherwise, of the league to increase.
(This is all second-hand knowledge, but I have heard it repeatedly from very reliable people and several closely associated with the program.)
I'd suggest that it might be even more important for AHA teams to step up on their rinks and other commitments where needed.
Edit: And RIT has Michigan coming to Rochester next season, and BC the year after. We must be doing something right!
Last edited:
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Prof, I was ready to concede that RIT was on the good side of increasing scholies but I just got it confirmed from a reliable source ... 100%, they vote against increasing scholie limits.
FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
I suppose your best hope at this point is for the ivies to split, and then you guys join up with the remainder of the ECAC.
I suppose your best hope at this point is for the ivies to split, and then you guys join up with the remainder of the ECAC.
ericredaxe
Veteran
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
That could be true about only a couple of games being expunged, I haven't studied it enough to konw for sure.... but weather it is good or bad, these are games that are less attractive to "big" schools when it comes to helping their NCAA chances / seeding.... BU losing to Holy Cross last year (shame on us for that) is likely the difference between staying East and getting shipped out to play Minnesota in St Paul.
That being said, Hockey East will have a lot more OOC opportounites next year, and I do think it would be fun (from a fan's perspective) to see some of these teams that we rarely play against such as Niagara, Robert Morris etc etc.
Yeah but my understanding is that only a couple games all season were expunged as weak wins (probably SHU). Not every AHA team is weak; in fact, RoMo almost made the Tourn cut and we had others just above and below the TUC. I would suspect that some AHA teams (at least Niagara, Air Force, RoMo, RIT) are attractive enough to get more NC games scheduled. And for those who cannot get the extra NC games, they could play an extra game or games against AHA opponents but designate them as OOC (which should happen anyway so that the league schedule can be balanced instead of favoring the better teams in the East, e.g., UConn and HC get first round byes largely from the points they pick up for their extra games with perennial doormats SHU, AIC, Army and even Bentley).
Hey, do you notice I have a slight bias against the AHA Eastern Bloc teams?
That could be true about only a couple of games being expunged, I haven't studied it enough to konw for sure.... but weather it is good or bad, these are games that are less attractive to "big" schools when it comes to helping their NCAA chances / seeding.... BU losing to Holy Cross last year (shame on us for that) is likely the difference between staying East and getting shipped out to play Minnesota in St Paul.
That being said, Hockey East will have a lot more OOC opportounites next year, and I do think it would be fun (from a fan's perspective) to see some of these teams that we rarely play against such as Niagara, Robert Morris etc etc.
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Yeah - the correct analogy is that the ECAC advertises free tickets for the championship tournament, but once you're in the door they show you non-stop infomercials instead of hockey. And they charge the venue money anytime you accidentally bump into something.
FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Someone's a little sick of seeing "Summer @ RPI" while the tournament was in Albany? No worries, we're sick of it, too.
Yeah - the correct analogy is that the ECAC advertises free tickets for the championship tournament, but once you're in the door they show you non-stop infomercials instead of hockey. And they charge the venue money anytime you accidentally bump into something.
Someone's a little sick of seeing "Summer @ RPI" while the tournament was in Albany? No worries, we're sick of it, too.
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
All I can say is hmmm ... perhaps they flip-flopped at some point. I haven't heard anything about it recently, so that is entirely possible. Certainly disappointing from my end. (Maybe RIT was for it when finishing at the top of the standings consistently and not so much the last couple years???)
All I can say is hmmm ... perhaps they flip-flopped at some point. I haven't heard anything about it recently, so that is entirely possible. Certainly disappointing from my end. (Maybe RIT was for it when finishing at the top of the standings consistently and not so much the last couple years???
)FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
It makes me wonder if they also sided with Middlebury during the D-III debacle...
All I can say is hmmm ... perhaps they flip-flopped at some point. I haven't heard anything about it recently, so that is entirely possible. Certainly disappointing from my end. (Maybe RIT was for it when finishing at the top of the standings consistently and not so much the last couple years???
It makes me wonder if they also sided with Middlebury during the D-III debacle...
Re: Conference Tourney Attendance
Wow! I sure hope not. But that was a different era WRT some administrators at RIT.
Wow! I sure hope not. But that was a different era WRT some administrators at RIT.