contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

[superfan11]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

As much fun as St Paul is and as wonderful as the X is, I can understand why Badger fans didn't want to drive back to St. Paul to see their team play in the same venue after coming for the Final Five the week before. This is why I still think the "bye week" should be between the conference tournament and the regionals, not between the regionals and the frozen four.

i agree with you about the bye week after the conference tournaments.... it gives teams that ran the table like ndakota for example a bit of a break after winning 3 games in 3 days to win the wcha and some time to recover.

im not really interested in an argument saying "well what if a team (unh, yale, etc.) got bounced in the conference qtrs and is off for 3 weeks".... play better.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

i agree with you about the bye week after the conference tournaments.... it gives teams that ran the table like ndakota for example a bit of a break after winning 3 games in 3 days to win the wcha and some time to recover.

im not really interested in an argument saying "well what if a team (unh, yale, etc.) got bounced in the conference qtrs and is off for 3 weeks".... play better.

Sadly the WCHA is the only conference that would have such an issue with 3 games in 3 days the weekend before regionals. As for the 3 weeks off, if the 5th place team in the ECAC or CCHA (under the current 12 team format) loses its first round match and still manages to make the NCAAs that would be 4 weeks off...

 

[blockski]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

As much fun as St Paul is and as wonderful as the X is, I can understand why Badger fans didn't want to drive back to St. Paul to see their team play in the same venue after coming for the Final Five the week before. This is why I still think the "bye week" should be between the conference tournament and the regionals, not between the regionals and the frozen four.

Not sure I agree with your bye week idea - the single biggest problem is still the ticket prices and the fact that no locals want to attend at that cost - traveling fans aren't the big issue.

But, with regard to traveling fans, consider Wisconsin's situation. Let's say you had one good hockey weekend in you to take off work, etc. You could a) go to the Final Five, or b) go to the regional.

For the Final Five -

- You know where it is, and you can plan in advance - book hotels, travel, etc.
- You'll get to see your team play at least twice
- You'll get to see some other hockey, too.
- You'll get a great atmosphere
- They'll be serving beer
- And it's all cheaper than the regional

For the regional -

- You won't know for sure where the team will play until less than a week in advance
- no beer
- small crowd
- expensive travel and hotel arrangements due to last minute planning
- high cost

So, if you're a fan, why not plan for the set event? Or, plan on heading to Detroit in the hopes that your team qualifies - the FF has all the same advantages - fixed location, advanced planning, better atmosphere, etc.

They treat the regionals like mini Frozen Fours. Big mistake.
-

 

[osualum86]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

I am an Ohio State grad who lives in central Ohio. Mrs 86 and I were thinking of making the two-hour drive to Fort Wayne for that regional. I saw the ticket prices and decided we would save our money and just turn on ESPNU instead.

 

[Clifton]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

Since we're talking about Wisconsin fans, let's make it simpler:

But, with regard to traveling fans, consider Wisconsin's situation. Let's say you had one good hockey weekend in you to take off work, etc. You could a) go to the Final Five, or b) go to the regional.

For the Final Five -
- They'll be serving beer

For the regional -
- no beer

 

[DarthBruno]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

They are pricing local families out of the market. That's a group you'd think they'd like to attract.

Totally agree. We are only an hour from Worcester, and our son very much wanted to go, but not at those prices. Until someone in the front office cares as much about growing the fan base and spreading the awesomeness that is Division 1 college hockey, apparently it will always be about profits.

 

[DarthBruno]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

I am an Ohio State grad who lives in central Ohio. Mrs 86 and I were thinking of making the two-hour drive to Fort Wayne for that regional. I saw the ticket prices and decided we would save our money and just turn on ESPNU instead.

I don't blame you at all... but that is just so sad. The high ticket prices are going to kill the goose, so to speak -- the loyal fans, and also up-and-coming young hockey players whose parents might otherwise take them to some of these exciting games.

 

[sabrestrikealpha]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

I'm no economist, but $299,673 in 01 dollars may actually be less than $239,520 in today's. It's probably a wash.

You're right on

According to this: http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm

the value of $1 in 2001 is about $1.24 in 2010.

$239530 (2001)* 1.24 = $297017 (2010).

Edit: If you add in the extra concessions from the additional attendence in 2001, I'm willing to bet that regional made quite a bit more money.

 

[AFHockeyFan]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

This is why I still think the "bye week" should be between the conference tournament and the regionals, not between the regionals and the frozen four.

Agree. This last week has really killed the momentum. I'm already switching over to college baseball.
Plus, a bye before the regionals lets fans take advantage of the 1-week advance-purchase airfares, instead of trying to find a flight and hotel on five days notice.

 

[Sean Pickett]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

Plus, a bye before the regionals lets fans take advantage of the 1-week advance-purchase airfares, instead of trying to find a flight and hotel on five days notice.

As opposed to 3 days notice? That is what you will have if you go back to having the FF the week after the regionals.

Sean

 

[Priceless]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

As opposed to 3 days notice? That is what you will have if you go back to having the FF the week after the regionals.

Sean

With the Frozen Four you pretty much know if you're going or not regardless of which teams end up there. The FF is usually sold out a year in advance. With regionals you don't know until the selection show. If you were a UNH or Wisconsin fan, you wouldn't know which regional your team was being sent to until it was announced. If the bye week were before the regionals it would allow fans more time to prepare and travel to those regionals.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

With the Frozen Four you pretty much know if you're going or not regardless of which teams end up there. The FF is usually sold out a year in advance. With regionals you don't know until the selection show. If you were a UNH or Wisconsin fan, you wouldn't know which regional your team was being sent to until it was announced. If the bye week were before the regionals it would allow fans more time to prepare and travel to those regionals.

That is my point exactly!

 

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

As opposed to 3 days notice? That is what you will have if you go back to having the FF the week after the regionals.

Sean

The biggest issue I see with getting rid of the week off between Regionals and FF is for the actual teams. We still have some Regional championships on Sunday...and teams doing a practice skate for the FF on Wednesday. That's 2 days to get back to school, and travel to the FF. Or you leave directly for the FF, the logistics of which are frightening.


I agree it would be nice for the fans of the 16 regional teams to have some extra time to plan and afford regional trips, but I think the current timing is the lesser of two evils. The FF is going to sell out and only fans of 4 teams are going to be making last minute plans to attend. Some of those fans may have planned on attending no matter the teams.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

The biggest issue I see with getting rid of the week off between Regionals and FF is for the actual teams. We still have some Regional championships on Sunday...and teams doing a practice skate for the FF on Wednesday. That's 2 days to get back to school, and travel to the FF. Or you leave directly for the FF, the logistics of which are frightening.


I agree it would be nice for the fans of the 16 regional teams to have some extra time to plan and afford regional trips, but I think the current timing is the lesser of two evils. The FF is going to sell out and only fans of 4 teams are going to be making last minute plans to attend. Some of those fans may have planned on attending no matter the teams.

True, but under this change, I would think the Frozen Four would go to Friday/Sunday.

 

[gordwiser]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

No way the NCAA eliminates the bye all-together because of 2 championships on one weekend. I like the idea of the bye after the conference tourneys like the good ol' days. I really wish they would eliminate a week of games and move everything up so the hockey final is the week before the basketball final... again, will never happen because of setting up conference tourneys.

As for the ticket prices... I am a fan with above-average interest. I take in quite a few games a year without having season tickets...20-30, most without a team playing that I really care about. This year I skipped the Regional at the X because I just thought they were too darn much with all the fees added on. I think the final price for the weekend has to be under $100 total for the package. Yes, I could have gone and gotten scalped tickets, but sometimes I just get sick of that. I would have bought the Regional tics in Oct if the price had been reasonable.

 

[CLS]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

FWIW, according to some folks who have applied for 2011 tickets, the price for next year's FF is $195.

 

[WildKitty]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

FWIW, according to some folks who have applied for 2011 tickets, the price for next year's FF is $195.

Does anyone else's butt hurt?

Prices are exhorbitant. They deter any but the most diehard from traveling, and reduce local interest exponentially.

I think it's wrong to assume that writing the NCAA will do nothing. With that assumption, letters won't get written and the NCAA will then assume that there are only a few disgruntled fans out there who're just sore they paid all that money to watch their team lose in the first round. Whether you think it'll help or not, write the letter. Look what happened with Domino's Pizza!

I have never been to a scalper, just on principle, but I will say, I would seriously have considered it, had circumstances not been what they were for me.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

FWIW, according to some folks who have applied for 2011 tickets, the price for next year's FF is $195.

While those prices sound like a lot, you are really paying $65 per game for a championship, premium event that is well worth the price, even if your team isn't in it. For a premium event, it's still very affordable, and it will be a sellout. My tickets for a 2010 Olympic Hockey Gamein Vancouver (not even in medal round) were $140 each face value. The same ticket in the semi-finals was $425 face value.

Compared to other premium events, Frozen Four prices are a bargain.

 

[moe24]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

FWIW, according to some folks who have applied for 2011 tickets, the price for next year's FF is $195.

Yikes!!! That's steep. How can an average person afford that?

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: contact NCAA re: high ticket prices / low attendance at regionals

Thats up what? $5-15 from Detroit? Can't remember if detroit was 179 or 189 for the expensive lottery?