ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

You didn't look very hard. I was there last year and had a good time. Found a terrific Irish bar about 1/2 mile up the Boardwalk and you have casinos and other attractions all over the place.

Aside from the Boardwalk, the rest of the island is meh (aside from White House Sub Shop).

Also, consider using Reply With Quote.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

As for WRPI; yes they put every game on the radio; and yes they start on time, but it is not quality radio. The announcers are just not very good. I understand that they are amateurs but a program that wants to be known as a national program should present a better product for its fans. I would like to see someone put a quality product on the air with professional quality announcers.

I have to disagree with you there. I think that the WRPI announcers are quite good overall, and moreover they try to present an unbiased account of the game as opposed to many radio/TV announcers for other schools, whether amateur or professional. I cannot count how many announcers I have listened to for other teams over the years who don't even go to the trouble of becoming familiar with the roster of the opponents.

 

[Jasma]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

NYSPHSAA basketball tournament conflicts.

See, burgie12, I remembered!

That's right, I forgot about the hoop tournament. that is a shame. That would be a good building, at least for now. It holds around 4,500 and it would be great to see them have to actually turn people away for once. If they got the crowds up after 3-4 years, they could go back to Albany or LP.

I also agree that Providence would do a good job. The building is still a bit large for now, but they might be able to do a better job of marketing.

 

[burgie12]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

Just as a reminder for those championing Lake Placid, they are slated to host the D-III Men's Frozen Four this upcoming weekend and I believe they have that solidified through 2014. So, there's a one-year gap between when the contract with Atlantic City expires and when Lake Placid is available.

I do not know when the contract between high school basketball and Glens Falls expires.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

That's right, I forgot about the hoop tournament. that is a shame. That would be a good building, at least for now. It holds around 4,500 and it would be great to see them have to actually turn people away for once. If they got the crowds up after 3-4 years, they could go back to Albany or LP.

I also agree that Providence would do a good job. The building is still a bit large for now, but they might be able to do a better job of marketing.

D-III Frozen Four conflicts with LP.

You don't want to go to Albany. They half-*** anything that isn't Siena bouncyball.

This is a little wishful thinking for my situation, but what about the Syracuse War Memorial? You'd have to schedule around the Crunch, but I wouldn't think it'd be that hard.

 

[Jasma]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

I have to disagree with you there. I think that the WRPI announcers are quite good overall, and moreover they try to present an unbiased account of the game as opposed to many radio/TV announcers for other schools, whether amateur or professional. I cannot count how many announcers I have listened to for other teams over the years who don't even go to the trouble of becoming familiar with the roster of the opponents.

I don't disagree that there are others that are worse. My point is that these guys are not good and there is no obvious attempt to help the announcers improve. The other point is the loss of revenue by not having a commercial radio broadcast.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

I don't disagree that there are others that are worse. My point is that these guys are not good and there is no obvious attempt to help the announcers improve. The other point is the loss of revenue by not having a commercial radio broadcast.

From what I can tell during their announcements, they're having difficulties even finding people to cover these games! Obviously Kurt does a very good job as does jericho, realet, GLM, and the others. We were really spoiled for hockey by having Tim Heiman, who has now taken (at least partial) employment through Time Warner as a sports broadcaster (at least specifically for RPI hockey).

 

[Wholin1]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

OK, I'm from the Albany area but still find it hard to believe that AC has less to do than (Sm)Albany. Still I was against leaving Albany despite its shortcomings. AC is just a ludicrous choice in terms of developing fan interest. Maybe the ECAC didn't actually want it on TV and exposing the overwhelming number of empties for its "showcase" event. Something has to change quickly to arrest what could be a death spiral for this league.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

From what I can tell during their announcements, they're having difficulties even finding people to cover these games! Obviously Kurt does a very good job as does jericho, realet, GLM, and the others. We were really spoiled for hockey by having Tim Heiman, who has now taken (at least partial) employment through Time Warner as a sports broadcaster (at least specifically for RPI hockey).

Isn't it that because WRPI is a student organization they want students to do the broadcasts, and most of the broadcasters are alums, not students? Of those you listed, all but GLM are alums, and he did not attend RPI.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

Isn't it that because WRPI is a student organization they want students to do the broadcasts, and most of the broadcasters are alums, not students? Of those you listed, all but GLM are alums, and he did not attend RPI.

Good point.

 

[Natural Ice]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

What they need to do is one-up Hockey East and put the tournament in New York City. The ECAC Hockey schools have massive numbers of alums there, both young and old. If Cornell were in the final they would have a legit shot at selling out a pro facility. We're talking 1000% increase over current attendance at the event. It's a day-trip by train, or less, from seven other schools too, so their local fanbases could attend without the expense of a night in NYC. I suspect the reason it isn't there already is price, and I realize that's the most important factor to the ADs, but it wouldn't necessarily have to be at the Garden as there are numerous facilities that would work. If the point is max exposure at reasonable cost (which I think it is) then NYC is the place

 

[J.D.]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

First of all, who says NYC is interested? And do you think if it were played at MSG, the ECAC would draw more fans than what Hockey East does at the Garden? What other rink in NYC could you have it at?

 

[TchrBill]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

Cornell has played Colgate or BU there a few times prior to an NHL game. Why not do the same for the ECAC tournament? 1pm and 4pm game times with an NHL nightcap, sold as a package deal. It's only 2 days out of the year; the costs would be worth it.

 

[J.D.]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

Cornell has played Colgate or BU there a few times prior to an NHL game. Why not do the same for the ECAC tournament? 1pm and 4pm game times with an NHL nightcap, sold as a package deal. It's only 2 days out of the year; the costs would be worth it.

It's a fantastic idea, but what I'm saying is if MSG was even remotely interested...wouldn't it have happened by now? Plus, with OT a possibility, you couldn't guarantee the NHL game started on time. That wouldn't fly.

 

[Natural Ice]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

Cornell has played Colgate or BU there a few times prior to an NHL game. Why not do the same for the ECAC tournament? 1pm and 4pm game times with an NHL nightcap, sold as a package deal. It's only 2 days out of the year; the costs would be worth it.

That's exactly what I had in mind. I attended one of those Cornell vs. BU games and the atmosphere was awesome.

 

[Natural Ice]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

First of all, who says NYC is interested? And do you think if it were played at MSG, the ECAC would draw more fans than what Hockey East does at the Garden? What other rink in NYC could you have it at?

You're right that they may not be able to get MSG, that could be wishful thinking on my part. But another option would be the new Brooklyn Nets arena, which is close to Manhattan and looks like it's going to be quite a venue.

As for crowds, I don't think ECAC Hockey is ever going to consistently outdraw Hockey East, but in a given year, I'd put an ECAC weekend in NYC featuring RPI, Yale and Cornell up against a Hockey East weekend.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

Cornell has played Colgate or BU there a few times prior to an NHL game. Why not do the same for the ECAC tournament? 1pm and 4pm game times with an NHL nightcap, sold as a package deal. It's only 2 days out of the year; the costs would be worth it.

The Cornell/BU games (a.k.a. Red Hot Hockey) were not openers for NHL games - those were the main events on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Cornell/Colgate tried something similar at Nassau Coliseum and it pretty much flopped from an attendance perspective for a variety of reasons - not a holiday weekend, not right in NYC, conference opponent instead of non-con, and (let's face it) a much lower profile opponent.

 

[TheValleyRaider]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

The Cornell/BU games (a.k.a. Red Hot Hockey) were not openers for NHL games - those were the main events on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Cornell/Colgate tried something similar at Nassau Coliseum and it pretty much flopped from an attendance perspective for a variety of reasons - not a holiday weekend, not right in NYC, conference opponent instead of non-con, and (let's face it) a much lower profile opponent.

The Colgate-Cornell game was in Newark, at the Prudential Center. Nice arena, but too big to really justify the crowd it was going to draw

 

[LGR03]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

It's never going to be at MSG or the arenas in Jersey so long as they every have any interest in NCAA hoops games that could conflict. It's also probably crazy expensive for the magnitude of the event. Further, MSG is always coming right off Big East hoops and the Knicks/Rangers pack the dates with home games to make up for a week on the road.

Bridgeport, Hartford, Worcester, Providence, and even Springfield and Lowell (though I shudder at holding the event AT an HEA rink) all fit the bill the best as far as arena size and location are concerned. The big plus for Bridgeport is that it's commutable from NYC by train and LI by ferry.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: ECAC Hockey Finales Will Not Be Televised

I believe the last debacle of a 'where should the ECACs go' thread, it was determined that MSG has the Barnum and Bailey circus in town that weekend usually. Could be wrong but that's what I remember.