Empty Regionals?

[model94]

I was 90% going to attend "my teams" regional even though they were not likely to get through it. What changed my mind? 1. Last minute airfares were getting expensive. 2. and most importantly: a noon Thursday game and a late Saturday final meant 4 hotel nights and 2.5 days of vacation taken.

 

[purpleinnebraska]

I was 90% going to attend "my teams" regional even though they were not likely to get through it. What changed my mind? 1. Last minute airfares were getting expensive. 2. and most importantly: a noon Thursday game and a late Saturday final meant 4 hotel nights and 2.5 days of vacation taken.

Same. A system where you find out on Sunday night where you're going and then play Thursday at noon is not a system designed for max attendance. Especially when you have to get to Albany and stay 3 or 4 days!
But, I think the NCAA is OK with that, and I don't mean that as a knock on them. I think they've prioritized a "level playing field" (neutral sites, day between games so the late game winner is not at a disadvantage) over things like attendance and atmosphere. I disagree, but it's their tournament.

 

[DavidNardolillo]

If it really doesn't make money for the city, school, and arena, then it will stop. Otherwise, this is what we are going to have going forward.

I am not sure that's right. I think some arenas are going to continue to bid on this in an attempt to build favor with the NCAA to get a slice of the basketball regionals. Lose some money on hockey, make a lot of money on hoops.

 

[Paul Goddard]

Every time this comes up, I see people posting ways to solve the attendance problem in ways that just blatantly open up a Pandora’s box of other problems, but with all the unearned confidence of someone saying “hold my beer”.

Higher seed host was fine in the 80s when they used to seed the tournament geographically. When no one had to care about TV logistics. Before the Frozen Four was more profitable and schools had less of a financial incentive to have the opening rounds be “neutral”.

We’re 30, 40 years beyond that point. I love the intensity of a home playoff, but it’s not going to happen just because fans think it’d be cool.

The old on-campus higher seed host wasn't done geographically.

That was kind of the appeal of it getting to see unscheduled visits (Michigan State fan......these days ANY venue would be fine to watch NCAA tourney !) from <insert Hockey East/ECAC team here>

I know, I know! The powers that be in Bristol, CT. wont let it happen and those epic Friday at high noon battles in Allentown in front of 300 people is far more compelling.