Ford field attendance

[Onion Man]

Re: Ford field attendance

A potential Wisconsin-Michigan/Miami-Boston College-RIT Frozen Four wouldn't be that bad. I know Wisconsin and Miami/Michigan would bring a ton of fans. BC seemed to have a good amount in Denver. RIT likely won't bring many, but this field could be worse.

 

[yuber]

Re: Ford field attendance

If it isn't MI playing MI State in a college hockey game in Detroit,you can't get anyone to show up for a game.

So it was way back in 1990, when the BU Terriers took down Michigan State and earned a trip to the Hockey Final Four. (as it was then known)

BU sent a couple of busses full of fans, but the Joe was quite empty the first day.

The second day a bunch of cheeseheads came down from Wisconsin to at least partially fill the place up. And the Badgers won.

Not a bad trip for the cheeseheads.

 

[gscott13]

Re: Ford field attendance

A potential Wisconsin-Michigan/Miami-Boston College-RIT Frozen Four wouldn't be that bad. I know Wisconsin and Miami/Michigan would bring a ton of fans. BC seemed to have a good amount in Denver. RIT likely won't bring many, but this field could be worse.

i think RIT might be well represented... it's only 325 miles if they go through canada, 425 if they go through cleveland... 14,000 undergrad students... i think they'll easily use their alottment of tickets and given the cheap ticket packages, i could see the school sending a couple of buses for students that don't buy tickets in the schools alottment

 

[nbetweennownthen]

Re: Ford field attendance

A potential Wisconsin-Michigan/Miami-Boston College-RIT Frozen Four wouldn't be that bad. I know Wisconsin and Miami/Michigan would bring a ton of fans. BC seemed to have a good amount in Denver. RIT likely won't bring many, but this field could be worse.

In the live blog last night, Weston said the paid attendance for the day in Fort Wayne was slightly over 4,100. Half the teams playing there are within a 3 hour drive. After seeing and hearing that last night, there's nothing that makes me think Ford Field won't have upwards of 35K empty seats even WITH Michigan in the field.

 

[RITProf]

Re: Ford field attendance

i think RIT might be well represented... it's only 325 miles if they go through canada, 425 if they go through cleveland... 14,000 undergrad students... i think they'll easily use their alottment of tickets and given the cheap ticket packages, i could see the school sending a couple of buses for students that don't buy tickets in the schools alottment

I was just about to say that ... Detroit is an easy drive from Rochester through Ontario (for those with Passports/Enhanced Licenses). Really only about an hour farther than Albany. RIT will be represented well and I'm sure a lot of the 'neutral' fans will root for the Cinderella story. (Don't know for sure, but there might be a lot of RIT alumni in the Detroit area as our engineering programs are pretty tight with the auto industry.)

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: Ford field attendance

RIT likely won't bring many, but this field could be worse.

I think you'll be surprised. RIT is a decent sized school (15K-16K total students) and this is the marquee sport for them at the D-I level and they are within driving distance of Detroit I think there will be plenty of RIT fans in Detroit, and as a Cinderella story, they'll pick up quite a bit of the neutrals as well.

 

[streaker]

Re: Ford field attendance

I was just about to say that ... Detroit is an easy drive from Rochester through Ontario (for those with Passports/Enhanced Licenses). Really only about an hour farther than Albany. RIT will be represented well and I'm sure a lot of the 'neutral' fans will root for the Cinderella story. (Don't know for sure, but there might be a lot of RIT alumni in the Detroit area as our engineering programs are pretty tight with the auto industry.)

Indeed, I worked with one at a major Automotive Industry supplier. He'll be torn as he also has a U-M degree, if they win today.

 

[streaker]

Re: Ford field attendance

In the live blog last night, Weston said the paid attendance for the day in Fort Wayne was slightly over 4,100. Half the teams playing there are within a 3 hour drive. After seeing and hearing that last night, there's nothing that makes me think Ford Field won't have upwards of 35K empty seats even WITH Michigan in the field.

If Michigan makes the FF, there will be more walk-ups. The problem in Ft. Wayne is not necessarily the distance (2.5 hrs for me, for instance) but the time of the game on Sunday. Some of us cannot afford to take time off Monday when the week will already be short due to the holiday.

 

[streaker]

Re: Ford field attendance

No one will show up. because ford field is the worst venue in the history of sports.

Probably right, but you make a poor man's imitation of Dirty.

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Ford field attendance

I have no doubt the neutrals in the building will all be pulling for RIT. The problem has become getting neutrals and casuals in the building in the first place. If UM doesn't win tonight I think we are all going to be shocked at how empty Ford Field will be. Wisconsin will bring a decent group, and RIT was certainly well represented at Albany, but remember, 20,000 people will seem like a small crowd, and without UM, I doubt we'll see that no matter what the organizers tell you about tix already sold. I also worry because, based on what you see here, there are so many Frozen Four regulars who are sitting this one out, whether it be in protest of playing in a football field, the economy, or a host of other reasons. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[nbetweennownthen]

Re: Ford field attendance

If Michigan makes the FF, there will be more walk-ups. The problem in Ft. Wayne is not necessarily the distance (2.5 hrs for me, for instance) but the time of the game on Sunday. Some of us cannot afford to take time off Monday when the week will already be short due to the holiday.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's wouldn't be more walk-ups. But the people insinuating and thinking that Michigan is going to eat up the 40-45K available seats are flat-out crazy. Would having a local team help attendance? Naturally. Will it mean 40K more people going. IMO, no.

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Ford field attendance

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's wouldn't be more walk-ups. But the people insinuating and thinking that Michigan is going to eat up the 40-45K available seats are flat-out crazy. Would having a local team help attendance? Naturally. Will it mean 40K more people going. IMO, no.

Set up only has +- 35,000 seats.

 

[streaker]

Re: Ford field attendance

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's wouldn't be more walk-ups. But the people insinuating and thinking that Michigan is going to eat up the 40-45K available seats are flat-out crazy. Would having a local team help attendance? Naturally. Will it mean 40K more people going. IMO, no.

Oh, I didn't say that. I said walk-ups. The FF committee already claim to have sold 30-35K in seats. Add another 3-5K Michigan fans. That would double a normal arena attendance and would fall short of the Cold War attendance record between Michigan and MSU. It may have been possible if MSU was going to be there too, depending on whether their basketball team is still in that tourney.

 

[joecct]

Re: Ford field attendance

I think the NCAA wants a Michigan-Wisconsin championship.

So does the BTHC!!

On a more serious note, when does the ice go down at Ford Field? IIRC, the NHL needs ~2 weeks for ice to "cure" when then do the outdoor thing.

 

[unclenick]

Re: Ford field attendance

A potential Wisconsin-Michigan/Miami-Boston College-RIT Frozen Four wouldn't be that bad. I know Wisconsin and Miami/Michigan would bring a ton of fans. BC seemed to have a good amount in Denver. RIT likely won't bring many, but this field could be worse.

Well you can add six RIT FANS coming from Toronto along the 401.

Ohhhhhhh do they have cansio's there?

 

[drewski192]

Re: Ford field attendance

No one will show up. because ford field is the worst venue in the history of sports.

Exactly what idiot decided this. For the two most important games of the entire year, lets take the teams out of their normal environment and put them on a football field. Genius. I mean i think my team has the advantage because we played on a football field once this year already, but still it's completed retarded

 

[MagnessMan]

Re: Ford field attendance

I think you'll be surprised. RIT is a decent sized school (15K-16K total students) and this is the marquee sport for them at the D-I level and they are within driving distance of Detroit I think there will be plenty of RIT fans in Detroit, and as a Cinderella story, they'll pick up quite a bit of the neutrals as well.

I was in Albany and I agree--those Tiger fans will be there. The guy behind me Saturday was calling to book a flight.

I need a single seat for Thursday. Any locals know what the seating check policy will be like at FF? I'm thinking about buying a sky seat for 40 and moving down.

 

[aktick]

Re: Ford field attendance

If this was in an arena within 7-8 hours, I'd be there in a heartbeat for the whole weekend. As it is we're probably just going to wait and see what happens in the semis, and if UW wins we'll drive over in the morning, find tickets, enjoy the game, and drive home. I've seen Wisconsin play 2 games in football stadiums in the last few years. Lambeau was fun and interesting. Camp Randall was ok. I have no desire to ever watch a game in a stadium again, but would feel obligated if my team made the finals.

 

[silverseven]

Re: Ford field, good luck

Re: Ford field, good luck

Ford Field for hockey...I don't get it? It seems as though the more the NCAA gets involved in NCAA hockey the more in goes downhill. Here is my rant...I went to the games in Albany and although I was excited to see RIT win I would rather watch a tier II junior game! NCAA hockey used to be exciting...big crowds, the bands and good hockey played by high end talent. Now the neutral sites are empty (3,700 in a 12,000 seat arena in Albany) and frankly the hockey is terrible. RIT has a nice team that players a good team game with lots of players who are older (21-24 year olds). UNH...really liked what I saw in Butler, Cornell has two guys that are top NHL picks and both were invisible. Denver, maybe the coach needs to stop standing with his arms folded across his chest and try to get his team to play with some energy?
Did not see any of the 4 teams complete 3 consecutive passes. My point...no top end pro talent on the ice (18 year olds that will play in the NHL next year), and no atmosphere!
I played college hockey and used to be a big NCAA supporter but totally get why college hockey is getting smoked by the Canadian Major Junior leagues for talent.
The NCAA teams used to be able to sell the rah, rah atmosphere to top talent but not anymore. I'd rather play a first round 4 of 7 series in London, Ontario in front of a full house of 10,000 for every game and play against high end talent as opposed to 3,700 in Albany, NY.
Good luck with the Ford Field thing...I hope Michigan get in so the atmosphere is decent. I won't be going to anymore NCAA neutral site stuff.

 

[davyd83]

Re: Ford field attendance

It's kinda cool the amount of bad info in this thread. And the number of people who have never been in the venue or seen the setup who are complaining about the sight lines. As far as taking teams out of their environment, gee, I guess Northern Michigan playing on a 200 x 85 sheet in Joe Louis Arena or the XCel Engergy Center at 4:30 in the afternoon is their usual environment, as was playing in front of 15,000 fans last Saturday in Detroit. The bottom line is that the environment changes each week. You play in different rinks in different cities. Each had differences. A college basketball team like Butler will play its Final Four in a football stadium that will have more than 10 times as many fans as their best home crowd of the year. I don't hear either them or their fans whining. This frozen four will allow upwards of 12,000 more fans to take part in an event which would otherwise no be able to. What a great was to grow the sport and expose it to more fans. I hope the NCAA does this at least once every five years.