Ford Field Rink Installation

[Eaglefan06]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

We loved our seats. We had a great time tonight watching both games, even though they were blowouts.

Sure a hockey arena would be better, but those of you who aren't there calling it a complete failure should keep quite. Your opinions can and will be accepted if you attend on Saturday and still feel the same way.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

And as a tv viewer this year, horrible. The ice lines were distracting, the stadium had little life, the camera shots had to be altered in such a way that it took a bit from the game, I know for a fact that many bought tix only to keep their priority, and sorta un-related the research/announcing was subpar (that last one is to be expected, though).

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

I get defensive about the city itself...I'm calling the venue choice and ice quality as it is. I am actually here to judge those things...unlike many of you sitting back and making judgments from a thousand miles away.

As I said before part of my job is evaluating the experience that out of towners have for events like this one. I have talked to probably 50 people to gauge their opinions tonight. As I stated before, almost all of them sitting in permanent seats were pleased with their view and the experience as a whole. Almost everyone in the risers was displeased with their experience from the length of walk to get to the seats, to the view itself.

I called it as it is...I had a great time, and a great view from section 243. The block and a half walk home saw lots of people smiling and saying things like "awesome" and "cant wait until Saturday". I'm sure there are people that feel the other way about it too...but like I said, you cant judge something accurately from a thousand miles away.

My opinion is that it is not great, but not terrible. I will see how the rest of the weekend plays out before making my final judgment.

Have you talked to many people in 103-105 and 128-130. Are you seeing complaints from R1-R5 AND R36-R39?

From everything the players have said when interviewed the ice sounds good even though it looks funny on TV so that is better than I expected...it just looks really weird on tv being able to see the freon tubing under the ice...

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

From what I've heard, from people there, is that it was as quiet as a funeral in there. Great atmosphere.

 

[STATEdude3]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Have you talked to many people in 103-105 and 128-130. Are you seeing complaints from R1-R5 AND R36-R39?

From everything the players have said when interviewed the ice sounds good even though it looks funny on TV so that is better than I expected...it just looks really weird on tv being able to see the freon tubing under the ice...

Like I said...people in the risers have had bad experiences. That is something that I expected, and I wish would have been addressed in a better way. I think the simple fix would have been to only put risers on the one side, and make sure they were at a more viewer friendly incline. The NCAA acknowledged from the start that the # of "excellent views" would be reduced but the number of "quality views" would increase. I am getting the impression that this is correct.

How often is an event of this scale pulled off without issues the first time around? The first super bowl was a nightmare for crying out loud! My point is that for an experiment it has gone off pretty well. With refining I'm sure more people could be pleased.

As for the view from TV i'm about to turn on the DVR now and check it out. But the complaint was that not many people watch college hockey on ESPN so who cares what that is like.

 

[STATEdude3]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

From what I've heard, from people there, is that it was as quiet as a funeral in there. Great atmosphere.

Well half the fans there had nothing to cheer for by the start of the 2nd period...it's not like the games were at all exciting. It was plenty loud during introductions and early in the 2nd game when there was action at both ends.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

How often is an event of this scale pulled off without issues the first time around? The first super bowl was a nightmare for crying out loud! My point is that for an experiment it has gone off pretty well. With refining I'm sure more people could be pleased.

As for the view from TV i'm about to turn on the DVR now and check it out. But the complaint was that not many people watch college hockey on ESPN so who cares what that is like.

They could have taken pointers from the NHL, which apparently they didn't.

 

[davyd83]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Lets face it. Those who had already decided months ago that the venue would suck,will not likely have their minds changed not matter what. The ice was far from a slush bucket that some "experts" had forecast. But there will be those who have never been within 100 miles of Ford Field who will be glad to tell you how bad it sucked. I have talked to people who were there that said it was pretty good. From what I saw on TV, I've definitely seen choppuer, sloppier ice in plenty of venues this year and have seen poorer ice at the FF on more than one occasion as well, not including the Cincinnati debacle. Did the risers suck? It sure looks like they did. Was the fixed seatung good? From the view from the 200 and 300 levels and the behind the goal seats that I got when I toured the facility during the CCHA tourney, those views looked pretty decent, and if the 300 level was a bit far away, please...of you were in those seats (A) you got what you paid for and (B) you likely wouldnt have been in the building were the tourney at the Joe.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Lets face it. Those who had already decided months ago that the venue would suck,will not likely have their minds changed not matter what. The ice was far from a slush bucket that some "experts" had forecast. But there will be those who have never been within 100 miles of Ford Field who will be glad to tell you how bad it sucked. I have talked to people who were there that said it was pretty good. From what I saw on TV, I've definitely seen choppuer, sloppier ice in plenty of venues this year and have seen poorer ice at the FF on more than one occasion as well, not including the Cincinnati debacle. Did the risers suck? It sure looks like they did. Was the fixed seatung good? From the view from the 200 and 300 levels and the behind the goal seats that I got when I toured the facility during the CCHA tourney, those views looked pretty decent, and if the 300 level was a bit far away, please...of you were in those seats (A) you got what you paid for and (B) you likely wouldnt have been in the building were the tourney at the Joe.

I hadn't decided that, as well as others. We waited to decide. And right now? Blech.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Lets face it. Those who had already decided months ago that the venue would suck,will not likely have their minds changed not matter what. The ice was far from a slush bucket that some "experts" had forecast. But there will be those who have never been within 100 miles of Ford Field who will be glad to tell you how bad it sucked. I have talked to people who were there that said it was pretty good. From what I saw on TV, I've definitely seen choppuer, sloppier ice in plenty of venues this year and have seen poorer ice at the FF on more than one occasion as well, not including the Cincinnati debacle. Did the risers suck? It sure looks like they did. Was the fixed seatung good? From the view from the 200 and 300 levels and the behind the goal seats that I got when I toured the facility during the CCHA tourney, those views looked pretty decent, and if the 300 level was a bit far away, please...of you were in those seats (A) you got what you paid for and (B) you likely wouldnt have been in the building were the tourney at the Joe.

I just admitted that ice based on what the players have said during interviews is way better than I expected...sounds like Detroit got lucky to get that weather and humidity out of the way yesterday.

 

[bgbill1]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Our seats were in R37, and we, like most of those in that section, simply had to vacate. Very limited view of the game. My worst FF experience in over two decades of going to them.

 

[steven22]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Our seats were in R37, and we, like most of those in that section, simply had to vacate. Very limited view of the game. My worst FF experience in over two decades of going to them.

You can include Section RS1. $189 for crap seats.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Lets face it. Those who had already decided months ago that the venue would suck,will not likely have their minds changed not matter what. The ice was far from a slush bucket that some "experts" had forecast. But there will be those who have never been within 100 miles of Ford Field who will be glad to tell you how bad it sucked. I have talked to people who were there that said it was pretty good. From what I saw on TV, I've definitely seen choppuer, sloppier ice in plenty of venues this year and have seen poorer ice at the FF on more than one occasion as well, not including the Cincinnati debacle. Did the risers suck? It sure looks like they did. Was the fixed seatung good? From the view from the 200 and 300 levels and the behind the goal seats that I got when I toured the facility during the CCHA tourney, those views looked pretty decent, and if the 300 level was a bit far away, please...of you were in those seats (A) you got what you paid for and (B) you likely wouldnt have been in the building were the tourney at the Joe.

It goes the same the other way too. If you were convinced it was going to be great and you went, you're not going to be convinced it sucked.

I am extremely glad that I didn't spend any money to go watch this failed spectacle.

 

[shooter27]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Can someone explain to me why the didn't put the ice in earlier? They mentioned on the broadcast that for the NHL outdoor game they put the ice in 3 weeks in advance and it was good and solid by game time, but for this they only completed it like 4-5 days in advance. Putting it in earlier seems like a pretty simple way to ensure the quality of the ice.

Also - why were the riser seats so bad? It would seem that in this situation being closer to the ice is going to be better for sightlines.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Can someone explain to me why the didn't put the ice in earlier? They mentioned on the broadcast that for the NHL outdoor game they put the ice in 3 weeks in advance and it was good and solid by game time, but for this they only completed it like 4-5 days in advance. Putting it in earlier seems like a pretty simple way to ensure the quality of the ice.

Also - why were the riser seats so bad? It would seem that in this situation being closer to the ice is going to be better for sightlines.

$$$$$$

 

[STATEdude3]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Can someone explain to me why the didn't put the ice in earlier? They mentioned on the broadcast that for the NHL outdoor game they put the ice in 3 weeks in advance and it was good and solid by game time, but for this they only completed it like 4-5 days in advance. Putting it in earlier seems like a pretty simple way to ensure the quality of the ice.

I do not know the exact answer for this, but i'm guessing it has to do with the cost. The NHL has plenty of $ to throw around, but the NCAA/CCHA/Detroit Sports doesnt exactly have the $ to throw around for such an event that is already a hefty expense.

All indications are that the ice was not just "okay" but was "good." There was about a 10 minute stretch towards the start of the first game where the puck bounced a lot and we saw some strange movement, but other than that I thought it looked right and sounded right.

There were no less than 5 skates plus 4 practices, so almost 10 uses of the current ice before today's games. It was well broken in and I thought we saw a very good surface.

now the risers...those can go straight to the dumpsters. Anyone who goes to hockey games knows that the closer you are to the ice, the worse your view. It's always better to be above the glass--the NCAA should have known this when designing the pitch for the risers.

 

[MichFan]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

I was in permanent seating (section 141) and was very pleased with the view. I had friends upstairs in 244 and they were also happy. I didn't know anyone with riser seats.

I don't think that it's fair to talk about the atmosphere when the first game was an awful blowout and the second game wasn't much closer. I can't remember a Frozen Four semifinal where both games were such stinkers. I'll reserve my vote on the atmosphere for Saturday.

Yes, there were empty seats, but I'd still say it was 70-75% full at any given time. We were right next to the Wisconsin section, and a lot of Badgers left after the first game. Conversely, our section didn't fill until the second game. I wouldn't doubt that they had 30,000 total for both games, but they certainly didn't have that many in there at once.

A failure? Hardly. Could it be done better? Sure. And it will be done better next time, because I'm willing to bet that there will be a next time.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

A failure? Hardly. Could it be done better? Sure. And it will be done better next time, because I'm willing to be that there will be a next time.

Not if they are smart about it. Despite the blowouts in Denver, that was a great F4. I gaurantee it will be great next year too, given the fact that St Paul gets an avg of 70k (5 games, one of which draws NO ONE) for the Final 5 WCHA tourney. They are used to this.

 

[The Freds]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

To those spinning this as a positive, sorry. I was there. I paid $189 for crap seats not to mention airfare and hotel. It sucked big time. I hope the NCAA never does this again - I won't come.

Detroit did a nice job otherwise.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Ford Field Rink Installation

Oh, I hope they don't try this crap again. If they do, I'll stay home again.