Frozen 4 site selections?

[Split-N]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

Pretty good. The only thing I would have done differently is swap Chicago for Washington. Glad the NCAA listened to the fans and gave Tampa another FF so quickly.

Ditto. I'm not looking forward to having to take an Armored Personnel Carrier to get to and from the United Center, which would not have been an issue in WashDC. Maybe a bone being thrown to ND and/or a ploy to get the B1G more interested in the sport?

 

[aparch]

I'd describe the Near West Side as an integrated neighborhood that's coming back, but isn't all the way back.

That's a great way to put it.

I'd say that in my experience working in those neighborhoods this summer that it doesn't get bad until you get past Johnny's Icehouse West, the the Blackhawks practice facility. Which is darned close to the Garfield Park Neighborhood. It's just the area between Johnny's West and the UC sure does try to mimic the look and feel of Detroit. There has been some revitalization through there. New construction, and some demolition of buildings are cleaning things up.

 

[Bertogliat]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

There are plenty of bars and hotels surrounding the Xcel Energy Center. Most of them will be filled with college hockey fans. You'll even have a couple parking lots filled with people who tailgate the entire weekend. Tournaments are great in St Paul.

 

[jmh]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

Screw Nashville, if any out of the norm Southern city should get one, its New Orleans, baby! I don't care if the FF is Bentley-AIC-UAH-BGSU. It would be the BEST FF EVAH!!!!

Eh. New Orleans is the St. Patrick's Day of cities - it's amateur hour. I'd much rather see it in Nashville, and I don't even like country music.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

You didn't leave the Near North Side or the Loop. You were well sheltered from the rest of the city (not that you had a reason to go elsewhere). THE UC is in the Near West Side, but too much further and you get into the Garfield Park neighborhood, not the best area. And driving to South Bend, you probably didn't leave the comforts of the expressway. Chinatown, Englewood, Back of the Yards, Woodlawn... all areas that you wouldn't want to spend the day walking around.


You're absolutely right though in that it won't affect 98% of atendees because they won't be in those areas, won't go near those areas, or even know about it. Those 2% just better hope they have a full tank of gas when they accidentally make a wrong turn into those areas.

Just those driving in from the West suburbs will have to drive through some of those areas on I-290 and I-55.

You're making Chicago sound like Post-apocalyptic Detroit here, and that certainly isn't the case... If you go west on there, yea, you hit some rough spots... But then if you go East on Madison, there are bars/resturaunts... And I am fairly certain these establishments to the East will embrace the FF... Continue going East and you end up in the Loop... Not a problem if you head that way really... I think those instructions are simple enough to follow

And those areas you mention to the South? I can't think of a single reason why a FF attendee would venture anywhere near those locations... In theory you could end up there if you get turned around and just keep driving blindly... But most people would have the common sense to get things figured out... There really is no draw to head that direction (Sox Park being the exception if there is baseball there at the time)... And even then, most people would use the Red Line or METRA instead of driving anyways, so it's a moot point...

You really need to highlight the "98% of people going won't be effected" part of your posts, because that is the truth... You have to really go out of your way to end up in trouble... Just not sure what to make of your take on things... Do you believe that the FF coming here is a bad idea?

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

LOL Greg.

What Aparch said.


Had the pleasure of driving on Madison from Forest Park all the way to the lake shore this summer coz 290 was a snarl.


Stay east of the UC and you'll be fine.

I've been to Chicago a bunch of times, but we always stay with my wife's brother and family in the western suburbs. My trip to the BC/ND game was the first time I hung out downtown since right after I was in college. Chicago is the "Second City", correct? There is more to do there than in just about any other host city that the NCAA could think of. But, yes, Chicago is a city, it has terrible neighborhoods, no different than Boston, Denver, Cincinnati, Columbus, DC or any other place that you can think of. I guess the issue is the neighborhood around the UC is so-so. My positon is that you are not buying a condo or renting an apartment there, you will be at the arena for several hours on Thursday and and about 4 hours or so on Saturday. After the games, you head back down town (car, cab, whatever) and enjoy the nightlife. Yes, having the FF in a big city like Chicago lessens the intense vibe but, as I said before, there really hasn't been a universal vibe surrounding the FF since the Lake Placid days. That's the price you pay when you hold the tournament in an NHL arena.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

I've been to Chicago a bunch of times, but we always stay with my wife's brother and family in the western suburbs. My trip to the BC/ND game was the first time I hung out downtown since right after I was in college. Chicago is the "Second City", correct? There is more to do there than in just about any other host city that the NCAA could think of. But, yes, Chicago is a city, it has terrible neighborhoods, no different than Boston, Denver, Cincinnati, Columbus, DC or any other place that you can think of. I guess the issue is the neighborhood around the UC is so-so. My positon is that you are not buying a condo or renting an apartment there, you will be at the arena for several hours on Thursday and and about 4 hours or so on Saturday. After the games, you head back down town (car, cab, whatever) and enjoy the nightlife. Yes, having the FF in a big city like Chicago lessens the intense vibe but, as I said before, there really hasn't been a universal vibe surrounding the FF since the Lake Placid days. That's the price you pay when you hold the tournament in an NHL arena.

Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago and think that a FF will be great there. There are really, REALLY bad parts of it though. That's all I was saying.

The downtown area and most everything east of the UC is fine.


I grew up in Joliet and we used to go to Chicago Stadium for Hawks (and some Bulls) games starting in the early 80s. Those drives in were an eye-opener for a kid from the suburbs. MUCH different now in the immediate area around the stadium and the redeveloped areas east. I don't feel at all unsafe now, but would never approach the area from the west after dark. Call me a ***** if you want, but no ****ing way.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

I don't feel at all unsafe now, but would never approach the area from the west after dark. Call me a ***** if you want, but no ****ing way.

This is how I feel about most cities, almost anywhere in them. I can deal with it, because in general I know the risk is fairly low, but it being in the city just doesn't sit right with me. Too many people that I don't know or trust, usually no way to protect myself...not good.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

I made the walk recently from the UC to the L station, it's not that far at all, certainly doable and there likely will be thousands of others making the same walk after the games. But it is a bit confusing why they haven't/didn't build a station closer to the arena. This seems to be standard protocol in every major city with a train system.

 

[Freddie]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

Help me understand this.

If a team that is hosting a regional qualifies for the tournament, they automatically get sent to the regional they are hosting, right?

In 2016 the 'host' for the Albany regional is "ECAC Hockey".

Will that mean any ECAC team(s) making the field will be sent to Albany?

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

Help me understand this.

If a team that is hosting a regional qualifies for the tournament, they automatically get sent to the regional they are hosting, right?

In 2016 the 'host' for the Albany regional is "ECAC Hockey".

Will that mean any ECAC team(s) making the field will be sent to Albany?

No, no one gets an automatic placement in the site if the conference itself is hosting.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

Nah, I think Chicago might get a better turnout than DC. And before everyone jumps in with turnout, let me say it was easy to find tickets outside the Verizon Center an hour before the game.

I think Chicago can draw a good mix of current college hockey fans and interested hockey fans. First of all, the area's population is huge. It's not right in a college hockey team's backyard, but it's still accessible to many college hockey fan bases.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

I think Chicago can draw a good mix of current college hockey fans and interested hockey fans. First of all, the area's population is huge. It's not right in a college hockey team's backyard, but it's still accessible to many college hockey fan bases.

It's also the easiest place to find a direct flight in the college hockey world. If you can't find a direct flight into Chicago from anywhere in the northeast, midwest, or upper midwest, you're not looking very hard.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

So basically there's black people in the area around the United Center, got it.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

It's more or less what we expected.

I had to laugh at aLOLvarez pushing for Tampa instead of Milwaukee. I suppose it makes sense why he did (it did get chosen, and it was a success the first time around when UAH hosted it), but it's just sad that Milwaukee got the shaft because of it.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

With any luck, I might be able to organize an "USCHO golf invitational" in Tampa for 2016. I would imagine there would possibly be interest for that during the off day.

Good selections made by the NCAA. Might have swapped the years for MN and Tampa, but otherwise, it should be a good 4 year stretch of places for the regulars to visit.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

So basically there's black people in the area around the United Center, got it.

Oh, it's only a matter of time before this thread gets filled with complaints about Chicago and how corrupt union goombahs bribed some politicians to make this happen before they went off to redistribute wealth in the South Side and distract the news before the next gangland shooting that kills a 5 year old.

 

[FiveHole12]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

So basically there's black people in the area around the United Center, got it.

Where did you see anything in this thread about anyone's skin color? I don't know anything about Chicago... never been there. All I read here is about areas that have bad people, not black, green, white or purple people.

It wouldn't hurt to keep your prejudice to yourself.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Frozen 4 site selections?

So basically there's black people in the area around the United Center, got it.

That's a pretty racist comment....

 

[Jimjamesak]

Where did you see anything in this thread about anyone's skin color? I don't know anything about Chicago... never been there. All I read here is about areas that have bad people, not black, green, white or purple people.

It wouldn't hurt to keep your prejudice to yourself.

Yeah I basically said what everybody else was beating around the bush on.

I'm sorry I had to be the one to point out how ridiculous you people sound with your complaints. I will try to keep my comments to something less of the "make you drop your monocle into your martini glass" variety.