frozen four attendance

[theprofromdover]

Re: frozen four attendance

If you're looking for a destination with decent weather and things to do, LA (or Anaheim) should definitely be in consideration. With the success of the teams in the LA area and the college players that have helped make that success, they'd do better than the last time the FF was at the pond. Flights are easy and cheap, hotels are not horrible if you look toward Anaheim rather than the Staples Center (although they're still cheaper than Tampa). .

Anaheim stunk. it was remote. No locals know we were there. Temperature never got above 60 and most days was 50-55ish. No thanks.

 

[QUAlum2004]

Re: frozen four attendance

If you're looking for a destination with decent weather and things to do, LA (or Anaheim) should definitely be in consideration. With the success of the teams in the LA area and the college players that have helped make that success, they'd do better than the last time the FF was at the pond. Flights are easy and cheap, hotels are not horrible if you look toward Anaheim rather than the Staples Center (although they're still cheaper than Tampa). I also think San Jose would be a great host as they have become a "hockey town" but it's ridiculously expensive to get to.

It's really a shame that we can't market in the nation's largest city. MSG is probably too small for a FF now but they're hosting college hockey a couple of times per year now. I think the event would get lost in Manhattan though and the cost would be too much for most (although again, hotels near Amalie were every bit as expensive as midtown Manhattan). A FF in Brooklyn could be a possibility but you're away from the tourist attractions and that arena is an abomination of an NHL arena (fitting for the Asslanders).

Madison Square Garden seats 18,006 more than the TD Garden in Boston does. It is a better venue for hockey than the Barclays Center and definitely should bid for the Frozen Four.

 

[QUAlum2004]

Re: frozen four attendance

Anaheim stunk. it was remote. No locals know we were there. Temperature never got above 60 and most days was 50-55ish. No thanks.

This was pre both the Ducks and Kings winning the Stanley Cup and pre junior hockey gaining steam in Southern California. I could see Staples Center hosting down the road but I'd rather see some more western teams make the jump to D1 for it to happen.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: frozen four attendance

If you're looking for a destination with decent weather and things to do, LA (or Anaheim) should definitely be in consideration. With the success of the teams in the LA area and the college players that have helped make that success, they'd do better than the last time the FF was at the pond. Flights are easy and cheap, hotels are not horrible if you look toward Anaheim rather than the Staples Center (although they're still cheaper than Tampa). I also think San Jose would be a great host as they have become a "hockey town" but it's ridiculously expensive to get to.

It's really a shame that we can't market in the nation's largest city. MSG is probably too small for a FF now but they're hosting college hockey a couple of times per year now. I think the event would get lost in Manhattan though and the cost would be too much for most (although again, hotels near Amalie were every bit as expensive as midtown Manhattan). A FF in Brooklyn could be a possibility but you're away from the tourist attractions and that arena is an abomination of an NHL arena (fitting for the Asslanders).

When you have a location that is so extremely popular with tourists of all types, not specific event tourism, it can detract from the experience as the city isn't willing to make an effort in rolling out the welcome mat for the attendees. Anaheim is too much of a tourist destination all year round. Tampa, while still a big tourist destination, isn't as busy in early April because Spring Break has sprung already, and parents with younger children are still in school. It's a good time for the Frozen Four to be welcomed with open arms by the local businesses and residents that rely upon tourism for a large portion of their income.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: frozen four attendance

Anaheim stunk. it was remote. No locals know we were there. Temperature never got above 60 and most days was 50-55ish. No thanks.

If it went back to Southern California, it'd have to be Staples Center. Anaheim is way out of the way of everything other than Disneyland, it's hard to get to, not close to LAX, no public transportation, old arena - it's a terrible option.

 

[davyd83]

I like feeling confident in being able to drink tap water and not getting caught in the middle of a race riot.

The tap water problem was in Flint. There has never been such a problem in Detroit. Now I was in Detroit over the Christmas Holidays. Went to. Lions game, the Quick Lane Bowl and the GLI. I didn't see any race riots. I've been there generally once or twice a year over the past decade and have never seen a race riot in downtown Detroit. Are you rattling your keyboard about something that happened decades ago? Like 49 years ago? And 73 years ago? When was the last time you visited downtown Detroit?

 

[eddieshack23]

Re: frozen four attendance

If it went back to Southern California, it'd have to be Staples Center. Anaheim is way out of the way of everything other than Disneyland, it's hard to get to, not close to LAX, no public transportation, old arena - it's a terrible option.

Why cant we go to Canada??? Quebec City or Montreal would be great sites

 

[QUAlum2004]

Re: frozen four attendance

Why cant we go to Canada??? Quebec City or Montreal would be great sites

NCAA...passports, logistics...pretty much a simple no

 

[FireKnight]

Re: frozen four attendance

I think The Pond would put on a much better show now but you are correct, it is out of the way. Although The Staples is central, I don't see it as a good college hockey atmosphere.

I understand why people are saying that it should be a rotation between a few cities but I like the idea of going different places. I don't think Tampa would have been a disaster without the UND fans. I've been to FF's without UND and they still bring a good compliment. Unless you had a team that really didn't bring a fan base (i.e. Yale), I think that Amalie would have been similarly full.

One place I never hear mentioned is Dallas. It's an easy flight, not a pricey city, and it has a decent NHL franchise. Does anyone know how the arena is and the area around it? I've never been there, so I can't really comment.

 

[QUAlum2004]

Re: frozen four attendance

I think The Pond would put on a much better show now but you are correct, it is out of the way. Although The Staples is central, I don't see it as a good college hockey atmosphere.

I understand why people are saying that it should be a rotation between a few cities but I like the idea of going different places. I don't think Tampa would have been a disaster without the UND fans. I've been to FF's without UND and they still bring a good compliment. Unless you had a team that really didn't bring a fan base (i.e. Yale), I think that Amalie would have been similarly full.

One place I never hear mentioned is Dallas. It's an easy flight, not a pricey city, and it has a decent NHL franchise. Does anyone know how the arena is and the area around it? I've never been there, so I can't really comment.

Never been there as well but google maps has it pretty close downtown. Looks to be surrounded by some restaurants and bars.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: frozen four attendance

I think The Pond would put on a much better show now but you are correct, it is out of the way. Although The Staples is central, I don't see it as a good college hockey atmosphere.

I understand why people are saying that it should be a rotation between a few cities but I like the idea of going different places. I don't think Tampa would have been a disaster without the UND fans. I've been to FF's without UND and they still bring a good compliment. Unless you had a team that really didn't bring a fan base (i.e. Yale), I think that Amalie would have been similarly full.

One place I never hear mentioned is Dallas. It's an easy flight, not a pricey city, and it has a decent NHL franchise. Does anyone know how the arena is and the area around it? I've never been there, so I can't really comment.

I agree on Staples not being a great college atmosphere, but if they were going to consider SoCal, it'd be markedly better there overall than in Anaheim.

Dallas's arena is in a great part of the city, centrally located, stuff to do nearby. The problem is, it's not really a very collegiate city with no real local college teams, much less college hockey teams. Also, the Stars have good but not great support locally. It's an interesting idea, not sure it'd be a home run. The city did a nice job with the Final Four, especially considering the venue for that was in an absolutely HORRIBLE location.

 

[billmich88888]

Re: frozen four attendance

The tap water problem was in Flint. There has never been such a problem in Detroit. Now I was in Detroit over the Christmas Holidays. Went to. Lions game, the Quick Lane Bowl and the GLI. I didn't see any race riots. I've been there generally once or twice a year over the past decade and have never seen a race riot in downtown Detroit. Are you rattling your keyboard about something that happened decades ago? Like 49 years ago? And 73 years ago? When was the last time you visited downtown Detroit?

awesome that you mention 1943 - now that was a real race riot and not just an 'insurgence" like 1967 was

 

[billmich88888]

Re: frozen four attendance

NCAA...passports, logistics...pretty much a simple no

Research "international Bowl" and see what a logistical nightmare it was. and teams/fans would only have 2 weeks....er.... TEN DAYS to prep for this, unlike a bowl game and it's month lead time

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: frozen four attendance

My dream F4 is Havana

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: frozen four attendance

Research "international Bowl" and see what a logistical nightmare it was. and teams/fans would only have 2 weeks to prep for this, unlike a bowl game and it's month lead time

Well they do the Bahamas Bowl now?

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: frozen four attendance

Research "international Bowl" and see what a logistical nightmare it was. and teams/fans would only have 2 weeks to prep for this, unlike a bowl game and it's month lead time

Good point, I remember the year UConn played in it a bunch of people couldn't go because they didn't have passports. It'd be great to have an event in a city like Toronto, but the travel restriction would be a total killer.

 

[billmich88888]

Re: frozen four attendance

Well they do the Bahamas Bowl now?

and the conferences/teams got smart and get the passport process starts back in August "JUST IN CASE" their team makes it (for all the players)

Again, for regular fans, there is a bigger gap for this than their would be for the frozen 4 (10 days?)

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: frozen four attendance

I don't think Tampa would have been a disaster without the UND fans.

Disaster, no. In any realistic scenario, Amalie probably would have been 75% full. Numbers below what we've come to expect; meaning mostly full buildings -- if not sellouts. But hardly a disaster.

I've been to FF's without UND and they still bring a good compliment. Unless you had a team that really didn't bring a fan base (i.e. Yale), I think that Amalie would have been similarly full.

We could create a large number of hypothetical tournament fields, and generate most any result. You certainly could create a fictional homerun situation, even without UND included. You could also find 4 schools, none of whom travel well, and create a hypothetical disaster. But if you look at this year's realistic possibilities, you generally come up with a mix of schools that might have traveled to Florida in big numbers and those who wouldn't be expected to do so.

Suppose you had Michigan, Ferris State, Yale & BC. Keep the relatively modest sale in the priority lottery the same. Keep the relatively modest local support the same. (the locals were outstanding as hosts, but didn't buy tickets in huge numbers.) I believe 75% full is a very reasonable expectation.

One factor to keep in mind: Inevitably some fans buy their tickets in hopes that a certain team or teams qualify for the FF, but look to sell if things don't work out. Having North Dakota in the field gives secondary market sellers a reasonable chance to get their money back. Few schools offer the same opportunity for sellers. Without UND, a lot of the tickets that sold on the secondary market would have turned into no-shows. The NCAA might not be that worried about no-shows; after all, the ticket has been sold and the money is in the till. But atmosphere in the arena does suffer a bit in that case.

 

[Dirt]

Re: frozen four attendance

I think Phoenix could be a FF site in the future now that Arizona State has a program.

 

[walrus655321]

Re: frozen four attendance

and the conferences/teams got smart and get the passport process starts back in August "JUST IN CASE" their team makes it (for all the players)

Again, for regular fans, there is a bigger gap for this than their would be for the frozen 4 (10 days?)

Aren't more than a few college hockey players FROM Canada? And I would wager that many of the American players have ventured up to Canada for tournaments at some point in their lives, I know kids from the NY/NJ area who have played youth tournies up there every now and then.

Football players have little reason to go to Canada. Hockey players, on the other hand...