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GLI 2010 - Or - Battle of the Endangered Coaches
- Thread starter owslachief
- Start date
IrishHockeyFan
Still outranks his daughter
Re: GLI 2010 - Or - Battle of the Endangered Coaches
In the 80s and 90s it was packed or very close to it. Even now, while it doesn't sell out, it isn't like it draws half a house. Once MSU and Michigan starting playing good hockey again in the early and mid 80s the place was JAM-packed. Someone else here will have better access to more accurate numbers, but there were a couple of years in the early 80s (1982-1985?) where they were actually packing people into the aisles and crowds in excess of 22,000 were reached.
In the 80s and 90s it was packed or very close to it. Even now, while it doesn't sell out, it isn't like it draws half a house. Once MSU and Michigan starting playing good hockey again in the early and mid 80s the place was JAM-packed. Someone else here will have better access to more accurate numbers, but there were a couple of years in the early 80s (1982-1985?) where they were actually packing people into the aisles and crowds in excess of 22,000 were reached.
Re: GLI 2010 - Or - Battle of the Endangered Coaches
In the mid-90's when Michigan was winning national titles the place was certainly packed. I still remember the '96 final with LSSU....incredible atmosphere on that night.
I would guess that if Michigan wins another NCAA title the next year's GLI (and other Michigan JLA appearances) would be better attended. There was definitely a big jump in casual fan interest in hockey after the '95 and '97 championships, which has eroded somewhat in the years since. Maybe this could be the year? We just need to convince the NCAA to let us play the rest of the season at 5-on-5....
In the mid-90's when Michigan was winning national titles the place was certainly packed. I still remember the '96 final with LSSU....incredible atmosphere on that night.
I would guess that if Michigan wins another NCAA title the next year's GLI (and other Michigan JLA appearances) would be better attended. There was definitely a big jump in casual fan interest in hockey after the '95 and '97 championships, which has eroded somewhat in the years since. Maybe this could be the year? We just need to convince the NCAA to let us play the rest of the season at 5-on-5....
Biddco
Follow me on Twitter: @Biddco
Re: GLI 2010 - Or - Battle of the Endangered Coaches
So from the sound of it is not the venue nor dates being played but the level of bandwagon fans based on how good the teams were.
manurespreader
Still upright
Re: GLI 2010 - Or - Battle of the Endangered Coaches
One thing that happened in the championship game that was interesting. CC was killing a penalty late in the game, and toward the end of it one of their guys decided, from center ice, to move the puck way back in his own zone. Next thing you know michigan has it and it's in the net.
One thing that happened in the championship game that was interesting. CC was killing a penalty late in the game, and toward the end of it one of their guys decided, from center ice, to move the puck way back in his own zone. Next thing you know michigan has it and it's in the net.
Re: GLI 2010 - Or - Battle of the Endangered Coaches
I remember being there for many GLIs in the late '80s through the mid-'90s and yes the crowds were unbelievable. I don't think it was really a bandwagon fans thing at all. Detroit is/was a great hockey town, Michigan and Michigan State are very popular there and quite frankly there weren't all the entertainment options that exist today. When I started going in the late '80s my family didn't even have freakin' PASS yet! There wasn't a lot to do -- if you wanted to watch hockey, you went down to the Joe and you stopped at Lafayette Coney Island on the way. With the bands and everything in the Joe, the place was rocking. Plus, Michigan and MSU especially were always LOADED with juniors and seniors and it was some truly great hockey. I think the product has slipped a bit the last decade or so -- not unlike college basketball. All the great talent is gone before you have a chance to get to know them. Lot of roster turnover, early defections, guys missing cuz of World Juniors... not to wax poetic about the good old days, but unfortunately the tournament, through know fault of its own, has lost a lot of its luster. Perhaps something down the road will change and the tournament will once again be a can't-miss event. Maybe a new arena or new format would give it a rebirth.
I remember being there for many GLIs in the late '80s through the mid-'90s and yes the crowds were unbelievable. I don't think it was really a bandwagon fans thing at all. Detroit is/was a great hockey town, Michigan and Michigan State are very popular there and quite frankly there weren't all the entertainment options that exist today. When I started going in the late '80s my family didn't even have freakin' PASS yet! There wasn't a lot to do -- if you wanted to watch hockey, you went down to the Joe and you stopped at Lafayette Coney Island on the way. With the bands and everything in the Joe, the place was rocking. Plus, Michigan and MSU especially were always LOADED with juniors and seniors and it was some truly great hockey. I think the product has slipped a bit the last decade or so -- not unlike college basketball. All the great talent is gone before you have a chance to get to know them. Lot of roster turnover, early defections, guys missing cuz of World Juniors... not to wax poetic about the good old days, but unfortunately the tournament, through know fault of its own, has lost a lot of its luster. Perhaps something down the road will change and the tournament will once again be a can't-miss event. Maybe a new arena or new format would give it a rebirth.
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