Hockey East future tournament structure

[Yuppie Scum]

I don't suspect that most arenas have such a tight margin for profitability that if a single game fails to sell out, or even draw 75%, there's no profit to be had. Certainly, for most of the arenas in college hockey, a hockey game is the most profitable of all available options, especially if the venue is owned by the school themselves.

That being said, the schools do not typically get ticket revenue from the events (that goes to the league in most circumstances, and the school may not see much, if any, of it come back in the form of revenue redistributions), so the actual net profit for the postseason events might not be as large as a typical regular season event.

I posit that merch sales go up a lot in the postseason.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Quarterfinal attendance is based on how big a deal home ice is to that school. Teams like Vermont. Prov, Merrimack's etc get excited for home ice while
fans of the big four just dont find it that big of a deal as they usually get home ice 9 out of 10 years. Its almost like they think the playoffs start at the
semifinal round.

 

[theprofromdover]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Do schools make money on the quarterfinal games? Isn't attendance usually pretty bad due to students being on break at most schools?

All revenue from the quarterfinals go to Hockey East. Schools have no financial interest in the number of tickets sold. Bertagna says the league can't require schools to make the quarterfinals part of the season
ticket package.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Quarterfinal attendance is based on how big a deal home ice is to that school. Teams like Vermont. Prov, Merrimack's etc get excited for home ice while
fans of the big four just dont find it that big of a deal as they usually get home ice 9 out of 10 years. Its almost like they think the playoffs start at the
semifinal round.

There could be some of that, but I know at BU it pretty much always seems to fall on spring break, so you can immediatley takeaway prob 1500 - 2000 students out of attendence. Then a lot of people find it hard to attend a hockey game 3 nights in a row, so you can takeaway more attendance per game as many will attend one of the games but not all of them.

 

[jrobes01]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Lowell usually has its spring break during the HE quarterfinals. Usually they're on the road for the quarterfinals (Maine or bust!) so it hasn't been an issue, but this year they decided to allow students to stay on-campus the whole weekend so that they could attend the games. Attendance was still weaker (Fri 3147, Sat 4512, Sun 3963) compared to the 5,100 or so than they averaged for the year, but I think it's definitely a step in the right direction. More Hockey East schools should consider allowing students to stay the extra couple days for hockey if they can.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Lowell usually has its spring break during the HE quarterfinals. Usually they're on the road for the quarterfinals (Maine or bust!) so it hasn't been an issue, but this year they decided to allow students to stay on-campus the whole weekend so that they could attend the games. Attendance was still weaker (Fri 3147, Sat 4512, Sun 3963) compared to the 5,100 or so than they averaged for the year, but I think it's definitely a step in the right direction. More Hockey East schools should consider allowing students to stay the extra couple days for hockey if they can.

From a standpoint of comparison, RPI leaves its dorms open through the entire spring break; they are only closed at the end of various semesters. With that, the students still don't show up. I don't think it's a matter of if the students are able to stay, but rather if they WANT to stay.

 

[Priceless]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

From a standpoint of comparison, RPI leaves its dorms open through the entire spring break; they are only closed at the end of various semesters. With that, the students still don't show up. I don't think it's a matter of if the students are able to stay, but rather if they WANT to stay.

And those that want to stay may be doing so for some other reason than going to a hockey game.

 

[Jim]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

From a standpoint of comparison, RPI leaves its dorms open through the entire spring break; they are only closed at the end of various semesters. With that, the students still don't show up. I don't think it's a matter of if the students are able to stay, but rather if they WANT to stay.

Let's see..quarter finals in hokey or some beach in South Florida with Girls gone wild...hmmm, I think you might have hit upon something.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

From a standpoint of comparison, RPI leaves its dorms open through the entire spring break; they are only closed at the end of various semesters. With that, the students still don't show up. I don't think it's a matter of if the students are able to stay, but rather if they WANT to stay.

Its the same reason that the games over Thanksgiving weekend typically see lower attendance. Even if kids are able to stay, they will take the opportunity to get out of town if they are able, even if they like hockey and go to plenty of games through the year.

 

[sterlippo1]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

fans of the big four just dont find it that big of a deal as they usually get home ice 9 out of 10 years. Its almost like they think the playoffs start at the
semifinal round.

don't they?

 

[Patman]

Its the same reason that the games over Thanksgiving weekend typically see lower attendance. Even if kids are able to stay, they will take the opportunity to get out of town if they are able, even if they like hockey and go to plenty of games through the year.

A lot of them just want to go home, a lot of them will work, some of them can go to cancun on momsy and dadsy's credit card. There are a lot of reasons. Either case, it's a break away from school... and a break in momentum... Most people go because it's the thing to do with friends. Always wish there were more hockey fiends, but that's reality.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Its the same reason that the games over Thanksgiving weekend typically see lower attendance. Even if kids are able to stay, they will take the opportunity to get out of town if they are able, even if they like hockey and go to plenty of games through the year.

What's funny is that I always wanted to stay ON campus, regardless of hockey or not. There was actual civilization at college. I can understand why people would want to get away from it, though.

 

[Priceless]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

A lot of them just want to go home, a lot of them will work, some of them can go to cancun on momsy and dadsy's credit card. There are a lot of reasons. Either case, it's a break away from school... and a break in momentum... Most people go because it's the thing to do with friends. Always wish there were more hockey fiends, but that's reality.

Hockey fiends? What do the Montreal Canadiens have to do with this?

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

You wouldn't just hear cries from fans of the Boston schools. It's easily the largest city in the region, with the largest and most prestigious arena. It's also remarkably easy for transportation as you can take the train or bus from just about every campus in New England. The Downeaster brings Maine and New Hampshire fans right to North Station. You can take the Commuter Rail from Lowell, and I assume there is easy mass transit from Montpelier, Amherst, Providence and North Andover. What other city in New England has such easy travel considerations, hotels to accommodate teams and fans, more restaurants and attractions than you can possibly imagine? There's really no other choice than Boston Garden.

I think most of us agree with this.

Off the top of my head, I'd say the Hockey East Semi's and Finals typically draw in the 14k - 15k range? I'd predict that would drop by 3k-4k if it were in Hartford.

I wonder if it would be more likely for Hartford to get a NCAA regional with UConn as the host at some point going forward?

 

[Huskies01]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Interesting. I am surprised none of you are thinking about what is going on with the league the two Alaska teams are going to be playing in and how that they are going to play each other in the first round of the playoffs every year unless one of them wins the regular season title.

If I am Notre Dame, i am calling up Big Ol' Joey B and asking, more likely telling him, that going forward due to travel reasons, at the end of the regular season they HAVE to play the final week at home, and then the following week, no matter where they end up in the standings, they want a home playoff series, again because of travel. What is Joey going to say, no?

No way Notre Dame is going to spend the final week of the regular season playing at PC or UNH, fly back home, then fly back on the road to play at Merrimack or UML or wherever, fly back home, and then fly back to play at the Garden the following week if they made it that far. NO WAY.

They will throw a major wrench in how this happens, and its going to screw over everyone else. The precedent has now been set in another league, it will come East.

 

[joecct]

My vote would be keep it as is. Top 8 make the tournament with 3 and eventually 4 teams sitting at home.

Bottom four play a relegation tournament. Last place switches places with the ECAC champion.

Bottom 4 ECAC do same thing vis a vis AHA.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

Interesting. I am surprised none of you are thinking about what is going on with the league the two Alaska teams are going to be playing in and how that they are going to play each other in the first round of the playoffs every year unless one of them wins the regular season title.

If I am Notre Dame, i am calling up Big Ol' Joey B and asking, more likely telling him, that going forward due to travel reasons, at the end of the regular season they HAVE to play the final week at home, and then the following week, no matter where they end up in the standings, they want a home playoff series, again because of travel. What is Joey going to say, no?

No way Notre Dame is going to spend the final week of the regular season playing at PC or UNH, fly back home, then fly back on the road to play at Merrimack or UML or wherever, fly back home, and then fly back to play at the Garden the following week if they made it that far. NO WAY.

They will throw a major wrench in how this happens, and its going to screw over everyone else. The precedent has now been set in another league, it will come East.

Well, I don't think that accomidating ND with having their final regular season weekend at home is unreasonable... Teams will play half their league games at home and the other half on the road and half the teams will be at home on the final weekend of the regular season. No reason that ND can't be at home that final weekend... but I would say there is no way that Hockey East will guarantee them a home playoff series every year for the opening round.

 

[Patman]

Well, I don't think that accomidating ND with having their final regular season weekend at home is unreasonable... Teams will play half their league games at home and the other half on the road and half the teams will be at home on the final weekend of the regular season. No reason that ND can't be at home that final weekend... but I would say there is no way that Hockey East will guarantee them a home playoff series every year for the opening round.

I'm not sure how that's any different than now? In theory they could play at NMU and then get sent to Alaska for a playoff series.

There is no reason to let ND to start big footing around... Because then what will BC demand, etc., etc., etc.

I think the arrangement with the Alaska schools is all about money and travel for everybody else.

 

[Huskies01]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

I'm not sure how that's any different than now? In theory they could play at NMU and then get sent to Alaska for a playoff series.

There is no reason to let ND to start big footing around... Because then what will BC demand, etc., etc., etc.

I think the arrangement with the Alaska schools is all about money and travel for everybody else.

Of course there is. They are ND. They big foot around everything. Yeah the situation is different with Alaska, but does not mean ND is not going to take a hard look at it and think, why cannot we ask/demand the same? We do not want to be on the road possibly two-three straight weeks? Lets keep in mind they have already came to an agreement on how they only need to fly East 5 times during the regular season, correct?

And while its true that half the teams get home games the last weekend of the year, it flip flops every year other year. Lets see if that stays true with ND. Its going to get old pretty quick if they are always at home the last week of the year, or maybe even the last two if they feel that works better for them.

The only thing I could compare it to would be the Beanpot schools leading into the tournament and then the following weekend, they might each just play one game, but it can be either at home or on the road depending on the team they are playing and how the schedule lands that particular year, and they typically play that missing game earlier in the year.

 

[Patman]

Re: Hockey East future tournament structure

I think if hockey east is that weak then the league is done for anyhow.

I do not see how the league could be that stupid.