Hockey East Tourney on the Move

[bcfan131]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

Amazing how regionalized you Boston fellas are. You want to grow this sport, spark more interest? If so, you gotta think outside the box. Lets face it, the HE tourney in Boston has gotten stale. HE needs to do something about it. Heres how.

Every other year move the tourney outside of Boston. One year in Portland, then back to Boston, next year in Manchester, back to Boston followed by Providence. How to deal with smaller arenas? Simply raise the price of tickets. The smaller venues will still fill and its much more important for this sport to be played in front of packed houses than a nearly half full Garden. Generate some interest, gd it! What we have now suffices but it doesnt move the sport forward.

So somehow, by moving the game to Portland, raising ticket prices, raising the travel costs for just about every school except Vermont, UNH, and Maine (with the latter two's fans not having any trouble showing up in numbers in Boston in the past), while playing in a dumpy minor league arena, is going to raise people's interest in the Hockey East Tournament? Did I miss something here?

 

[sterlippo1]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

The event is already downsized. It has become small time because its essentially a non-event in Boston. I do get into Boston once or twice a year...usually for a Sox game, only because the tickets are free. I do love the crowds and traffic though, the rundown trolley system, and the stench leaving the ballpark and getting into the T station. Makes it all worthwhile. Lol, nah you can have your so-called "world class city", which it is not, by the way, even close to. Those would be cities like Paris, New York, London, San Fran, Sydney, Rome.....but Boston ?? hahaha

run down trolley system? you kidding me?

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

While the TD Bank Garden probably is the answer to all of these, there is the possibility that the two statements in bold could be accomplished elsewhere.

I know that Manchester is smaller than 12K, and I'm pretty sure Providence is, too. So, even if the rinks were packed, it would bring in less money (unless the ice fees were significantly cheaper, or the ticket prices were higher).

Majority of Boston's schools fan you mean.

How about UVM? I know the Burlington-Orono distance isn't much longer than Burlington-Boston, but it's over crappier roads, and looks like it would take 2-3 hours longer! Brilliant!

I love how you keep advocating moving the tourney because the Boston schools have an advantage, and yet you would move it farther away from UVM. Here's a tip: stick to stumping for Manchester. It's the closest it will ever be to UVM (and no, it's not a "home game" for UNH in pretty much any sense).

Students? Are you kidding? How many Boston College students were at the TD Garden this past spring for the Hockey East Championship?

Let's also not forget the number of non-student fans that live/work in and around Boston, who go to the Friday games after work. Yes, moving the tourney to Sat/Sun would help, but I'm not sure how much.

It's also negligible for UNH fans, the same distance and availability of the Downeaster. So you're making a change that negatively affects 70% of the teams, makes no difference for 20% of them, and makes it somewhat better for 10%. Your anti-Boston statements continue to get dumber and dumber.

This is true for the students and fans in the Durham area, but those that live in the Manchester/Concord/Nashua areas don't have easy access to the Downeaster.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

Your point is ludicrous. Have you noticed how well the Hockey East Champs have done nationally over the last ten years? They won because they were good, NOT because of any building. These teams would have won anywhere. There is no advantage for anyone by having it in Boston.

Not surprisingly you missed the point yet again. Teams win because they are good, that is correct, but to say there is absolutely zero advantage whatsoever is what is ludicrous. Even Nick admits there is a "very little advantage."

Ummmmm... it's a neutral site tournament for all teams, you buffoon.

There is VERY little advantage or disadvantage for the games to be played in this building.

It is a neutral site for sure, but there certainly is a bit of an advantage by playing there that gives a small advantage. Take for example a freshman coming in and skating on an NHL rink. Probably a little star struck at least for the opening few minutes. Now, whether or not that comes during the beanpot or the first period of the HE playoffs makes a difference. Even if only a small one.

Why would a Vermont fan complain about home-ice (or lack thereof) advantage in the Hockey East Tournament?

I didn't see anyone complaining? I saw a VT fan state a fact that there is an advantage. I think you should re-read what was stated if you think someone was making excuses, because that's not the way I read it at all.




Does the location of the tourney determine who wins and who doesn't, of course not. But it certainly can impact the game, even if only slightly.

 

[Netman]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

I think that this is one of the funniest thing Bob Driscol has done. The PC AD threw this out there to deflect from the basketball team being thugs. Why would HE want to leave the garden?

 

[Jon]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

The event is already downsized. It has become small time because its essentially a non-event in Boston. I do get into Boston once or twice a year...usually for a Sox game, only because the tickets are free. I do love the crowds and traffic though, the rundown trolley system, and the stench leaving the ballpark and getting into the T station. Makes it all worthwhile. Lol, nah you can have your so-called "world class city", which it is not, by the way, even close to. Those would be cities like Paris, New York, London, San Fran, Sydney, Rome.....but Boston ?? hahaha

But they do leave my alternators alone.

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

Reasons this will not promote HE and not make any more money:
Luxury Boxes: The Garden has a lot of them. Even if another arena stepped up it would not have as many as the garden and would not make as much money off of them.
Attendance: Attendance overall would be down. Raising ticket prices at a smaller arena would further lower attendance.
TV: The equipment is already set up at the garden so it is really no cost to them. If they did it at Worcester or Manchester wherever they would need to pay to set up the cameras to get as good coverage.
Concessions: No other arena is going to bring in as much in terms of concessions revenue.

Honestly if you want to promote Hockey East you'd be better off having games schedulded at these areans. UNH plays a couple games at Manchester a year. Maine will play a game or two in Portland. BU played a few games at MSG. NU is going to play a game in Hartford. Hell maybe if Providence got their act together they could promote and sell a game at the Providence civic center against BC/BU. Same goes for UMASS they could play one of those two schools in a game at DCU. If the games where promoted right they probably could sell well and that'd be a good way to promote HE with out risking ****ing up the tourney.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

It is a neutral site for sure, but there certainly is a bit of an advantage by playing there that gives a small advantage. Take for example a freshman coming in and skating on an NHL rink. Probably a little star struck at least for the opening few minutes. Now, whether or not that comes during the beanpot or the first period of the HE playoffs makes a difference. Even if only a small one.

So, from this viewpoint, it makes sense to play it in Providence or Manchester, as it would force all the teams who would play in the Semis/Finals to travel. If it's in Providence, everyone north of Boston would have to travel farther, but that's the breaks. And, of course, if it's in Manchester and UNH makes it, some people will whine about them having "an unfair advantage", because they apparently can't handle geography.

Of course, this all completely ignores the attendance, income, and visibility issues, but at least the tourney would be "fair". *waits for Lowell fans to come in and argue that we'd need new refs to really call it fair*

 

[Patman]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

*waits for Lowell fans to come in and argue that we'd need new refs to really call it fair*

I think hosting and having a guaranteed sport in next year's semis is adequate compensation.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

I think hosting and having a guaranteed sport in next year's semis is adequate compensation.

And with the upper parts of the sections closed off, it would be a guaranteed sell-out - 4,000 fans!

 

[SteveF]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

wouldnt it just be easier for vermont to schedule a game at the garden than to whine/complain/beetoch/moan and inconvenience 11 other teams about ridiculous suggestions that would be a detriment to the entire team (including said elephant walkers)?

did HE move this tournament to the garden after vermont voluntarily asked to join HE? was there fraud in the inducement of the contract here? what am i missing?

is this big lebowski? are the nihilists complaining that life isnt fair? the garden really ties the league together. so deal with it!

 

[theprofromdover]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

run down trolley system? you kidding me?

Larry's cannabis crop just came in.

 

[Sean Pickett]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

And, of course, if it's in Manchester and UNH makes it, some people will whine about them having "an unfair advantage", because they apparently can't handle geography.

No, it would be "an unfair advantage" for the same reason the Garden is "an unfair advantage" for the Boston teams: UNH plays one or two games there during the season.

And the same goes for Portland where Maine plays a game every season.

 

[Federal League]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

The event is already downsized. It has become small time because its essentially a non-event in Boston. I do get into Boston once or twice a year...usually for a Sox game, only because the tickets are free. I do love the crowds and traffic though, the rundown trolley system, and the stench leaving the ballpark and getting into the T station. Makes it all worthwhile. Lol, nah you can have your so-called "world class city", which it is not, by the way, even close to. Those would be cities like Paris, New York, London, San Fran, Sydney, Rome.....but Boston ?? hahaha

You're right. None of those other cities have traffic or bad areas.

 

[acs64]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

I must be losing my touch. I cant even get any negative rep from the Beanpotters by dumping on their fair city.

 

[acs64]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

Larry's cannabis crop just came in.

Trolley, T, Subway, Buses....itz all the same to me....all unconventional transportation.

 

[joegrav]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

It would be great for media attention, attendance, and incoming recruits to play our championship game in the sticks, so that hillbillies don't have to deal with how uncomfortable the city makes them. Wahhh!

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

You could always have the tourney nowhere near any of the Hockey East schools, like perhaps Madison Square Garden. Hey, if the ECAC can do it, why can't you?

 

[Chris_NH]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

I'm not really sure how much having the games on NESN cuts into the attendance. Could you expect a crowd 25% larger if the games weren't on TV? It's hard to judge, but obviously it's an issue.

If we're concluding that this is a 9,000-10,000 event (and that's with the big-name schools in it), I think the atmosphere would be better in a smaller building. Worcester is a non-starter in my book; the best options would be Manchester and Providence. Portland has been 'talking' about a new arena for years, but there's no political appetite for that kind of thing (and there probably never will be).

 

[J.D.]

Re: Hockey East Tourney on the Move

If we're concluding that this is a 9,000-10,000 event (and that's with the big-name schools in it), I think the atmosphere would be better in a smaller building. Worcester is a non-starter in my book; the best options would be Manchester and Providence. Portland has been 'talking' about a new arena for years, but there's no political appetite for that kind of thing (and there probably never will be).

That's just it though...we shouldn't be concluding that. It is not and hasn't been a 9,000-10,000 event. In recent years there's been a couple 12,000+ numbers. I think everyone on here would agree that the economy has been a factor in the lower numbers. Isn't 12,000 bigger than Providence and Manchester? Plus, if/when the economy comes back, that 12,000 will turn into 15,000, etc.