How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

[scsutommyboy]

I would like to get feed back from people who were in Detroit for this year's frozen four. It looked brutal on TV, but was it as bad as looked? let's face it TV doesn't tell the whole story. Did the NCAA screw the pooch on this one?

 

[SteveF]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

i think watching live was much better than watching on the jumbotron.. i had a great view and I couldnt even see the pipes from where i was sitting. it certainly didnt distract me at all compared to how choppy the video feed looked on the replays.

as expected, the sound didnt travel well; but that isnt to say it was quiet in there. i couldnt understand most of what RIT was chanting - but it wasnt that much different than other locations with no legit home team.

obviously none of the games were competitive which sucked. atleast erin nicole was *** hot. needless to say, i had a lot of fun.

 

[TJbadgerfan]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

atleast erin nicole was *** hot.

She just needs to learn something about hockey.

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

The sightlines from my seat were pretty decent. Whether they were really better than the $40 seats sold at the last minute is another question.

Sound was poor, as SteveF mentioned. Not much ambience during the games. The awards evening was almost a total loss. Couldn't hear much of anything on Friday night. Also, positioning media guys between the speakers and the crowd was . . . well, daft. [/brit] On the plus side, at least I got a great view of Melrose's mullet while I was not understanding the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru quality PA system.

RenCen Marriott was fine. Better than fine. The people mover was cool enough, but less functional than you'd like. You can tell it predates Ford Field and Comerica.

Overall, I had a good time. I don't think the venue was a complete disaster. I had a good time at Comerica on Saturday, too. No complaints about the city.

Bottom line: I'd go back to Detroit for a FF in a heartbeat - if it was at Joe Louis.

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

She just needs to learn something about hockey.

["Rim" joke goes here]

 

[Netman]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

["Rim" joke goes here]

That phrase is sure to stick around here. The guy sitting next to said "oh no she didn't!

 

[MUhawks628]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

I thought it was good. But this was my first FF and I'm from Detroit so it could be inexperience and bias on my part .

And I am now in love with Erin Nicole.

 

[Yelnick]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

She just needs to learn something about hockey.

And keep the mic in front of her mouth. When she took it down and smiled real big, all I could see was teeth.

And don't try and look up pictures of her online. I wanted to see what all magazines she's been in (bleach blonde hair, two first names, I figured it was a slam dunk she'd been in playboy) and there was another lady that looks similar to her but is definitely not her in some very...interesting...pictures and videos. So I guess I was part right.

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

And keep the mic in front of her mouth. When she took it down and smiled real big, all I could see was teeth.

And don't try and look up pictures of her online. I wanted to see what all magazines she's been in (bleach blonde hair, two first names, I figured it was a slam dunk she'd been in playboy) and there was another lady that looks similar to her but is definitely not her in some very...interesting...pictures and videos. So I guess I was part right.

I didn't see the other Erin Nicole, but I didn't find anything really interesting about the real one. Just this link, via Google:
http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/May-2008/Erin-Nicole/

Apparently, she worked as in-arena 'talent' for the Pistons. That might explain the "rim" slip.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

I didn't see the other Erin Nicole, but I didn't find anything really interesting about the real one. Just this link, via Google:
http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/May-2008/Erin-Nicole/

Apparently, she worked as in-arena 'talent' for the Pistons. That might explain the "rim" slip.

She works for the ABC station in Detroit. She does the traffic report on the AM show from 5 am to 7 am, prior to good morning america. She was doing it friday morning. Never looked that good on TV though.
I guess you wouldn't either if you got up at 3 30 every day.

 

[Choose Death]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

The NCAA "screwed the pooch" I believe is the saying on this one. The rink was built very poorly. You could see the lines from the cooling under the ice, but looking at the jumbo-tron it looked much worse on the TV then in person. The micing in the arena was really awkward because on random occasion over the PA you would here a random skate hitting the ice or someone receiving the puck. So that was incredibly inconsistent. EVERYONE I talked to in the crowd was incredibly disappointed we didn't get to see these games in the Red Wings house. But it was common consensus that the NCAA was only there to make money and set an indoor record.

While were on the subject, to the NCAA:
Next time I go to one of your events and get pulled aside and told that "you knew I was coming and am in no way allowed to bring my school flag into the arena" you will be hearing from me. To make that worse we couldn't bring in our USA flag either... commies... But it was nice to see BC and Wisco fans brought their flags in without problems.

 

[d4rksabre]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

As a first timer to the Frozen Four, I thought it was a great time. If you were only there for the games, then maybe you didn't have as much fun, but for myself and the other RIT fans who traveled and stayed the weekend, we had a great time seeing and experiencing Detroit, the surrounding area, and the Frozen Four. Could the hockey itself have been better? Sure. But overall, it was a lot of fun and Detroit definitely made a good impression on myself and everyone else in our group. Detroit, you're okay in my book. *thumbs up*

 

[MaizeRage]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

EVERYONE I talked to in the crowd was incredibly disappointed we didn't get to see these games in the Red Wings house.

You apparently didn't talk to any of the 17,000+ people that couldn't have gotten into the building if it was at the Joe. Or anyone that has actually been inside the Joe. If it was at JLA, there would have been a ton of complaining about holding the event in a third-rate facility.

I've heard a number of people ***** about the lines under the rink, but no one has explained why that is a big deal. I mean, I guess they were there, but it didn't effect anything.

The atmosphere thing is overplayed too. There was a definite 'wow' moment when Wisconsin took the ice for the championship. It wasn't Ford Field's fault that Wisconsin did nothing worth cheering for the next 60 minutes. I was at the 2004 Frozen Four championship game in Boston, and the atmosphere was pretty much the same, except for the last two minutes of the game, and that had absolutely nothing to do with which pro team regularly played there.

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

You apparently didn't talk to any of the 17,000+ people that couldn't have gotten into the building if it was at the Joe. Or anyone that has actually been inside the Joe. If it was at JLA, there would have been a ton of complaining about holding the event in a third-rate facility.

I've heard a number of people ***** about the lines under the rink, but no one has explained why that is a big deal. I mean, I guess they were there, but it didn't effect anything.

The atmosphere thing is overplayed too. There was a definite 'wow' moment when Wisconsin took the ice for the championship. It wasn't Ford Field's fault that Wisconsin did nothing worth cheering for the next 60 minutes. I was at the 2004 Frozen Four championship game in Boston, and the atmosphere was pretty much the same, except for the last two minutes of the game, and that had absolutely nothing to do with which pro team regularly played there.

The 2004 game was between a team that was very good at boring hockey and a team that was flawless at it. And I say this as a fan of one of the two.

That doesn't begin to describe the teams that played on Saturday. And despite failing to score, Wisconsin generated plenty of excitement on the ice. Especially in the latter half of the 2nd period.

Ford Field is a great facility. I don't like it for a Frozen Four. I don't give a rip if an arena has all the amenities of something built in the last decade. I go to baseball games at Fenway fercrissakes.

And I have nothing bad to say about Detroit. I'm just not anxious for another stadium FF.

 

[The Rube]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

I've heard a number of people ***** about the lines under the rink, but no one has explained why that is a big deal. I mean, I guess they were there, but it didn't effect anything.

For people who were there, I hear it wasn't that noticeable, and no I can't imagine it actually affected the ice. However, for the tv viewer (and the casual sports fan who happened across the games, and hopefully stayed tuned in to watch the games), it was really distracting. They were that noticeable, and took a little away from the appearance/presentation of the game.

 

[STATEdude3]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

For people who were there, I hear it wasn't that noticeable, and no I can't imagine it actually affected the ice. However, for the tv viewer (and the casual sports fan who happened across the games, and hopefully stayed tuned in to watch the games), it was really distracting. They were that noticeable, and took a little away from the appearance/presentation of the game.

if you fixed your focus on them they were visible from inside the arena. However if you were following the play it was not something your eyes picked up on (at least that was my take from sec. 243).

 

[jamie9248922]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

I am a BC student and I had an absolute blast. That BC won obviously skews my opinion somewhat, but I really had a great time at my First Frozen Four. Everything was extremly organized and the activities were fun. The view from where I sat (the BC section) was pretty good. I agree that the vastness of the building took some of the atmosphere away from the game, but even though we were only about 50 BC students we made the most noise we could. Plus just being able to say I went to a Frozen Four where nearly 38,000 people attended is pretty awesome. Overall I had a good time....Maybe BC makes it again and I can see how it is at a hockey arena.

 

[slurpees]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

For people who were there, I hear it wasn't that noticeable, and no I can't imagine it actually affected the ice. However, for the tv viewer (and the casual sports fan who happened across the games, and hopefully stayed tuned in to watch the games), it was really distracting. They were that noticeable, and took a little away from the appearance/presentation of the game.

distracting to the tv viewer? wow, you're really grasping at straws now. I can understand the arguments about the terrible risers, but this is absurd. on my HD, they were somewhat visible in spots, and not in any way distracting. According to what I read and heard they had no bearing on the ice quality, thus they were irrelevant.

 

[The Rube]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

distracting to the tv viewer? wow, you're really grasping at straws now. I can understand the arguments about the terrible risers, but this is absurd. on my HD, they were somewhat visible in spots, and not in any way distracting. According to what I read and heard they had no bearing on the ice quality, thus they were irrelevant.

They were not irrelevant. This is the championship. You should have the best possible presentation, period. Very visible lines on the ice (yes, I also have HD) detract from that goal.

I have said that they did not affect the play, but when you are trying to gain new fans, and those possible new fans see the marquee event on a playing field that is not top notch, visually, you will take that into account, like it or not. "Wow, if the sport itself doesn't take the time to make it look the best it can, why should I become a fan of it" sort of thing.

Sure, you can "adjust" your viewing and eventually block it out, we probably all did that, but that shouldn't have been necessary.

 

[kdilks]

Re: How was the Frozen Four form people who went?

I personally wouldn't have been as excited to see the Frozen Four at Joe Louis. Most local college hockey fans already go there a number of times each year to see their team play (Great Lakes Invitational, yearly Michigan vs MSU game, CCHA Championship). Also, I think that Ford Field is a lot more central to things of interest in downtown Detroit, and the atmosphere outside of the arena would have been greatly diminished. It was probably also a lot of people's first chance to see Ford Field, because who the hell would want to pay to go see the Lions?

Sightlines were fine for me. First day I was about 20 rows up in section 128 (behind the net, about even with the added risers). My only complaint sitting there would be that the seats weren't quited pitched high enough, so you couldn't see the near goal line over the boards. But it was fine if you stood up, and inevitably some idiot in front of you is going to jump up and block everybody's view when exciting things are happening, forcing you to stand up anyways. For the championship game I was at the top of section 202 (behind the other net, about as high as you can go). Kind of far away, but it was comparable to sitting in the upper level at the Xcel center. Only noticed the white lines when looking at the video board, couldn't make them out at all when I looked at the ice.

Acoustics weren't that great. They had the ice/bands miked to compensate, but I think it took them some time to get that working properly. For the first game between Wisconsin and RIT, it seemed like I was watching it on mute, but then it was fine for the other semifinal. I was actually able to hear RIT's student section fairly well from the upper level during the championship game. Quality of the games and proximity of the fanbases also had a lot to do with it, especially when you realize the team with the louder fanbase got crushed in all 3 games. The place would've been rocking had Michigan made it and given BC a competitive game.

Erin Nicole was for the most part fine, though I personally would've preferred Mike Kosta (guy that does/did CCHA All-Access). I don't think he was an option because he was on Jay Leno Friday night.

Can't say too much about some "fan experience" things because I drove in for the games, didn't do the Skills Competition on Friday, and did the same things in Detroit that I always do. Found free parking within a reasonable distance both days. They had the LED traffic boards on the highway giving directions to Ford Field, so that was pretty nice. Lots of college hockey fans in the restaurants/bars along Woodward before the semi-finals. Niki's Pizzeria in Greektown had Frozen Four signs on the tables with the schedule of events for the week, so I consider that to be a good sign for local promotion. There was also a good amount of advertisement for the event leading up to it (billboards, TV commercials during college hockey games, etc.).


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Personally? I'll take Ford Field over the Xcel Center just for the sake of ticket price/availability. If you pay a lot for good seats, you'll be much better off at the Xcel Center. If you're like me and can't justify spending a whole lot of money for a single event (unless your team makes it), then the cheapest seats are going to have a comparable view but cost about 4 times as much. I was able to find people that weren't diehard college hockey fans interested in going at the Ford Field prices, whereas even I'm not willing to pay the prices for the Xcel Center (again, unless my team makes it).