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Imagining League Realignment
- Thread starter Eph72
- Start date
Re: Imagining League Realignment
I'll skip the chorus myself. While I am in no way advocating a breakup of Hockey East, what people need to realize is that if AD's think there's money to be made they'll leave Hockey East in the blink of an eye. No school is going to pass up incremental revenue because they have a soft spot for playing Lowell and Merrimac every year. What has happened in hockey isn't just the BTHC, which is a unique situation, but now this new western super conference. IF that conference starts doing better financially than the situation those schools left, one would expect stronger schools all over the country to start ditching their weak sisters and forming their own conferences. Now, before somebody writes something stupid, I don't expect ESPN to sign a deal to broadcast the Ivy League Hockey Conference in prime time every Saturday night during the season. But, however the finances end up working, if that league is successful why wouldn't other schools look to replicate that model? Its all, all, about the dollars - like it or not. Clearly Boston College will leave a historical conference in favor of one that offers more money (see ACC move). Having gone to BU for six years, I can tell you no school in the country grubs money more than they do. Its plausible an alliance of Notre Dame-BC-BU can then pick and choose its other 3 partners (lets say UNH, Maine and Vermont). I'm not saying its likely, but it is worthy of consideration. To deny that is to say that increased revenue is way down the list of factors that dictate what conference a school aligns with. I find that hard to believe myself.
I'll skip the chorus myself. While I am in no way advocating a breakup of Hockey East, what people need to realize is that if AD's think there's money to be made they'll leave Hockey East in the blink of an eye. No school is going to pass up incremental revenue because they have a soft spot for playing Lowell and Merrimac every year. What has happened in hockey isn't just the BTHC, which is a unique situation, but now this new western super conference. IF that conference starts doing better financially than the situation those schools left, one would expect stronger schools all over the country to start ditching their weak sisters and forming their own conferences. Now, before somebody writes something stupid, I don't expect ESPN to sign a deal to broadcast the Ivy League Hockey Conference in prime time every Saturday night during the season. But, however the finances end up working, if that league is successful why wouldn't other schools look to replicate that model? Its all, all, about the dollars - like it or not. Clearly Boston College will leave a historical conference in favor of one that offers more money (see ACC move). Having gone to BU for six years, I can tell you no school in the country grubs money more than they do. Its plausible an alliance of Notre Dame-BC-BU can then pick and choose its other 3 partners (lets say UNH, Maine and Vermont). I'm not saying its likely, but it is worthy of consideration. To deny that is to say that increased revenue is way down the list of factors that dictate what conference a school aligns with. I find that hard to believe myself.
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Well this is a good reason to join the B1G.
The money is getting insane. Can the FCS and D-II/III play-ups compete? The trend to go to similar athletic budget conferences is a good idea and I think more conferences will form based on that model.
Which leaves Bowling Green sitting ..... where?
Well this is a good reason to join the B1G.
The money is getting insane. Can the FCS and D-II/III play-ups compete? The trend to go to similar athletic budget conferences is a good idea and I think more conferences will form based on that model.
Which leaves Bowling Green sitting ..... where?
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Hadn't thought of that. That general concept would be the perfect scenario for ND. If UConn had a serious program/rink, they would be the school to include. Vermont might be better than UMass tho.
Hadn't thought of that. That general concept would be the perfect scenario for ND. If UConn had a serious program/rink, they would be the school to include. Vermont might be better than UMass tho.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: Imagining League Realignment
UMass will be busy playing in the mythical MAC Hockey Conference. (They're shifting to the MAC in other sports, aren't they?)
UMass will be busy playing in the mythical MAC Hockey Conference. (They're shifting to the MAC in other sports, aren't they?)
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: Imagining League Realignment
I thought I had heard it would be football in '12, everything else in '13.
I thought I had heard it would be football in '12, everything else in '13.
Re: Imagining League Realignment
This is a thought I'd had as well, early on, about the possibility of a "Super Hockey East" including Notre Dame and the Big 4 Hockey East schools.
Cutting 4* teams from the revenue pie would increase the revenue payout to each school even if total revenue doesn't increase. And there's no doubt in my mind that, for NESN, cutting 4 teams from Hockey East might decrease their available inventory, but increase the value of what they do have (assuming NESN only has access to conference games). Seems like a win-win right there for the Big 4.
*Technically 5, but one would be replaced by Notre Dame more than likely.
This is a thought I'd had as well, early on, about the possibility of a "Super Hockey East" including Notre Dame and the Big 4 Hockey East schools.
Cutting 4* teams from the revenue pie would increase the revenue payout to each school even if total revenue doesn't increase. And there's no doubt in my mind that, for NESN, cutting 4 teams from Hockey East might decrease their available inventory, but increase the value of what they do have (assuming NESN only has access to conference games). Seems like a win-win right there for the Big 4.
*Technically 5, but one would be replaced by Notre Dame more than likely.
sideshowbob
New member
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Naw, they are going to be like Temple -- just in the MAC for football, A10 for other sports.
Naw, they are going to be like Temple -- just in the MAC for football, A10 for other sports.
Shirtless Guy
Old Dirty Basterd
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Looks like Football only because A-10 doesn't have football.
Shirtless Guy
Old Dirty Basterd
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Dave hasn't had to buy yet...he left before he was the one stuck with the check...I guess.
Shirtless Guy
Old Dirty Basterd
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Right. I believe NESN has to show each team at least once?? If so, its a lot easier with those 6 than having to show those always scintillating PC-MC matchups every year.
I really wonder what's going on with Notre Dame. Is this all an afterthought for them or will they start throwing their weight around? Seems to be joining a Hockey East type conference while scheduling the BTHC for their non-conference matchups is the best of both worlds for them.
Right. I believe NESN has to show each team at least once?? If so, its a lot easier with those 6 than having to show those always scintillating PC-MC matchups every year.
I really wonder what's going on with Notre Dame. Is this all an afterthought for them or will they start throwing their weight around? Seems to be joining a Hockey East type conference while scheduling the BTHC for their non-conference matchups is the best of both worlds for them.
Yuppie Scum
New member
Re: Imagining League Realignment
According to my season ticket literature, Merrimack hosted 2 of the top 5 most viewed HE games on NESN last year. (Not to mention their appearance in the televised tourney games at the Garden.) But that's neither here nor there.
According to my season ticket literature, Merrimack hosted 2 of the top 5 most viewed HE games on NESN last year. (Not to mention their appearance in the televised tourney games at the Garden.) But that's neither here nor there.
Last edited:
Sean Pickett
2009 NCAA Champions
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Sean
The Merrimack schedule on the HE website shows the 29 January game vs Vermont and 12 March quarterfinal game vs Maine were both shown on NESN.
Sean
FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: Imagining League Realignment
What the hey, I'm feeling in the mood to play hockey god and see what we can do.
Established:
BTHC = Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State.
NCHC = North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, Nebraska Omaha, Minnesota Duluth, Miami.
One possibility:
WCHA = Bemidji State, St. Cloud State, Mankato State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Alaska Anchorage, Alaska.
CCHA = Lake Superior, Western Michigan, Ferris State, Bowling Green, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Alabama Huntsville.
Hockey East = Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Providence, Merrimack, UMASS Lowell, UMASS Amherst, Notre Dame, RPI.
ECAC = Brown, Yale, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Colgate, Quinnipiac, Union, Clarkson, St. Lawrence, RIT.
Atlantic = Holy Cross, Bentley, UCONN, AIC, Sacred Heart, Army, Canisius, Air Force.
Obviously this is dependent upon Notre Dame being accepted and choosing to go to Hockey East, RPI being accepted and choosing to go to Hockey East, and Western Michigan being denied entry into NCHC.
What the hey, I'm feeling in the mood to play hockey god and see what we can do.
Established:
BTHC = Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State.
NCHC = North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, Nebraska Omaha, Minnesota Duluth, Miami.
One possibility:
WCHA = Bemidji State, St. Cloud State, Mankato State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Alaska Anchorage, Alaska.
CCHA = Lake Superior, Western Michigan, Ferris State, Bowling Green, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Alabama Huntsville.
Hockey East = Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Providence, Merrimack, UMASS Lowell, UMASS Amherst, Notre Dame, RPI.
ECAC = Brown, Yale, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Colgate, Quinnipiac, Union, Clarkson, St. Lawrence, RIT.
Atlantic = Holy Cross, Bentley, UCONN, AIC, Sacred Heart, Army, Canisius, Air Force.
Obviously this is dependent upon Notre Dame being accepted and choosing to go to Hockey East, RPI being accepted and choosing to go to Hockey East, and Western Michigan being denied entry into NCHC.
Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
Re: Imagining League Realignment
Let me ask you, as an RPI supporter, what are your thoughts on a hypothetical move from the ECAC to Hockey East? Good? Bad? Neutral?
Let me ask you, as an RPI supporter, what are your thoughts on a hypothetical move from the ECAC to Hockey East? Good? Bad? Neutral?