Manch Regional

[Darius]

Ticketmaster is selling a two day package and each day separately. Unsurprisingly there are more tickets available Saturday than Thursday.

 

[ericredaxe]

I will not dump on BU fans if the place is empty on Thursday. In fact I sorta hope it is just to get a message out there that even putting a local team in the Thursday 2 pm slot is idiotic. If we're stuck with the day off in between moving forward, make every regional a Fri/Sun regional and deal with the fact that you'll have overlapping games on Friday.

Anecdotally, I don't know one person who is going among the group of season ticket holders / fans that I most often attend games with. All would like to go, but are either not able to or not wanting to take the day off, pull kids from school and sports/activities etc etc.

 

[Leonidas]

I will not dump on BU fans if the place is empty on Thursday.

Why don't you take some BC fans with you? Help out a bit.

 

[boblav1]

Seats are now available in sections 118, 119, 122 and 123 for Thursday. $17.00 in fees on one ticket unreal.

 

[ericredaxe]

Seats are now available in sections 118, 119, 122 and 123 for Thursday. $17.00 in fees on one ticket unreal.

I wonder if that was one of the schools allotments that didn’t get used?

Do they even bother to try to sell the upper level seats? Is attendance usually that pitiful for these games that they don’t need to open the upper level?

 

[Fishman'81]

Seats are now available in sections 118, 119, 122 and 123 for Thursday. $17.00 in fees on one ticket unreal.

Must be TicketBastard. Why that isn't considered a monopoly under US law is beyond me.

 

[J.D.]

Is attendance usually that pitiful for these games that they don’t need to open the upper level?

Yes. But I usually like sitting up there anyway if it's not tarped off. I sat up in press area last year in Worcester (I didn't know it till I got up there) and had access to food for media...good times. I didn't go for any food but funny that nobody said anything to me.

It also just depends on the draw. A few years back, BU/NU/Cornell/Michigan was a good take in Worcester.

 

[Darius]

I wonder if that was one of the schools allotments that didn’t get used?

Do they even bother to try to sell the upper level seats? Is attendance usually that pitiful for these games that they don’t need to open the upper level?

Two. Likely Western and Denver.

The first 2, 3 regionals in Manch they sold the upper seats, but not since.

 

[chickod]

I will not dump on BU fans if the place is empty on Thursday. In fact I sorta hope it is just to get a message out there that even putting a local team in the Thursday 2 pm slot is idiotic. If we're stuck with the day off in between moving forward, make every regional a Fri/Sun regional and deal with the fact that you'll have overlapping games on Friday.

The NCAA won't be listening to the message, because (as has been previously discussed) they don't care about attendance.

 

[J.D.]

The NCAA won't be listening to the message, because (as has been previously discussed) they don't care about attendance.

Do they care about making money? Do they not get any of the ticket sales/concessions money? It's all just a predetermined fee that they collect? Or are the miniscule TV numbers somehow still better for them than maximizing attendance--I will leave that to the experts. If that's not the case then what is the point? But it's not all on the NCAA. The sport itself has the ability to change the format of the tournament and coaches have been reluctant to go to a format that includes any on campus component.

With a little thought, we can do better than putting the closest team in the regional at 2 PM on Thursday.

 

[J.D.]

Why don't you take some BC fans with you? Help out a bit.

Well that's another part of the problem. They make it tough enough to ensure that BU fans will be there good luck getting random neutral fans to go.

 

[J.D.]

I also think having St. Cloud-Minn State as the early game in Fargo is dumb but let's go straight by TV numbers to determine that Minnesota brings more eyeballs in the primetime slot even though it's only against Canisius. Same thing for what they did in Allentown.

 

[Darius]

Additional sections now available for separate day admission.

 

[ericredaxe]

That is a lot of blue dots on that Ticketmaster map - and not even trying to sell the upper sections it appears (I can't imagine those upper deck tickets are all sold out).

Now imagine that at least half of those sold seats are really only interested in one of the two games.... I'm sure the atmosphere will be electrifying!

Nothing like watching a game in a 30% full stadium. Actually, happy that I won't be attending once i consider it all.

 

[chickod]

Actually, happy that I won't be attending once i consider it all.

See, THIS is what is troubling. The NCAA brags about the "atmosphere" and "excitement" surrounding its tournaments. Yet, they facilitate just the opposite (and I'm not blaming you, BTW - I wouldn't be excited about attending a game in a half-empty arena - and I have done it more than I have cared to).

What I DON'T understand is that almost everyone has (or has access to even if it's just via their cable or streaming service) a DVR. Then they could have the games at reasonable times? Is ANYONE going to sit and watch ALL eight games live? Why do they think that they have to stagger the games? Put them on delay if they have to.

(Of course, you'd have to block that stupid scroll on the bottom of the screen. You can't watch anything on delay these days because then you find out about games that you might be waiting to watch later).

 

[SNHUPenman]

Downtown Manch has numerous and varied options. For sheer proximity, Murphy’s Tap Room and Murphy’s Diner are diagonally across the street from the SNHUrena:
https://murphystaproom.com/manchester/dinner-menu/
https://murphysdiner.com/

Both are fine. Essentially in the same block is The Goat. It is a local chain. I’d go there over Murphy’s:
https://goatnh.com/manchester/

If you were to exit the venue and turn right you would be heading north on Elm ST which is the main drag downtown. Elm street is very walk-able and along with the side streets has dozens of dining options ranging from take out sandwich and pizza shops to sit down Mexican, Thai, a steak house and other fine dining establishments. All are under a mile from the arena.

Among many others, some of my favorites:
Strange Brew Tavern, a local establishment that’s been around for almost 25 years:
http://strangebrewtavern.net/

Thirsty Moose Taphouse, a local chain, two blocks from the arena:
https://www.thirstymoosetaphouse.com/manchester/

Shaskeen Pub, a true traditional Irish pub. Love this place:
https://www.shaskeenirishpub.com/

The Crown Tavern, a block off Elm, slightly upscale:
https://thecrownonhanover.com/

Consuelo’s Taqueria, a block off Elm, I get a burrito here a couple of times a month:
http://consuelostaqueria.com/

I’d be remiss in not mentioning Piccola, a great Italian restaurant right on Elm:
https://piccolaitalianh.com/

The steakhouse is Hanover Street Chophouse:
https://hanoverstreetchophouse.com/

This is just a small sample. A quick map search will reveal many more options including places for a quick slice or sandwich as well as a noodle bar and a Brazilian steak house. Feel free to hit me with questions.

**** Check with restaurants about their hours. Most are having staffing trouble and many have scaled back***

I endorse the Murphy's & Strangebrew options. Strangebrew always has a nice atmosphere - reminds me of many of my college nights

 

[navy44]

We could have held a seance during the NU/WMU game last year in Worcester. It was a noon game, and the lack of support was embarrassing. I get it, its noon on a Friday, and there are classes, getting out there, bla bla. But it was awful compared to the late afternoon UMass/Minny game which was about 80% full.

 

[ericredaxe]

We could have held a seance during the NU/WMU game last year in Worcester. It was a noon game, and the lack of support was embarrassing. I get it, its noon on a Friday, and there are classes, getting out there, bla bla. But it was awful compared to the late afternoon UMass/Minny game which was about 80% full.

Yeah - Noon is even worse - that's like you can't even work a half a day.

Are you sure the afternoon game was 80% full? Box score lists attendance as 6002... and i assume some of those were NU fans who left before the second game. Doesn't the DCU Center seat 12K+ for hockey?

 

[ericredaxe]

See, THIS is what is troubling. The NCAA brags about the "atmosphere" and "excitement" surrounding its tournaments. Yet, they facilitate just the opposite (and I'm not blaming you, BTW - I wouldn't be excited about attending a game in a half-empty arena - and I have done it more than I have cared to).

What I DON'T understand is that almost everyone has (or has access to even if it's just via their cable or streaming service) a DVR. Then they could have the games at reasonable times? Is ANYONE going to sit and watch ALL eight games live? Why do they think that they have to stagger the games? Put them on delay if they have to.

(Of course, you'd have to block that stupid scroll on the bottom of the screen. You can't watch anything on delay these days because then you find out about games that you might be waiting to watch later).

Well that is what makes it even more stupid. They stagger the games for TV slots - but if I can't take the day / pull kids from school to see the game in person, I'm definitely not going to be watching it on live TV.

 

[J.D.]

6,000 is excellent these days though. I was there and it was a good atmosphere for the UMass game. Only chance Manchester has at 6k is BU-Cornell on Saturday.