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Minnesota Cup

Re: Minnesota Cup

What I am about to say will get me blasted. The most important athletic program in the state of Minnesota is the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. If by chance the athletic department loses money it hurts the rest of the schools in the state of Minnesota. Which means they need to continue to schedule as many home games as possible regardless of the sport the school is sponsoring. In the terms of hockey it needs to make money it makes zero sense for the Gophers to schedule road games of any kind but they have to for competitve reasons. IMO, if two schools in the Big Ten decide to enter the icebox all hell will break lose and we will see even less games against in state rivals. Mark my words that will surely hurt the smaller schools in the state of Minnesota.
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

Hammy said:
I may be in the minority on it but I wouldn't like what you propose from a Gopher perspective. One of the things I am most excited about in future years is having more scheduling flexibility in who we play. I want more variety than there has been.
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I am an total agreement with your statement. I am looking foward to seeing different schools on the Gophers hockey schedule.
 
4four4 said:
With an attitude like that we will see you cheering for the Gophers in the upcoming years. Sheez.
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Why? Because the decline in attendance is obvious to the most casual observer? Because being in 11th and 12th place is not likely to improve that? Because I don't know a soul who thinks "the new WCHA" is going to create interest?

There is no chance I'll ever become a Gophers fan.
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

MavsFan said:
Why? Because the decline in attendance is obvious to the most casual observer? Because being in 11th and 12th place is not likely to improve that? Because I don't know a soul who thinks "the new WCHA" is going to create interest?

There is no chance I'll ever become a Gophers fan.
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Well, drop the program and don't support it anymore. It seems pretty simple to me.
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

How about if the fans of the teams that are leaving just stop telling the fans of the teams left behind on the Island of Misfit Toys how they should be reacting to the changes, mkay?
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

4four4 said:
What I am about to say will get me blasted. The most important athletic program in the state of Minnesota is the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. If by chance the athletic department loses money it hurts the rest of the schools in the state of Minnesota. Which means they need to continue to schedule as many home games as possible regardless of the sport the school is sponsoring. In the terms of hockey it needs to make money it makes zero sense for the Gophers to schedule road games of any kind but they have to for competitve reasons. IMO, if two schools in the Big Ten decide to enter the icebox all hell will break lose and we will see even less games against in state rivals. Mark my words that will surely hurt the smaller schools in the state of Minnesota.
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I think that's overstating the importance of the U's athletic program to the rest of the state. If you're talking exclusively hockey, you can make that argument. Yes, hockey brings in more cash to the rest of the schools. It doesn't share the revenues that they make with anyone else though. The rest of the athletic department has no bearing whatsoever on any other schools. The U doesn't fund any of the MNSCU schools in any way, shape or form. The hockey team may bring additional revenues to other schools when they visit, but that's the extent of the financial backing they provide. UMD may be a different story. I don't know exactly how the funding works there.
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

MavsFan said:
Why? Because the decline in attendance is obvious to the most casual observer? Because being in 11th and 12th place is not likely to improve that? Because I don't know a soul who thinks "the new WCHA" is going to create interest?

There is no chance I'll ever become a Gophers fan.
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I'm obviously in the minority on this one. If we can somehow maintain the MN relationship, winning will cure the rest. The arena is just as empty for UMD, SCSU, DU, and WI as it is for Lowell, BSU, UAH, and any other small school. The years that MSU has been winning, they have filled the stands against all teams. It's not just when MN and UND come to town. I really think this might actually work out in our favor. It's not going to be easy by any means, but maintain the key relationships and start winning. That will put butts in the seats and in turn create more revenue.
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

JDUBBS1280 said:
Very well said. It isn't perfect for any party, but it's something. As a Gopher fan I hope we travel to the other schools, even if it is a little less frequently.

Also, any thoughts on making the Championship game of this tourney part of Hockey Day? That might allow us to have some different teams playing on that day and might bring in some more revenue for the teams.
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That would be awesome if it happened on Hockey Day!
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

JDUBBS1280 said:
I just find it hard to believe UMD is agreeing to play without anticipating some benefit to their program. I think it will be far more beneficial financially than some people are assuming.

Also, in regards, noticed this Tweet from Bruce Ciskie recently...

“@BruceCiskie: Seems like a safe bet that UMD will reach four sellouts on the season.”

So, UMD isn't selling out every game. Not saying they can't or won't, but what happens when they aren't playing so well? Just a question.

My point is, there is a reason they are getting involved. They aren't doing it without reason.
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Absolutely they'd benifit, its crazy to think otherwise, maybe not near as much as MSU, BSU or SCSU but theres no way they'd gamble on it. When the Gophs go up there the place is jam packed, during down years for either program. Minnesota's version of the Bean Pot, yeah UMD wants to sit that one out, pawlease!!

btw, I hope UMD ends up owning the NCHC. UNO (imo) will fall flat when Blais leaves, UMD is poised for a back to back which will go a very long way in future recruiting etc.
 
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Re: Minnesota Cup

I think it's funny to hear how much UMTC and their fans care about the smaller programs in MN, but then in the next sentence say how they can't wait to play new opponents. If it was about anything other than money, you'd see UMTC dump their agreement with Notre Dame and quit seeking one with BU/BC and play Bemidji and Mankato instead. But it's about money in today's college hockey world, and every program does what is best for their bottom line. I just get a kick out of the Gopher "holier than thou" Mother Theresa type crap being spewed about helping others, when really they only do it when they can make money from it (like everyone else).
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

beersong said:
I think it's funny to hear how much UMTC and their fans care about the smaller programs in MN, but then in the next sentence say how they can't wait to play new opponents. If it was about anything other than money, you'd see UMTC dump their agreement with Notre Dame and quit seeking one with BU/BC and play Bemidji and Mankato instead. But it's about money in today's college hockey world, and every program does what is best for their bottom line. I just get a kick out of the Gopher "holier than thou" Mother Theresa type crap being spewed about helping others, when really they only do it when they can make money from it (like everyone else).
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There is no question that Minnesota has to make money playing hockey. It's too bad that the football team isn't a huge cash cow so that wasn't the case. That being said Minnesota was the only Big 10 school who spoke out against forming the Big 10 hockey conference. And, I think we can all agree that that has more to do with why the current situation is what it is right now than anything.
 
Hammy said:
They are being flexible in a sense by taking two games away from Mariucci for this.
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You are assuming that a. The Gophers will sell out whatever games they are playing against the little sisters of the poor (who if I am not mistaken they sometimes write a check to). B. All four teams in this tournament have an equal share of the revenue.

Not to mention that Mariucci only holds 9k-10k versus 18k that xcel holds. So even if the split is equal for all four teams, you aren't factoring in the extra seats they can sell or they money they would normally pay a visiting team.
 
4four4 said:
What I am about to say will get me blasted. The most important athletic program in the state of Minnesota is the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. If by chance the athletic department loses money it hurts the rest of the schools in the state of Minnesota.
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Please explain this preposterous statement.
 
Re: Minnesota Cup

I'd say it's a fairly safe bet MN would make more money - probably a lot more money - hosting anyone at Mariucci in lieu of playing the two games at the X. Even a random **** team coming to Minneapolis will draw around 9k fans per game in paid attendance, so that's 18k for a weekend at $30+ per ticket. Plus MN would capture all of the concession revenue as well as parking. Total revenue for that sort of weekend would be somewhere on the order of $600k (remember, MN does have suites which adds to the revenue side as well). Assuming MN pays its opponent $100k to show up, that still leaves $500k.

At best, a tournament at the X might draw 50k fans total (15k for each gopher game, 10k for each of the other two games - and this is probably being generous). That means 12,500 tickets for that side of the revenue going to MN, none of the parking revenue, and who knows what if any of the concession money would go to them. The average ticket price would have to be at least $40 per game to match the Mariucci scenario. Actually, it'd have to be higher than that since the X pockets some sort of fee to use the facility.
 
beersong said:
I think it's funny to hear how much UMTC and their fans care about the smaller programs in MN, but then in the next sentence say how they can't wait to play new opponents. If it was about anything other than money, you'd see UMTC dump their agreement with Notre Dame and quit seeking one with BU/BC and play Bemidji and Mankato instead. But it's about money in today's college hockey world, and every program does what is best for their bottom line. I just get a kick out of the Gopher "holier than thou" Mother Theresa type crap being spewed about helping others, when really they only do it when they can make money from it (like everyone else).
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My cousin played four years for MSU-M, and I do care A LOT about that program (as well as the other MN programs), but I would also like to see the Gophers play some new teams. There is nothing wrong with wanting to play different programs that we might not have gotten to see the Gophers play in a while. It's not the fault of Gopher fans that conferences are being shaken up and it will become more difficult to play in your barns more regularly.
 
Bakunin said:
I'd say it's a fairly safe bet MN would make more money - probably a lot more money - hosting anyone at Mariucci in lieu of playing the two games at the X. Even a random **** team coming to Minneapolis will draw around 9k fans per game in paid attendance, so that's 18k for a weekend at $30+ per ticket. Plus MN would capture all of the concession revenue as well as parking. Total revenue for that sort of weekend would be somewhere on the order of $600k (remember, MN does have suites which adds to the revenue side as well). Assuming MN pays its opponent $100k to show up, that still leaves $500k.

At best, a tournament at the X might draw 50k fans total (15k for each gopher game, 10k for each of the other two games - and this is probably being generous). That means 12,500 tickets for that side of the revenue going to MN, none of the parking revenue, and who knows what if any of the concession money would go to them. The average ticket price would have to be at least $40 per game to match the Mariucci scenario. Actually, it'd have to be higher than that since the X pockets some sort of fee to use the facility.
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I'm sure there will be some added advertising revenue as well, but I agree with much of what you said.
 
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