More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is...

[chickod]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

What do we do when a 3,000 seat arena team warrants a home game and 2,000 of those seats are owned by season ticket holders? How do we account for the loss in total revenue when you actually limit attendance even if demand is higher. Do we make each D-1 team specify a rink of 5,000 or greater capacity as a home playoff site? (good idea IMO)

You require a minimum capacity. If the school does not meet that requirement, you must play at the closest regional venue. And this would be determined in advance. For example, if Merrimack (whose "arena" holds about 20 people) were to make the tournament, their "home" games would be played either in Worcester or Manchester. What you DON'T do is make them travel and play an away game (which is what was happening with Michigan getting all those games at Yost). But I guess the NCAA would say it would be better for 15 Merrimack fans to travel to, say, Salt Lake City for a "regional" (just the word is an oxymoron) instead of having 3000 be able to go to Worcester.

 

[chickod]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Oh, and sell beer BTW and allow exit and re-entry between contests at all venues.

C'mon, don't you like those $7.00 hot dogs and $8.50 beers????

 

[chickod]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

The NCAA doesn't want to give that big of an advantage to the home team, and I agree with them. The locations aren't the problem.

Yeah, I see your point. There was no "advantage" for the Gophers playing in St. Paul in front of those manacing BU fans that packed the place...

 

[chickod]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Doubling the travel costs (or more due to more nights away) would be the first argument by the schools and the NCAA.

Yeah, the h*ll with the fans, right? What about OUR travel costs?? The schools can just raise tuition just like the government can just raise taxes. Last time I checked, we can't "raise" our income...

I actually think it's a good idea (especially considering the nature of the game - one and done in hockey doesn't really make sense anyway) IF you also combine it with my idea of keeping the regionals regional. Then there wouldn't be any more travel than occurs in the regular season (there wouldn't be any Alaska-Anchorage / BC games).

 

[chickod]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

It's about atmosphere. Regionals should not be held in NHL buildings.

Agreed 100% (is that allowed? a BU and BC fan???)

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Unless you believe that hockey has the same fanbase as basketball...hockey tourney attendance may not be that bad.

Overall attendance for Division I men’s basketball games last season is down more than half a million from 2008 and the average crowd size has dropped each of the past four seasons, according to the NCAA. Average attendance in 2007 was at 5,548 and as of 2011 had dropped to 5,237.

In the end, I think the crime is that the tourney is stuck on ESPN 3 for a US top 4 sport at the collegiate level. Here's hoping the BTN kicks some national sports media butt when it takes on the sport.

 

[chickod]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

In the end, I think the crime is that the tourney is stuck on ESPN 3 for a US top 4 sport at the collegiate level. Here's hoping the BTN kicks some national sports media butt when it takes on the sport.

You're lucky it's on at all. How many times do I have to say this? Hockey is a NICHE, REGIONAL sport. And you're wrong - it's not a "TOP 4" sport. MOST people couldn't care less about hockey. It's only "Top 4" because it has a long season which parallels basketball. But too many regions of the country don't even know it exists. This has nothing to do with ESPN. This has to do with the lack of common sense of the NCAA...

 

[Patman]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

You're lucky it's on at all. How many times do I have to say this? Hockey is a NICHE, REGIONAL sport. And you're wrong - it's not a "TOP 4" sport. MOST people couldn't care less about hockey. It's only "Top 4" because it has a long season which parallels basketball. But too many regions of the country don't even know it exists. This has nothing to do with ESPN. This has to do with the lack of common sense of the NCAA...

my answer...

NBC Sports Network

 

[bronconick]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

1. Football
2/3 Men's/Women's basketball
4. Baseball
5. Lacrosse
6. Softball
7. Hockey

Maybe you can move it to 6th.

 

[Patman]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

1. Football
2/3 Men's/Women's basketball
4. Baseball
5. Lacrosse
6. Softball
7. Hockey

Maybe you can move it to 6th.

Just a reminder, ESPN thinks in terms of brands... it has nothing to do with viewership or the like.

 

[bronconick]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

my answer...

NBC Sports Network

Is the question "Name the network that will never see postseason college hockey rights because ESPN is childish enough to screw with FSN affiliates, much less a network that aspires to compete with them directly on a national level" ?

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Enter BTN. The braintrust knows Canada is a big expansion market for the network. We'll see what they do with the sport.

Oh and Lacrosse is not a real sport.

 

[bronconick]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Just a reminder, ESPN thinks in terms of brands... it has nothing to do with viewership or the like.

Well then hockey is perpetually doomed to be around 15th, because there are exactly three brands that might register. Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame.

 

[Patman]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Is the question "Name the network that will never see postseason college hockey rights because ESPN is childish enough to screw with FSN affiliates, much less a network that aspires to compete with them directly on a national level" ?

I know... but to say the market isn't there is silly... I was shocked when they stepped up... granted NBC sports is trying to develop its own brand off of its main product. Nevertheless, they've seen it fit to make it a NATIONAL feature. Yes, ESPN will still treat us like trash, and moreso because of it. But to say that it isn't lurking there is just plain wrong.

 

[bronconick]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Enter BTN. The braintrust knows Canada is a big expansion market for the network. We'll see what they do with the sport.

Muddle about in confusion as for the first time in the history of Big Ten athletics, a market and the local media views their sport as an inferior pale comparison to the Junior leagues already there? You might actually have better luck pushing the "superiority" of Big Ten football in Alabama.

It'll probably go over slightly better than the Canadian Football League's expansion did in this country.

Oh and Lacrosse is not a real sport.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Yes!!!!! Exactly!!!!! Finally, someone who has the ***** to say what the REAL problem is. Why do they call them "regionals" when Air Force has to travel to Worcester, Michigan State to Bridgeport, Cornell to Green Bay and BU to St. Paul???? I'm so sick of the NCAA copying the basketball "template." Like that ludicrous "pod" system where they play the EAST regional in Hawaii and the West regional on Mars. Basketball makes billions of dollars - it's not an analagous situation. Basketball is popular EVERWHERE in the country - hockey is a regional, niche sport. And two bottom seeds beat top seeds. When does that happen in basketball (NO #16 has EVER beaten a #1). The fact is, bracket integrity isn't as large a factor in hockey. Do you see any 32-0 teams? I don't. It's HOCKEY! The games aren't 73 - 65 - they're 2-1 and 4-3. Each score has WAY MORE proportional significance. One bounce or hot goalie can change a season. If you get one bad bounce in basketball, you have about 80 more chances to make it up. It's just like interleague play in baseball. What's wrong with just keeping everyone in their region? Have an East Regional (with all the teams from the East) and a West regional (with all the teams in the West) and let them meet in the Frozen Four.

And the thing is, it's NOT about money. Because the NCAA could care less about hockey. That's the point. It doesn't make money anyway. If they wanted to make money, they would do what Caustic Undertow said and go back to campus sites. At least Mariucci would be packed for Minn/BU and for places with smaller arenas like Maine, you could have the game in Portland, which is two hours closer than Worcester. Also, does anybody at the NCAA understand that we are in a RECESSION and GAS PRICES are HIGH?????? Do they understand that (especially if you're in the West) you have to make THREE TRIPS if you're going to go to all of your team's games if they make it all the way? And that probably two of them involve flying??????

The basketball East regional was in Boston yesterday. It was $195 for ONE TICKET. They announced 19,000 and it sure looked as if the place was almost sold out. We play hockey - it's a different sport with different circumstances. But until the schools that are MEMBERS of the NCAA that the organization is supposed to be listening to and serving (sort of like the government is supposed to be listening to the PEOPLE - how's that working out?), it will never change. I'm sure that BU was thrilled to see 200 people go to the game. That really made it exciting for them, right?Y

What a joke and it's never going to change.

Mariucci's capacity isn't much more than what was in the X for that game. The problem was the price of tickets, the fact that they didn't start selling single game tickets until the day of, and the fact that they wouldn't let people leave between games. It's hard to justify spending $500 + parking + food and beverage to bring a family of five to the games and sit there with kids 7+ hours when you can watch on TV. Not to mention the significant additional costs if you're coming from out of town.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Games at the Ralph would draw 12,000.

Start sandblasting.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Muddle about in confusion as for the first time in the history of Big Ten athletics, a market and the local media views their sport as an inferior pale comparison to the Junior leagues already there? You might actually have better luck pushing the "superiority" of Big Ten football in Alabama.

Not so sure about that. Just as with MN, Canada is immersed in hockey. I have little doubt that avid junior fans would turn on some college games (as much as folks turn on other non football, non basketball sports). Frankly, I could see the same thing happening in pro hockey towns like Philly and NYC. I have no illusions that college hockey is going to be huge. But we are likely entering a new era of hockey with an already continent wide reach in BTN...we'll see.

 

[Patman]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

Not so sure about that. Just as with MN, Canada is immersed in hockey. I have little doubt that avid junior fans would turn on some college games (as much as folks turn on other non football, non basketball sports). Frankly, I could see the same thing happening in pro hockey towns like Philly and NYC. I have no illusions that college hockey is going to be huge. But we are likely entering a new era of hockey with an already continent wide reach in BTN...we'll see.

rephrase, and I know this will be disappointing... not everybody cares about the Big10.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: More proof that the Regional system is a disaster: Today's attendance at the X is

1. Football
2/3 Men's/Women's basketball
4. Baseball
5. Lacrosse
6. Softball
7. Hockey

Maybe you can move it to 6th.

Would love to dive into these numbers. I have little doubt that the only reason that lacrosse and softball beat hockey in attendance is that hockey is regional...probably occupying 20% of the country. So you have all these tiny lacrosse and softball programs with small turnouts...but they appear to be significant because they're national. College hockey on the other hand is large in the markets it serves.

Do these above numbers include new television audiences of verses, nbc, btn and now even channels like altitude? Doubt it. And if nobody was watching these all these hockey games...why would they continue to televise and expand this coverage? I saw my first lacrosse game on ESPN 3 yesterday. Don't expect to see another one show up for awhile.

I would guess college hockey is already 5th on your list even though its regional...with the opportunity to extend enthusiam second only to football and basketball further into the NE and Canada.