Re: Nashville 2015 (Frozen 4)?
The focus should actually be on the teams that weren't there. The all-WCHA Frozen Four was a matter of great pride for the WCHA, but it was treated as a total disaster by our friends from the East. Easterners cancelled their trips en masse, on the theory that there was no one to root for. For the same reason, they found no buyers among their usual contacts.
They didn't find many local buyers either. Why? Because local fans had been told for months that the Frozen Four was a hard sellout, and please don't call. By Saturday, the word got out that there were plenty of cheap tickets available on the street, and the in-house crowd improved. Contrast that experience with Buffalo, where two fanbases left town after the semi-finals and weren't replaced -- meaning a higher number of no-shows.
The NCAA bought into the idea of an On-Campus Frozen Four, but the Schottenstein Center doesn't really fit idealistic notions of an on-campus rink. The Schott is an NHL quality arena, complete with luxury suites. It's located on the NW edge of OSU, a rather long walk from Central Campus and the High Street Bars and Eateries. The location does allow for quite a bit of closeby parking, which was free during the Frozen Four. So the Schott has its advantages. But if you're trying to create a "college reunion" atmosphere, the Schott doesn't really deliver.
If Columbus hosts another FF, it will probably held at Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL Blue Jackets. The Arena District is set up perfectly for a FF, with hotels, restaurants and bars immediately adjacent.
CLS knows what he's talking about; but yeah, he should have worded his post differently.
The focus should actually be on the teams that weren't there. The all-WCHA Frozen Four was a matter of great pride for the WCHA, but it was treated as a total disaster by our friends from the East. Easterners cancelled their trips en masse, on the theory that there was no one to root for. For the same reason, they found no buyers among their usual contacts.
They didn't find many local buyers either. Why? Because local fans had been told for months that the Frozen Four was a hard sellout, and please don't call. By Saturday, the word got out that there were plenty of cheap tickets available on the street, and the in-house crowd improved. Contrast that experience with Buffalo, where two fanbases left town after the semi-finals and weren't replaced -- meaning a higher number of no-shows.
That's a legitimate criticism.
The NCAA bought into the idea of an On-Campus Frozen Four, but the Schottenstein Center doesn't really fit idealistic notions of an on-campus rink. The Schott is an NHL quality arena, complete with luxury suites. It's located on the NW edge of OSU, a rather long walk from Central Campus and the High Street Bars and Eateries. The location does allow for quite a bit of closeby parking, which was free during the Frozen Four. So the Schott has its advantages. But if you're trying to create a "college reunion" atmosphere, the Schott doesn't really deliver.
If Columbus hosts another FF, it will probably held at Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL Blue Jackets. The Arena District is set up perfectly for a FF, with hotels, restaurants and bars immediately adjacent.
The Downtown DC arena was just fine, but I don't remember the facility as being especially noteworthy. In a comparison with the Schottenstein Center, I'd say you'd have a wash. Both could be described as NHL quality rinks, both probably in the middle of the pack.
As far as I'm concerned, there was a good four day weekend to be had at any of the sites. If you're combining the FF with a longer vacation, sure -- there are definite advantages to sites like DC & Denver. Personally, my FF trip is usually limited to Wednesday evening through Sunday morning, so the tourist factor isn't all that important to me. But for the larger group, it does matter.
