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NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
- Thread starter ARM
- Start date
HankScorpio
New member
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
Be interesting to see how Lindenwood would be as a host, considering they haven't hosted anything of that magnitude before. But being in the St. Louis area would be a nice change.
Be interesting to see how Lindenwood would be as a host, considering they haven't hosted anything of that magnitude before. But being in the St. Louis area would be a nice change.
OnMAA
Vort Doen.....Heija Heija Heija
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
My guess is that St-Louis is probably an easier place to fly into than Grand Forks, with more direct connections and options from various places in the north east.
I would think that it normally makes more sense to have the event at a locale with the local team having a good chance to make it.
Having said that, love Hux's suggestion to have it in Lake Placid again. Nice locale and close to home. Off course, that is not an easy place to get to if you are flying.
My guess is that St-Louis is probably an easier place to fly into than Grand Forks, with more direct connections and options from various places in the north east.
I would think that it normally makes more sense to have the event at a locale with the local team having a good chance to make it.
Having said that, love Hux's suggestion to have it in Lake Placid again. Nice locale and close to home. Off course, that is not an easy place to get to if you are flying.
OnMAA
Vort Doen.....Heija Heija Heija
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
Would the St. Louis Hockey Community support the Women's FF in comparable way? Just to grab a number out of thin air, might they provide 2,000 fans for the event? I honestly don't know. But the success of 2007 certainly gives them the right to state their case.
With all that said, if you still want to say that Lindenwood's bid is the riskiest of the four, I'd have to agree.
Transportation to the host city? For those who would be flying, this is a desirable location. Lots of options for flying into St. Louis. Even better, the airport is around 10 minutes from campus, IIRC. (not sure about the rink location) And while it's a long drive, it is drivable for the WCHA schools.
Last but not least, St. Charles/St. Peter is a very nice part of the St. Louis area.
Looking forward to the announcement!
Fair Assessment. On the upside, this means that you'd have a truly neutral site.
The Men's Frozen Four was in St. Louis in 2007. Prior to the awarding of the bid, I posted against the idea. My prose was a bit more diplomatic, but my logic was very much the same. And you know what? I was wrong. The numbers of annual attendees was indeed down. The number of lottery applications was way down. But local fans picked up the slack, and the building was full. My observation was that the entire upper bowl was filled with locals, and some of the lower bowl as well. I'm guessing at least 10,000 local fans attended that event.
Would the St. Louis Hockey Community support the Women's FF in comparable way? Just to grab a number out of thin air, might they provide 2,000 fans for the event? I honestly don't know. But the success of 2007 certainly gives them the right to state their case.
With all that said, if you still want to say that Lindenwood's bid is the riskiest of the four, I'd have to agree.
No guarantees, but the weather in St. Louis can be very springlike in March, especially compared to most college hockey communities.
Transportation to the host city? For those who would be flying, this is a desirable location. Lots of options for flying into St. Louis. Even better, the airport is around 10 minutes from campus, IIRC. (not sure about the rink location) And while it's a long drive, it is drivable for the WCHA schools.
Last but not least, St. Charles/St. Peter is a very nice part of the St. Louis area.
Looking forward to the announcement!
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
Just hope that if they do end up hosting that they have good hard ice to promote a fast game. No puddles, no slush - the NCAA should insist on a guarantee, to the extent possible...no matter where the tourney is held.
Just hope that if they do end up hosting that they have good hard ice to promote a fast game. No puddles, no slush - the NCAA should insist on a guarantee, to the extent possible...no matter where the tourney is held.
Hux
Alfond to Ridder & rinks in between
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
The name of the rink at Merrimack...in North Andover, Mass.
Not following that comment.
The name of the rink at Merrimack...in North Andover, Mass.
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
I'd be shocked if the locals came within an order of magnitude of that. As I said, we have attendance numbers for Lindenwood.
I'd be shocked if the locals came within an order of magnitude of that. As I said, we have attendance numbers for Lindenwood.
Hux
Alfond to Ridder & rinks in between
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
With the right promotion I think they could draw well, (200-500 locals) ie: the Blues are on board with some sort of cross promotion and youth hockey in the area is actively engaged. Problem remains the steep ticket prices and proper promotion.
With the right promotion I think they could draw well, (200-500 locals) ie: the Blues are on board with some sort of cross promotion and youth hockey in the area is actively engaged. Problem remains the steep ticket prices and proper promotion.
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
I would like to see the women's FF return to Lake Placid as well. It's a great hockey venue and the event would take over the entire town. Plus you could do a little downhill skiing or try the luge or bobsled run on your day off between games. The ski jump might be pushing the envelope a bit.
Like ARM said, we just need to have some Eastern schools step up and make bids. BU's Agganis Arena was a great site and BC's Conte Forum would work as well - although there might be a conflict or two with some bouncy ball playoff games.
Merrimack's Lawler Arena is pretty nice now - I was just there a few weeks ago for the Boston Blades game vs. the Montreal Stars. Plus for you snack bar fans, there's a Dunkin Donuts attached to the twin rinks so you don't need to go far for a donut fix...or two.
Per MC's website, the arena now seats just under 2500: http://www.merrimackathletics.com/information/pages/facilities/J._Thom_Lawler_Arena
I would like to see the women's FF return to Lake Placid as well. It's a great hockey venue and the event would take over the entire town. Plus you could do a little downhill skiing or try the luge or bobsled run on your day off between games. The ski jump might be pushing the envelope a bit.
Like ARM said, we just need to have some Eastern schools step up and make bids. BU's Agganis Arena was a great site and BC's Conte Forum would work as well - although there might be a conflict or two with some bouncy ball playoff games.
Merrimack's Lawler Arena is pretty nice now - I was just there a few weeks ago for the Boston Blades game vs. the Montreal Stars. Plus for you snack bar fans, there's a Dunkin Donuts attached to the twin rinks so you don't need to go far for a donut fix...or two.
Per MC's website, the arena now seats just under 2500: http://www.merrimackathletics.com/information/pages/facilities/J._Thom_Lawler_Arena
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
I don't have the particulars, but Hux is almost certainly on the right track -- some sort of combined effort between the Blues, the Blues fanbase and youth hockey was the answer back in 2007, and could potentially be the answer again. We're talking about sports people who might be interested in attending an NCAA Championship on a one-shot basis. The target group would be brand new to Women's D-1, and have no previous connection to the host school.
Finally, I'd allow that Hux's estimate of 200-500 is probably more realistic than mine. Whether the lower number is sufficient to justify taking the tournament to Missouri is a legitimate question.
Believe me, I know where you're coming from. Again, that was my perspective in the run-up to 2007. I had expected to see several thousand empty seats.
Agreed, Lindenwood fans aren't numerous enough to be the answer. But I presume Lindenwood had nothing to do with the surprising turnout in 2007 for the Men's FF.
I don't have the particulars, but Hux is almost certainly on the right track -- some sort of combined effort between the Blues, the Blues fanbase and youth hockey was the answer back in 2007, and could potentially be the answer again. We're talking about sports people who might be interested in attending an NCAA Championship on a one-shot basis. The target group would be brand new to Women's D-1, and have no previous connection to the host school.
Finally, I'd allow that Hux's estimate of 200-500 is probably more realistic than mine. Whether the lower number is sufficient to justify taking the tournament to Missouri is a legitimate question.
TonyTheTiger20
#SOAR
Hux
Alfond to Ridder & rinks in between
Yeah, that is one of the problems. Mixed use venues don't work well due to scheduling conflicts.
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
Why would the Blues be interested in this? They were, indeed, a large part of the reason that the 2007 men's Frozen Four drew well among locals; they were easily one of the two most involved NHL teams in that regard, along with the Capitals when it was in Washington.
But an enormous part of that marketing effort was them touting their own draft picks. They also got very lucky in that three of them (Oshie; Bishop; Turek) out of four (Erik Johnson didn't) actually made it to the Frozen Four. This hook does not exist with regards to the women's Frozen Four. The event wouldn't be held in the same building the Blues play in.
Why would the Blues be interested in this? They were, indeed, a large part of the reason that the 2007 men's Frozen Four drew well among locals; they were easily one of the two most involved NHL teams in that regard, along with the Capitals when it was in Washington.
But an enormous part of that marketing effort was them touting their own draft picks. They also got very lucky in that three of them (Oshie; Bishop; Turek) out of four (Erik Johnson didn't) actually made it to the Frozen Four. This hook does not exist with regards to the women's Frozen Four. The event wouldn't be held in the same building the Blues play in.
Hux
Alfond to Ridder & rinks in between
TonyTheTiger20
#SOAR
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
Errrr where'd NoDak go? Or did I imagine that?
Errrr where'd NoDak go? Or did I imagine that?
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Whioux? Sorry. Maybe the dates didn't work? Don't know.
Here is a link to the video, although as I've already demonstrated, I can't post a link so you'll have to cut and paste it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XINYVyuCLMA&feature=youtu.be
Hux
Alfond to Ridder & rinks in between
Re: NCAA Announces Host Site Finalists
Whioux? Sorry. Maybe the dates didn't work? Don't know.
Here is a link to the video, although as I've already demonstrated, I can't post a link so you'll have to cut and paste it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XINYVyuCLMA&feature=youtu.be
Whioux? Sorry. Maybe the dates didn't work? Don't know.
Here is a link to the video, although as I've already demonstrated, I can't post a link so you'll have to cut and paste it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XINYVyuCLMA&feature=youtu.be