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NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

ericredaxe

ericredaxe

Veteran
I mentioned this in the BU thread, but I'm guessing there would be more interested parties.

I'm wondering if future Winter Classics sites will expand the event list (as Fenway Park did this year) to include events beyond the NHL New Years day game. NCAA hockey is a natural follow up.

I suggested New York City as being a city that would have to be on the list for a future Winter Classic site... with Cornell as a likely "host" for the NCAA part of the bill. My arbitrary prediction (obviously I'm biased) would be for the successful Red Hot Hockey event (Cornell / BU) would take place that year.

Any other thoughts / ideas / arbitrary predictions?
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

They ought to, especially given USA Hockey's selection of a very "collegiate" Olympic roster. The NCAA is playing a significant role in the NHL nowadays, and I can guarantee you nobody would have believed that 30-40 years ago.

Also, more college hockey being featured is a good thing. Besides, since college football is slowly doing away with New Year's games, a game New Year's Eve plus the Winter Classic the next day would be freakin sweet TV.
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

ericredaxe said:
Any other thoughts / ideas / arbitrary predictions?
Click to expand...

the Boston thing is a special case of the Red Sox trying to gain a better public perception by being good neighbors. To most other situations the NCAA would be seen as a remora and wouldn't be anywhere near special enough to generate the requisite interest.

If anybody is looking for this to boost college hockey then they're going to be disappointed. IMO, fusing the college game to the Winter Classic can only work in Michigan, Minnesota, and Boston... and Boston ONLY when involving BC and BU.

I could see other teams being brought in to "test" facilities... and even then its unlikely.

I think its an incredible reach to think it will be successful. 30K people is a lot of people. Also note that a lot of attraction is the novelty. We don't know what the Winter Classic will look like when the novelty wears off... never mind college hockey trying to ride its coattails.
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

UMDBulldogHockeyIsKing said:
They ought to, especially given USA Hockey's selection of a very "collegiate" Olympic roster. The NCAA is playing a significant role in the NHL nowadays, and I can guarantee you nobody would have believed that 30-40 years ago.

Also, more college hockey being featured is a good thing. Besides, since college football is slowly doing away with New Year's games, a game New Year's Eve plus the Winter Classic the next day would be freakin sweet TV.
Click to expand...

I think it's something that should be done for Hockey Day in Minnesota.
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

UMDBulldogHockeyIsKing said:
Also, more college hockey being featured is a good thing. Besides, since college football is slowly doing away with New Year's games, a game New Year's Eve plus the Winter Classic the next day would be freakin sweet TV.
Click to expand...

I do wish that the BU / BC game was closer to Jan 1... although I think that was mostly due to the relatively late planning for the game and BC had already committed to the Denver Cup.

Also, I wonder if the NHL would allow the NCAA game to come first? My guess is they would not want anyone stealing the thunder from the NHL game by happening ahead of it.
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

Whomever put together the Chicago vs. Detroit game last season initially wanted the game at Soldier field and wanted Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame on the bill as an early game.

I can't remember what nixed that idea
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

Dude Love said:
I think it's something that should be done for Hockey Day in Minnesota.
Click to expand...

You mean like we talked about at OC today? ;)

Triple-header:

High school hockey in the late morning, MN-WI in the afternoon, and Wild-(insert opponent) at night.

All at TCF stadium.

Upkeep of the ice shouldn't be a problem, given the weather around this time of year. :D
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

Brenthoven said:
You mean like we talked about at OC today? ;)

Triple-header:

High school hockey in the late morning, MN-WI in the afternoon, and Wild-(insert opponent) at night.

All at TCF stadium.

Upkeep of the ice shouldn't be a problem, given the weather around this time of year. :D
Click to expand...

No beer at TCF Bank stadium would be the problem though... :D
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

During an interview between periods of the US-Sweden game, Paul Kelly just said College Hockey Inc. has already talked to the NHL about a partnership in regards to the Winter Classic. I don't see any reason why this wouldn't happen.
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

Brenthoven said:
Psst. Tailgate. And "creativity." ;) :D
Click to expand...

Alcohol during several hours outdoors in Minnesota in late January would likely be necessary for survival I would think. Imagine how fun it would be to spend around 9 hours outdoors on a day where the temps don't even hit zero.
 
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Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

UMDBulldogHockeyIsKing said:
Alcohol during several hours outdoors in Minnesota in late January would likely be necessary for survival I would think. Imagine how fun it would be to spend around 9 hours outdoors on a day where the temps don't even hit zero.
Click to expand...

I bet they could work out some sort of one-day permit, at least for the NHL game.
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

solovsfett said:
Whomever put together the Chicago vs. Detroit game last season initially wanted the game at Soldier field and wanted Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame on the bill as an early game.

I can't remember what nixed that idea
Click to expand...

The problem with using NFL stadiums is that their main tenants will still have league games that next week, and potentially playoffs beyond that. That doesn't allow for the longer time to build the rink, particularly if you're doing it on a natural grass surface. You could make it work on turf (as they did in Buffalo), but I think the NHL likes the lack of other events to set up.

That's why when UW had their 2006 outdoor game in Lambeau it was so late in February - the Packers didn't want to give permission to use the field until well after NFL season was over and potential playoff games were well past.

So, I think that would nix Mile High, as far as NHL/NCAA coordination. Coors Field would work, however. If they could make the draw work, you could do it in Boulder, too at Folsom Field.

In Michigan, using the Big House would be a great location. No NFL conflicts, and they've certainly gotten enough ticket requests for the previous winter classic to fill it.

In Minnesota, either Target Field or TCF Bank Stadium would work. Given the choice, I'd take the football stadium - more symmetric sight lines, larger capacity, etc.

I hadn't thought about beer sales, but that's definitely an issue to consider.
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

blockski said:
In Minnesota, either Target Field or TCF Bank Stadium would work. Given the choice, I'd take the football stadium - more symmetric sight lines, larger capacity, etc.

I hadn't thought about beer sales, but that's definitely an issue to consider.
Click to expand...

And if worse comes to worse, Mariucci is right next door to TCF (concerns about 3 games on the same ice, weather, etc).
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

plus the start time has been 130p/2p, so if you are moving out west that is earlier local for eastern tv.

and a double header may not be what they want.... but if you say, "no way are we banging out coors field for just an avs game...so let's add DU and CC", that doesn't help.

fenway has been raking in money by the boatload with this... those lights are on all the time and people can't wait to rent out the ice at ridiculous rates.

..and yes, you have to look at baseball or otherwise empty football (college) stadia :p
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

mookie1995 said:
plus the start time has been 130p/2p, so if you are moving out west that is earlier local for eastern tv.

and a double header may not be what they want.... but if you say, "no way are we banging out coors field for just an avs game...so let's add DU and CC", that doesn't help.

fenway has been raking in money by the boatload with this... those lights are on all the time and people can't wait to rent out the ice at ridiculous rates.

..and yes, you have to look at baseball or otherwise empty football (college) stadia :p
Click to expand...

That's what I have heard... What are they getting for ice time?
 
Re: NCAA Hockey as part of the Winter Classic

RaceBoarder said:
That's what I have heard... What are they getting for ice time?
Click to expand...

IIRC, DU gets $400-500 for 2 hours, and Mariucci is four figures for 2 hours. So I think you could guesstimate Fenway's rate. :eek:
 
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