Squarebanks
New member
I think that happened in late June.
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New WCHA is dead
- Thread starter Dirty Dream No. 2
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I think that happened in late June.
GB Puck Fan
It's A Great Day For Hockey
Re: New WCHA is dead
I thought Penn State would get blamed... it was, arguably, the first domino.
I thought Penn State would get blamed... it was, arguably, the first domino.
UAFIceAngel
Blue & Gold Until I'm Dead & Cold
And you act like there is no cost to the Alaska schools...a lot of teams work to only make the trip once and will play UAA then Alaska to save on the travel whereas the Nanooks and Seawolves make that trip and spend much more to go to games in the lower 48...so try again with your logic “bud”
MTUHuskies
New member
Re: New WCHA is dead
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
The old WCHA and CCHA could have survived, and been successful, without the B1G teams. The major shakeup in 2013 is at the feet of the Nacho instigators, not Penn State.
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tmoney@nmu
The Tom Brown
Re: New WCHA is dead
When Purina owned the Blues they let SLU play at the Checkerdome for basically free. Then Purina sold the team and the new ownership didn't want to continue that agreement. There is an arena on campus now that can do ice, but they have to get special equipment or something they're isn't a dedicated system for maintaining ice.
When Purina owned the Blues they let SLU play at the Checkerdome for basically free. Then Purina sold the team and the new ownership didn't want to continue that agreement. There is an arena on campus now that can do ice, but they have to get special equipment or something they're isn't a dedicated system for maintaining ice.
mmf
Nanook Nation
Re: New WCHA is dead
It’s not the players. It’s also not the cost. When the nWCHA was formed the contract called for UAF and UAA (and UAH) to subsidize team travel to Alaska or UAH so that the cost to those traveling teams was no more than the next costliest trip those teams had in conference. I have no idea if the actual subsidizes were little more than expected, a little less than expected, or right on the money. Ignorant fans comment on the cost all the time, but never from a position of real knowledge. Never heard that UAF, UAA or UAH were not meeting the terms of the WCHA agreement. Cost is more likely an excuse and not a reason. Inconvenience and a desire to regionalize the footprint is probably the reason. That’s fine. But the process was about as ChickenChit as you can get.
It’s not the players. It’s also not the cost. When the nWCHA was formed the contract called for UAF and UAA (and UAH) to subsidize team travel to Alaska or UAH so that the cost to those traveling teams was no more than the next costliest trip those teams had in conference. I have no idea if the actual subsidizes were little more than expected, a little less than expected, or right on the money. Ignorant fans comment on the cost all the time, but never from a position of real knowledge. Never heard that UAF, UAA or UAH were not meeting the terms of the WCHA agreement. Cost is more likely an excuse and not a reason. Inconvenience and a desire to regionalize the footprint is probably the reason. That’s fine. But the process was about as ChickenChit as you can get.
lakersparty
New member
Re: New WCHA is dead
I have no interest in fighting with Alaska school fans. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is already remote compared to many places and then to throw 3 U.P. schools into a league with 2 Alaska schools? It just didn't make sense. I wish there was a logical home for the Alaska schools, but I also have to be realistic.
I was sad seeing teams like UIC, Kent State, and Wayne State go away while I have been watching college hockey. I will be sad if the Alaska schools and Huntsville go away. I also realize Lake Superior State is a tiny school, one that might not still have a hockey program at this level if it hadn't established itself in the way it did in the NCAAs during the '80s and '90s. Even with those accomplishments, nothing is guaranteed for LSSU in the future and it has to make decisions in its own financial interest to support its college hockey program.
I have no interest in fighting with Alaska school fans. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is already remote compared to many places and then to throw 3 U.P. schools into a league with 2 Alaska schools? It just didn't make sense. I wish there was a logical home for the Alaska schools, but I also have to be realistic.
I was sad seeing teams like UIC, Kent State, and Wayne State go away while I have been watching college hockey. I will be sad if the Alaska schools and Huntsville go away. I also realize Lake Superior State is a tiny school, one that might not still have a hockey program at this level if it hadn't established itself in the way it did in the NCAAs during the '80s and '90s. Even with those accomplishments, nothing is guaranteed for LSSU in the future and it has to make decisions in its own financial interest to support its college hockey program.
RapidsCity
New member
They pick up a portion. But it still costs more for Lake Superior to go to Fairbanks than it does to go to Bowling Green.
mmf
Nanook Nation
Re: New WCHA is dead
Maybe so. Is BGSU the next costliest trip other than (UAF, UAA, and UAH)? I have no idea.
And also, do you know what LSSU's total travel costs were to UAF this year and exactly how much of a subsidy LSSU received from UAF? I have never seen those numbers. I would be curious.
Maybe so. Is BGSU the next costliest trip other than (UAF, UAA, and UAH)? I have no idea.
And also, do you know what LSSU's total travel costs were to UAF this year and exactly how much of a subsidy LSSU received from UAF? I have never seen those numbers. I would be curious.
Re: New WCHA is dead
Several times since the formation of the nWCHA BG has been stuck with two trips to Alaska in the same year. THAT is the primary reason. FWIW, I would have no problem keeping UAF in the nCCHA considering how long they were in the old league. One trip every other year is doable. One and many times two trips every year sucks.
Several times since the formation of the nWCHA BG has been stuck with two trips to Alaska in the same year. THAT is the primary reason. FWIW, I would have no problem keeping UAF in the nCCHA considering how long they were in the old league. One trip every other year is doable. One and many times two trips every year sucks.
beaverhockeyfan
Well-known member
Re: New WCHA is dead
TRAVEL COSTS/TIME IS A COP OUT! I really don't believe that the travel is the main issue here for leaving UAH, Alaska and Alaska-Fairbanks out. Those three schools subsidize travel costs and they have to make the long trips for EVERY road series.
The issue is the uncertainty with the life of these three programs. When the seven teams announced their intent back last summer, the Alaska Legislature was in the process of cutting the UA System budget in half. Athletics was going to see a majority of those cuts. Top that off with Anchorage moving from the city run Sullivan Center to the on campus Wells Fargo Student Center. Fairbanks has put in notice that they may have to leave the Carlson Center for their on-campus arena, the Patty Center, due to the ice plant failing at the Carlson Center and the City of Fairbanks not having the funds to replace it. Currently, the WCHA bylaws state that your arena must have 2500 seats and has stipulations as to what must be included in the visiting locker room areas. If I recall correctly, when Fairbanks traveled to Anchorage earlier this year, they could not get into the visiting locker room the required time before the game (I want to say they got in 60-90 minutes before game time) due to a swim meet going on in the Student Center.
As for UAH, there always seems to be an air of uncertainty with their program, and this year is no different. Even though the Alabama Board of Regents have given the green light to work on getting an on campus arena owned by the school, they have allocated $0 for the project or study. But yet they can do $100 million upgrades to the Crimson Tide football stadium, locker rooms and practice facility.
Even though I am a fan of a school that has a home in this new league, I just don't feel right about how all of this went down and do feel for the fans of the schools left out in the cold, as of right now.
TRAVEL COSTS/TIME IS A COP OUT! I really don't believe that the travel is the main issue here for leaving UAH, Alaska and Alaska-Fairbanks out. Those three schools subsidize travel costs and they have to make the long trips for EVERY road series.
The issue is the uncertainty with the life of these three programs. When the seven teams announced their intent back last summer, the Alaska Legislature was in the process of cutting the UA System budget in half. Athletics was going to see a majority of those cuts. Top that off with Anchorage moving from the city run Sullivan Center to the on campus Wells Fargo Student Center. Fairbanks has put in notice that they may have to leave the Carlson Center for their on-campus arena, the Patty Center, due to the ice plant failing at the Carlson Center and the City of Fairbanks not having the funds to replace it. Currently, the WCHA bylaws state that your arena must have 2500 seats and has stipulations as to what must be included in the visiting locker room areas. If I recall correctly, when Fairbanks traveled to Anchorage earlier this year, they could not get into the visiting locker room the required time before the game (I want to say they got in 60-90 minutes before game time) due to a swim meet going on in the Student Center.
As for UAH, there always seems to be an air of uncertainty with their program, and this year is no different. Even though the Alabama Board of Regents have given the green light to work on getting an on campus arena owned by the school, they have allocated $0 for the project or study. But yet they can do $100 million upgrades to the Crimson Tide football stadium, locker rooms and practice facility.
Even though I am a fan of a school that has a home in this new league, I just don't feel right about how all of this went down and do feel for the fans of the schools left out in the cold, as of right now.
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Re: New WCHA is dead
I know there are a lot of proponents of a 7 team league, I still think that one of UAH, UAA or UAF is still in play as an 8th school, assuming no other big surprises. I'm sure most of the schools are okay with one long trip, but potentially 2 or three long trips? Of course, each of those three has long trips every few weeks.
Hopefully every team finds a home so none have to fold or try the independent route (again) because of this.
I know there are a lot of proponents of a 7 team league, I still think that one of UAH, UAA or UAF is still in play as an 8th school, assuming no other big surprises. I'm sure most of the schools are okay with one long trip, but potentially 2 or three long trips? Of course, each of those three has long trips every few weeks.
Hopefully every team finds a home so none have to fold or try the independent route (again) because of this.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: New WCHA is dead
The great west hockey conference will rise from the ashes!!!!
(this would be more amusing if the board allowed all caps posts)
The great west hockey conference will rise from the ashes!!!!
(this would be more amusing if the board allowed all caps posts)
RapidsCity
New member
With 100,000 people at those games in Tuscaloosa with nosebleed seats costing $120 for SEC games and football donors pouring millions into the program and the school, the upgrades are in investment.
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purpleinnebraska
Well-known member
Re: New WCHA is dead
Yep. This topic is so close to our hearts that we get pretty emotional about it, but from a practical viewpoint, college hockey is not a money maker, by any means, and for the WCHA schools, there is no Power 5 football/basketball program to bail us out. When you're a business that's consistently losing money, it doesn't matter how fast or slow you're losing it. You either change your business plan, or you go broke. If the whole argument for maintaining the status quo is, "You don't lose a lot of money going to Alaska! You only lose a little money, every year!" then we're all going under. I wish the best for all college programs, but I'm not willing to lose my own team in a futile effort to save someone else's.
Yep. This topic is so close to our hearts that we get pretty emotional about it, but from a practical viewpoint, college hockey is not a money maker, by any means, and for the WCHA schools, there is no Power 5 football/basketball program to bail us out. When you're a business that's consistently losing money, it doesn't matter how fast or slow you're losing it. You either change your business plan, or you go broke. If the whole argument for maintaining the status quo is, "You don't lose a lot of money going to Alaska! You only lose a little money, every year!" then we're all going under. I wish the best for all college programs, but I'm not willing to lose my own team in a futile effort to save someone else's.
Squarebanks
New member
This is Bowling Green’s spawn and I promise you BG wants absolutely nothing to do with any of those three schools (or airplanes in general from what I can tell). BG *****ed about going to Fairbanks back in the old CCHA days...it isn’t anything new.
Bowling Green also didn’t have its conference members (including UAF) turn their backs on them when they nearly folded their program before the last round of realignment. Oh what tangled webs we weave.
Also, your 8th is going to be St. Thomas.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
That’d be the odds on favorite.
St Thomas doesn’t have a viable rink. Their arena only seats 1,000. They also have yet to be approved for a waiver that will expedite the lengthy process to move to D-1 status.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
I’m guessing the rink is the larger issue, but also maybe one that they’re looking at fixing if they have enough donor support for the move.
Is it possible that they rent Ridder in the meantime? There’s also ice capabilities at an arena at the State Fairgrounds, but I’ve heard it’s not so great. Better than a community rink that makes the Richfield Ice Arena look like the Ralph, though.
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