Ohio State Buckeyes 2022-2023 ... The Drive For Duluth

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Well, just for fun, I have hotel reservations in Duluth for the Frozen Four weekend. I do not have tickets for the games. Amsoil Arena seats I believe around 8,000, these games will not sell out, tickets WILL be available at the door.

In fact, I attended the 2012 finals in Duluth (Minnesota 4, Wisconsin 2) and purchased my tickets at the arena for both games. The final game featured Emily West scoring on a penalty shot to break a 2-2 tie with Sarah Erickson scoring the insurance goal. Hillary Knight earned my long lasting respect by being a completely gracious loser. She already had a couple of national championships herself but showed a lot of class by standing on the blue line during the presentation ceremony and clapping for the new champions. It was a great day to be a Gopher fan in Duluth.

So, tickets are not going to be your biggest problem.

But where will you stay? I have two nights in a lake front motel with lake view, very easy walking distance to the arena and to all of the food and beverage establishments of the Canal Park entertainment district. All of you Ohio people (note I refer to Ohio the state not the University) seem pretty confident you will be there (and why wouldn't you be, that is a mighty fine team) but probably do not realize that hotel accommodations could be a problem. I encourage you to look into a place to stay now, not on the Monday before the Friday semi-finals.

Meanwhile, as a Gopher fan I have done this lots of times (7, yes 7 time national champions) and know that even if you have a mighty fine team (which the Gophers most assuredly this time do have) sometimes you don't get there. But what is it that they say about a failure to plan?

So if by some chance the Gophers do not get there but Ohio State does . . . ?

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

So if by some chance the Gophers do not get there but Ohio State does . . . ?

Most of you know I missed being at last seasons FF to support OSU as I was recovering from being critically ill. But if the Buckeyes do make the FF this year the wife & I will do our best to be there. Travel may be difficult for us but we'll see. If we do go I'll be asking advice on accomodations, ect on forum. I'd love to stay at the same hotel as our team. Back in the day when Ohio State's men's team was in the CCHA the tournaments host hotel was the Marriott Renaissance Center and all team & fans stayed there. It was an awesome experience mingling with all the teams fans & players. Wish it could be that way at the women's FF.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Well, just for fun, I have hotel reservations in Duluth for the Frozen Four weekend. I do not have tickets for the games. Amsoil Arena seats I believe around 8,000, these games will not sell out, tickets WILL be available at the door... So, tickets are not going to be your biggest problem.

Personally I've got my tickets.

I'd recommend that anyone needing tickets at least check Ticketmaster. Everyone's cost/benefit analysis will be unique to them. But the ability to calmly choose your seats on your home computer may be worth the fees and any resale mark-up.

Also, all fans considering the trip need to keep one eye on the Bulldogs. If UMD makes it to the FF, it will suddenly be a tougher ticket. FWIW, I was at the DECC the year UMD beat Harvard in 2 O.T. Great experience. Sold out crowd.

But where will you stay? I have two nights in a lake front motel with lake view, very easy walking distance to the arena and to all of the food and beverage establishments of the Canal Park entertainment district. All of you Ohio people (note I refer to Ohio the state not the University) seem pretty confident you will be there (and why wouldn't you be, that is a mighty fine team) but probably do not realize that hotel accommodations could be a problem. I encourage you to look into a place to stay now, not on the Monday before the Friday semi-finals.

I've got my room reserved. And yes, the Canal Park district was too good to pass up.

Being able to walk to the arena is really nice. But if getting lodging in Canal Park becomes a problem, there are additional hotels within a very easy drive. London Road in East Duluth comes to mind.

Meanwhile, as a Gopher fan I have done this lots of times (7, yes 7 time national champions) and know that even if you have a mighty fine team (which the Gophers most assuredly this time do have) sometimes you don't get there. But what is it that they say about a failure to plan?

Whenever I commit to attending a Frozen Four, I always go, regardless of the last four teams standing. While I fervently hope the Buckeyes make it, I'm traveling even if they don't. Either way I'm looking forward to seeing AMSOIL for the first time.

So if by some chance the Gophers do not get there but Ohio State does . . . ?

Nice offer; if I'm reading you correctly. I wouldn't be able to help out, but maybe one of the other Buckeye fans could.

 

[Still Eeyore]

I'd recommend that anyone needing tickets at least check Ticketmaster.

I refuse to give my money to Ticketmaster unless I absolutely have to.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

I refuse to give my money to Ticketmaster unless I absolutely have to.

Since I wasn't able to go to last year's FF maybe someone would be able to answer my question.
Do the schools who are in the FF get an allotment of tickets to sell through their own ticket offices? It would be very easy for me to go to OSU's ticket office in the Schott and bypass Ticketmaster fees.

 

[pgb-ohio]

I refuse to give my money to Ticketmaster unless I absolutely have to.

For you, the cost of using Ticketmaster almost always > than the benefit. Nothing wrong with that stance at all. Be true to yourself.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Since I wasn't able to go to last year's FF maybe someone would be able to answer my question.
Do the schools who are in the FF get an allotment of tickets to sell through their own ticket offices? It would be very easy for me to go to OSU's ticket office in the Schott and bypass Ticketmaster fees.

If we make it to Duluth, there will be an Ohio State allotment. Don't know if any of that will be made available to the public. As per my reply to MBTC: When I attend a FF, I purchase long before the 4 teams are determined. Perhaps osualum86 knows?

 

[pgb-ohio]

Ten Years Of Average Attendance Figures
Women's D-1 Ice Hockey
Ohio State & Minnesota
​

Ohio State
2012 333
2013 326
2014 302
2015 347
2016 489
2017 430
2018 458
2019 530
2020 484
2021 Omitted/Pandemic
2022 Omitted/Pandemic
2023 576


Minnesota
2012 1,317
2013 1,878
2014 2,394
2015 2,037
2016 2,125
2017 1,953
2018 1,629
2019 2,013
2020 2,045
2021 Omitted/Pandemic
2022 Omitted/Pandemic
2023 1,871


Note:

I took ARM's suggestion and removed the 2022 number. To report 10 years of results, I added 2012. Oddly, that change slightly reduced total attendance for both schools. But it's better to have removed the pandemic factor from the conversation.


Discussion:

1. These aren't large numbers by Division 1 standards. The modest numbers remind us that Women's Hockey is a niche sport, within the niche sport of College Hockey.

2. We see "some" growth at both schools over the 10 year period. But my feeling is that these numbers reflect stability as much as anything else. Parents/Siblings/Besties/True Believers continue to faithfully attend. Minnesota has clearly gained a foothold with the General Public. But adding new fans from the General Public remains challenging.

3. Attendance does bump up after major accomplishments. For Ohio State, the current year follows a National Championship and you see an increase. For Minnesota, the year following the perfect season shows a nice uptick. But the Minnesota numbers show us that the "warm afterglow" isn't necessarily permanent.

4. Drawing fans at the same rate as the national leaders remains a good goal for Ohio State. But there is a substantial gap to close. The Upticks we see amount to hundreds of fans, not thousands. Meaning it's going to take a while; assuming it's even doable.

5. My belief is that a new facility at Ohio State will result in a permanent attendance increase for Women's Hockey. The current Ice Rink does impose a ceiling on our turnout. But based on the numbers above, I suspect that OSU attendance will settle in at a new normal, then we'll once again see a pattern of stability.

 

[Lindsay]

PGB thanks for accumulating all this!
wonder why Minn 2012 was so down. Nice to see the steady up tick at OSU.

when they broadcast the Frozen Four last year inexplicably the cameras were on the same side as the fans so it looked even emptier. Bugged me… crowd is part of the production normally. I wonder if you all were on opposite side of the benches, for the perceived benefit of the players. Curious to see what Duluth does, hopefully they let people sit anywhere.

 

[Timothy A]

Rodent and Yuckeye fans already punching their tickets to the FF. LOL. You are pushing me to adopt an eastern team to root for if the need arises and abandon my western bias. I think a Yale, UW, Colgate and NE FF would be a lot of fun. I'll probably have my choice of hotel at a discounted price.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Rodent and Yuckeye fans already punching their tickets to the FF. LOL. You are pushing me to adopt an eastern team to root for if the need arises and abandon my western bias. I think a Yale, UW, Colgate and NE FF would be a lot of fun. I'll probably have my choice of hotel at a discounted price.

You can't get rid of me that easily, LOL! Even if you get your chosen field of teams, I'll be there.

By no means do I go every year. But when I can make it, it's always a lot of fun.

Confidential To Man Behind The Curtain: No Discount Room For Timothy A!

 

[Eddie Schorr]

Ten Years Of Average Attendance Figures
Women's D-1 Ice Hockey
Ohio State & Minnesota
​

Ohio State
2012 333
2013 326
2014 302
2015 347
2016 489
2017 430
2018 458
2019 530
2020 484
2021 Omitted/Pandemic
2022 Omitted/Pandemic
2023 576


Minnesota
2012 1,317
2013 1,878
2014 2,394
2015 2,037
2016 2,125
2017 1,953
2018 1,629
2019 2,013
2020 2,045
2021 Omitted/Pandemic
2022 Omitted/Pandemic
2023 1,871


Note:

I took ARM's suggestion and removed the 2022 number. To report 10 years of results, I added 2012. Oddly, that change slightly reduced total attendance for both schools. But it's better to have removed the pandemic factor from the conversation.


Discussion:

1. These aren't large numbers by Division 1 standards. The modest numbers remind us that Women's Hockey is a niche sport, within the niche sport of College Hockey.

2. We see "some" growth at both schools over the 10 year period. But my feeling is that these numbers reflect stability as much as anything else. Parents/Siblings/Besties/True Believers continue to faithfully attend. Minnesota has clearly gained a foothold with the General Public. But adding new fans from the General Public remains challenging.

3. Attendance does bump up after major accomplishments. For Ohio State, the current year follows a National Championship and you see an increase. For Minnesota, the year following the perfect season shows a nice uptick. But the Minnesota numbers show us that the "warm afterglow" isn't necessarily permanent.

4. Drawing fans at the same rate as the national leaders remains a good goal for Ohio State. But there is a substantial gap to close. The Upticks we see amount to hundreds of fans, not thousands. Meaning it's going to take a while; assuming it's even doable.

5. My belief is that a new facility at Ohio State will result in a permanent attendance increase for Women's Hockey. The current Ice Rink does impose a ceiling on our turnout. But based on the numbers above, I suspect that OSU attendance will settle in at a new normal, then we'll once again see a pattern of stability.

Thanks. Proves my point that a 4K+ arena would be ridiculously too big with little chance of ever growing into it. 2500 is fine, and if people get turned away for Minny or Wiscy, that's fine. Make it a hot ticket and a packed arena.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Thanks. Proves my point that a 4K+ arena would be ridiculously too big

The more I have my ear to the wall it's becoming clearer it's highly unlikely Ohio State will spend the money and build two separate hockey arenas. They if anything will follow Penn States model and have one shared facility for the men & women's programs. That means there will be a large amount of empty seats as it would be ludicrous for the men's to have anything at the least a 5000 seat building. How big a new men's arena should be has been debated for years here on forum.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

The more I have my ear to the wall it's becoming clearer it's highly unlikely Ohio State will spend the money and build two separate hockey arenas. They if anything will follow Penn States model and have one shared facility for the men & women's programs. That means there will be a large amount of empty seats as it would be ludicrous for the men's to have anything at the least a 5000 seat building. How big a new men's arena should be has been debated for years here on forum.

Then they need to design and engineer it somehow that a large portion can be closed off, so the women aren't playing in a cave.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

so the women aren't playing in a empty arena.

Which is what bc is doing...

 

[Timothy A]

Thanks. Proves my point that a 4K+ arena would be ridiculously too big with little chance of ever growing into it. 2500 is fine, and if people get turned away for Minny or Wiscy, that's fine. Make it a hot ticket and a packed arena.

But if the rink is too small, the NCAA won't consider you for hosting the FF. Not that hosting the FF will ever cover the expenses of a larger rink though.

 

[robertearle]

One of the most persuasive reasons for Wisconsin to spend the money to build LaBahn - and shoehorn it in where they did - was that it could be used as a practice facility for the men's team when the multi-use Kohl Center was set up for basketball. Meaning the basketball-to-hockey switch-over didn't have to happen as often, and the hockey players didn't have to travel to 'the Shell' or out to Dane County Coliseum for practice.

Ohio State men's hockey and basketball teams also play in a multi-use building that requires frequent switch-overs, don't they? Where does the men's hockey team practice when Value City is set up for basketball? The same rink that the women use for their games? How close is that to Value City of the men's locker rooms and offices, etc? How easily is it for them to get there for practice?

 

[pgb-ohio]

Thanks. Proves my point that a 4K+ arena would be ridiculously too big with little chance of ever growing into it. 2500 is fine, and if people get turned away for Minny or Wiscy, that's fine. Make it a hot ticket and a packed arena.

Which is exactly what I've been trying to prove. Glad we're on the same page.

My first choice is 1,500 seats, easily expandable to 2,000 or 2,500. Meaning that the infrastructure for 2,500 is already there, and that such an expansion would just be an interior remodel.

If wiser people than me decide we need 2,000 or 2,500 right out of the gate, I'd be fine with it.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Ohio State men's hockey and basketball teams also play in a multi-use building that requires frequent switch-overs, don't they? Where does the men's hockey team practice when Value City is set up for basketball? The same rink that the women use for their games? How close is that to Value City of the men's locker rooms and offices, etc? How easily is it for them to get there for practice?

Several years ago OSU built a basketball practice facility onto the Schott so conflicts of use of the main arena is minimized from what it was.
It takes approximately 3 hours for the arena be switched between basketball and hockey. When there is a conflict the men shuttle to the women's ice for practice. It's not a huge inconvenience as the two buildings are within sight of each other just separated by the river.

 

[pgb-ohio]

The more I have my ear to the wall it's becoming clearer it's highly unlikely Ohio State will spend the money and build two separate hockey arenas. They if anything will follow Penn States model and have one shared facility for the men & women's programs. That means there will be a large amount of empty seats as it would be ludicrous for the men's to have anything at the least a 5000 seat building. How big a new men's arena should be has been debated for years here on forum.

The debates were endless, and can quickly be summarized as follows:

Question: What seating capacity is big enough for the Men's Program, but not too big for the Women's Program?

Answer: There's no such sweet spot. Every number mentioned had significant drawbacks for someone in the discussion.