theprofromdover
The Original Dope Detector
I spoke to a reliable source this morning who says that the NCAA is exploring the possibility of moving the FF to Joe Louis Arena. Apparently less than half of the expected demand occurred. Stay tuned.
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Problems for Ford Field?
- Thread starter theprofromdover
- Start date
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
Too bad. Not entirely surprising given the wobbly-kneed state of the national economy and the wreckage of the "local" midwest economy.
Too bad. Not entirely surprising given the wobbly-kneed state of the national economy and the wreckage of the "local" midwest economy.
theprofromdover
The Original Dope Detector
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I think it's more along the lines of people don't want to pay to watch a game through binoculars.
I think it's more along the lines of people don't want to pay to watch a game through binoculars.
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I'd be all for this move, but the solution has already been mentioned. All you need is some shady refereeing (shouldn't be a problem, just use Hockey East refs) and the regionals to take place in a Michigan team's home arena (Yost for example) and you'll have a local team in there guaranteed. Fix it so that its Michigan vs Michigan St and throw in a free torch with every ticket so that fans can burn down Detroit afterwards as part of their celebration ritual and watch demand skyrocket!
I'd be all for this move, but the solution has already been mentioned. All you need is some shady refereeing (shouldn't be a problem, just use Hockey East refs) and the regionals to take place in a Michigan team's home arena (Yost for example) and you'll have a local team in there guaranteed. Fix it so that its Michigan vs Michigan St and throw in a free torch with every ticket so that fans can burn down Detroit afterwards as part of their celebration ritual and watch demand skyrocket!
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I don't see why anyone that considers himself to be a college hockey fan would root for this to fail.
I don't see why anyone that considers himself to be a college hockey fan would root for this to fail.
ScoobyDoo
NPC
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
How about because it is one of the stupider ideas ever presented? The outdoor games have some novelty, so fine they're on football fields. To play a hockey game in an indoor football venue that destroys site lines, etc. is beyond dumb.
Cripes, we have a basketball arena here in town that they tried to put the NHL in that is positively abysmal for watching hockey. This is likely to be brutal.
I don't see why anyone that considers himself to be a college hockey fan would root for this to fail.
How about because it is one of the stupider ideas ever presented? The outdoor games have some novelty, so fine they're on football fields. To play a hockey game in an indoor football venue that destroys site lines, etc. is beyond dumb.
Cripes, we have a basketball arena here in town that they tried to put the NHL in that is positively abysmal for watching hockey. This is likely to be brutal.
candycanes99
HAVE SOME CLASS
Handyman
Hug someone you care about...
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I am just quoting this so everyone reads it again...this post could not be more true. Why risk ruining the Frozen Four by turning it into a weekend of gimmicks?
I am just quoting this so everyone reads it again...this post could not be more true. Why risk ruining the Frozen Four by turning it into a weekend of gimmicks?
Zudnic
Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I am absolutely rooting for this to fail. It is nothing more than a publicity stunt and spits in the face of real college hockey fans who love it for its atmosphere. I've said it before and I'll say it again: there's no way I'm spending my hard-earned, recession-weary money on a trip to Detroit, in early April, to see a game that's going to be 100 yards away. Particularly since it'll be on in hi-def.
At this point outdoor and stadium games are money- and publicity-grubbing stunts that abuse the good faith and loyalty of the college hockey fanbase.
OK, it'll get them exposure on ESPN - would it be any more or any less than any other national final? Surely they've calculated the intangible benefit that about 60,000 people will have the opportunity to see the national final who might not have otherwise. But are you really introducing them to the game? They won't even be able to see it, and the real lure of the college game is the intense rivalries, players who care, and an intense fan experience. Ford Field will offer none of that - unless the final is Michigan-MSU. More likely, the game will be two out of town teams like Miami vs BU and it'll be a half-empty morgue. Not to mention the fact that easy ticket availability will kill any buzz.
This is going to be a worse disaster than Anaheim and I am excited to see the NCAA get put in its place on this.
I don't see why anyone that considers himself to be a college hockey fan would root for this to fail.
I am absolutely rooting for this to fail. It is nothing more than a publicity stunt and spits in the face of real college hockey fans who love it for its atmosphere. I've said it before and I'll say it again: there's no way I'm spending my hard-earned, recession-weary money on a trip to Detroit, in early April, to see a game that's going to be 100 yards away. Particularly since it'll be on in hi-def.
At this point outdoor and stadium games are money- and publicity-grubbing stunts that abuse the good faith and loyalty of the college hockey fanbase.
OK, it'll get them exposure on ESPN - would it be any more or any less than any other national final? Surely they've calculated the intangible benefit that about 60,000 people will have the opportunity to see the national final who might not have otherwise. But are you really introducing them to the game? They won't even be able to see it, and the real lure of the college game is the intense rivalries, players who care, and an intense fan experience. Ford Field will offer none of that - unless the final is Michigan-MSU. More likely, the game will be two out of town teams like Miami vs BU and it'll be a half-empty morgue. Not to mention the fact that easy ticket availability will kill any buzz.
This is going to be a worse disaster than Anaheim and I am excited to see the NCAA get put in its place on this.
precisely.
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
While I think the idea is odd I wish it success. Packing a football field for a hockey national championship would be a big deal. I don't want to be doing this regularly however it would be even more problematic for the sport if they only got 10,000 people to fill a 70,000 seat arena.
What the experience in DC this year taught me is that the championship will draw 20K loyal fans of the sport no matter who's in the Frozen Four. Selling out an NHL arena in a non-traditional hockey city with no local teams even near there was a big deal. Hockey in Michigan ought to be able to improve on that. The kicker will be if a nearby school makes the final round in order to sell the extra 35 thousand tickets the event will need to make having it there worthwhile. To that end I wonder if we'll see some shenanigans with the seeding, for example if Michigan, Michigan, St, Ohio St, and Minnesota all made the NCAA's, would they mysteriously all end up in different brackets to ensure that a couple of them made it to Detroit?
So, to sum up, I don't mind taking a few chances. DC was a chance. Florida will be too. So is having it in a football arena, and look on the bright side. If it does crap out, you won't see them trying this again for another 50 years, which is about the same time it'll take for Cincinnatti to ever host the finals again.
While I think the idea is odd I wish it success. Packing a football field for a hockey national championship would be a big deal. I don't want to be doing this regularly however it would be even more problematic for the sport if they only got 10,000 people to fill a 70,000 seat arena.
What the experience in DC this year taught me is that the championship will draw 20K loyal fans of the sport no matter who's in the Frozen Four. Selling out an NHL arena in a non-traditional hockey city with no local teams even near there was a big deal. Hockey in Michigan ought to be able to improve on that. The kicker will be if a nearby school makes the final round in order to sell the extra 35 thousand tickets the event will need to make having it there worthwhile. To that end I wonder if we'll see some shenanigans with the seeding, for example if Michigan, Michigan, St, Ohio St, and Minnesota all made the NCAA's, would they mysteriously all end up in different brackets to ensure that a couple of them made it to Detroit?
So, to sum up, I don't mind taking a few chances. DC was a chance. Florida will be too. So is having it in a football arena, and look on the bright side. If it does crap out, you won't see them trying this again for another 50 years, which is about the same time it'll take for Cincinnatti to ever host the finals again.
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
Fine. Is part of that allure the fact that no one is looking to add the sport and that there are probably several existing teams hanging by a thread? That there are more have-nots than haves? I hope you like Division I with 58 teams (and SHRINKING). I hope you don't mind when TV coverage of an NCAA tournament game gets preempted by a regular season lacrosse game. But, to try to approach the excitement level in southeast Michigan last year for the Basketball Final Four was something I think was worth aiming for.
I understand the allure of college hockey. The bands, the student sections, the intensity of the game, the relative purity of the game (vs. pro hockey). What I can't understand is why trying to gain greater exposure for this great game is a bad thing.
I don't see why anyone who truly understands the allure of college hockey would want this to succeed.
Fine. Is part of that allure the fact that no one is looking to add the sport and that there are probably several existing teams hanging by a thread? That there are more have-nots than haves? I hope you like Division I with 58 teams (and SHRINKING). I hope you don't mind when TV coverage of an NCAA tournament game gets preempted by a regular season lacrosse game. But, to try to approach the excitement level in southeast Michigan last year for the Basketball Final Four was something I think was worth aiming for.
I understand the allure of college hockey. The bands, the student sections, the intensity of the game, the relative purity of the game (vs. pro hockey). What I can't understand is why trying to gain greater exposure for this great game is a bad thing.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I can see the allure of this idea if the demand for tickets were there. I have no problem with the FFFF if the NCAA were able to sell 60,000+ tickets. I can understand and respect the fact that the Frozen Four's been selling out NHL-size arenas consistently as of late, so it makes sense to try to consider larger venues. However...
The demand isnt there. Not for a 60,000+ venue. Maybe a 30,000+ venue if it existed, but I just don't see where you'll find that. There's no need to put this in such a large venue if most of the seats are going to be empty. It's much better to, as the saying goes, don't fix what ain't broke, than to show a half empty stadium on national television.
That said: There are some extreme attitudes out here that I just don't get. One is that larger venues are automatically better, even when the demand isn't there. The other being that there are actually people here who want to pretend that we should be putting the FF in 6,000 seater barns. I don't understand the notion that college hockey games need to be played in arenas where someone in the back row can spit and hit the goalie.
I can see the allure of this idea if the demand for tickets were there. I have no problem with the FFFF if the NCAA were able to sell 60,000+ tickets. I can understand and respect the fact that the Frozen Four's been selling out NHL-size arenas consistently as of late, so it makes sense to try to consider larger venues. However...
The demand isnt there. Not for a 60,000+ venue. Maybe a 30,000+ venue if it existed, but I just don't see where you'll find that. There's no need to put this in such a large venue if most of the seats are going to be empty. It's much better to, as the saying goes, don't fix what ain't broke, than to show a half empty stadium on national television.
That said: There are some extreme attitudes out here that I just don't get. One is that larger venues are automatically better, even when the demand isn't there. The other being that there are actually people here who want to pretend that we should be putting the FF in 6,000 seater barns. I don't understand the notion that college hockey games need to be played in arenas where someone in the back row can spit and hit the goalie.
ScoobyDoo
NPC
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I'm not extreme at all. Stick it in an NHL venue. They're are plenty of them around and they all seat 16000+ (just grabbing a number). I'm certainly not one who would put it in a 5000 seat venue.
I'm not extreme at all. Stick it in an NHL venue. They're are plenty of them around and they all seat 16000+ (just grabbing a number). I'm certainly not one who would put it in a 5000 seat venue.
Zudnic
Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
The question is, will that hold when you're pretty much guaranteed to not be able to see the game?
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I didn't think I was saying that you were.
But there are people on this board who feel that way: that we should be having the FF in places like Yost or a HE barn.
I didn't think I was saying that you were.
But there are people on this board who feel that way: that we should be having the FF in places like Yost or a HE barn.
Zudnic
Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I don't oppose growth. What's wrong is that they're selling the soul of the game - the things you cited - bands, atmosphere, etc - for a publicity stunt.
They're building baseball stadiums smaller - the new Yankee Stadium is 10% smaller than the old one (52k vs 58k). Why? Because intimacy makes for a better fan experience and ticket scarcity creates buzz.
Any new fans pulled in by this stunt will think college hockey is big and bombastic when its true appeal is in its intimacy and grass-roots feel.
I don't oppose growth. What's wrong is that they're selling the soul of the game - the things you cited - bands, atmosphere, etc - for a publicity stunt.
They're building baseball stadiums smaller - the new Yankee Stadium is 10% smaller than the old one (52k vs 58k). Why? Because intimacy makes for a better fan experience and ticket scarcity creates buzz.
Any new fans pulled in by this stunt will think college hockey is big and bombastic when its true appeal is in its intimacy and grass-roots feel.
Re: Problems for Ford Field?
I agree with what you're getting at, but you imply that DC was a risk. There was no risk at all.
Quite frankly, I don't think there's any risk for the FF by hosting it in an NHL arena and an NHL city - pick just about any one in the country, and with a little promotion and effort from the local organizers, it will be a success.
While I think the idea is odd I wish it success. Packing a football field for a hockey national championship would be a big deal. I don't want to be doing this regularly however it would be even more problematic for the sport if they only got 10,000 people to fill a 70,000 seat arena.
What the experience in DC this year taught me is that the championship will draw 20K loyal fans of the sport no matter who's in the Frozen Four. Selling out an NHL arena in a non-traditional hockey city with no local teams even near there was a big deal. Hockey in Michigan ought to be able to improve on that. The kicker will be if a nearby school makes the final round in order to sell the extra 35 thousand tickets the event will need to make having it there worthwhile. To that end I wonder if we'll see some shenanigans with the seeding, for example if Michigan, Michigan, St, Ohio St, and Minnesota all made the NCAA's, would they mysteriously all end up in different brackets to ensure that a couple of them made it to Detroit?
So, to sum up, I don't mind taking a few chances. DC was a chance. Florida will be too. So is having it in a football arena, and look on the bright side. If it does crap out, you won't see them trying this again for another 50 years, which is about the same time it'll take for Cincinnatti to ever host the finals again.
I agree with what you're getting at, but you imply that DC was a risk. There was no risk at all.
Quite frankly, I don't think there's any risk for the FF by hosting it in an NHL arena and an NHL city - pick just about any one in the country, and with a little promotion and effort from the local organizers, it will be a success.