Problems for Ford Field?

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

Some of you people amaze me. You claim to be fans of NCAA hockey yet you want the Frozen Four at Ford Field to fail because it's "Gimmicky"? Please. I suppose moving out of the Broadmoor hotel to other cities, and renaming the event itself to "The Frozen Four" also reeked of desperation and was a gimmicky attempt to be like the dreaded bouncyball? Shame on the NCAA for actually trying to grow their sport and make their championship tournament a big event. And let's go back to only 12 total division 1 teams while we're at it

When the sites were selected no one foresaw the economic collapse and the dismantling of the U.S. auto industry. Given the annual demand for GLI tickets in Detroit, getting 40-50,000 fans to see the college championship in a city called *HOCKEYTOWN* wasn't that big of a stretch when the site was selected.

What demand for GLI tickets? Also, you should see the nice empty Joe Louis Arena for CCHA championships.

I want the Ford Field thing to fail because it detracts from the game. Trying to watch hockey from the corner of an endzone doesn't sound appealing to me. I love college hockey for the game and the atmosphere. If there was ever a year to just watch on tv, this is it...you might even be able to see the puck on the tv screen.

 

[crazypotatoes]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

When the sites were selected no one foresaw the economic collapse and the dismantling of the U.S. auto industry. Given the annual demand for GLI tickets in Detroit, getting 40-50,000 fans to see the college championship in a city called *HOCKEYTOWN* wasn't that big of a stretch when the site was selected.

What demand for GLI tickets? Also, you should see the nice empty Joe Louis Arena for CCHA championships.

This. Much of the upper bowl is empty during the GLI even with $10 tickets and a Michigan-Michigan State game. If a game over a holiday break with cheap tickets and the two local powerhouses can't bring in 20,000, how do you figure the area will contribute 40,000-50,000 to a more expensive game likely not involving both those teams?

Just put the frozen four in the Joe, sell out one of the bigger capacity arenas in the NHL, and reward fans willing to drop their hard earned $$ on tickets with games they can actually see.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

Heck we got hot dogs and pop with our $10 tickets at GLI. If it wasn't taking place in Detroit, it might have actually been worth it.

 

[streaker]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

Heck we got hot dogs and pop with our $10 tickets at GLI. If it wasn't taking place in Detroit, it might have actually been worth it.

No, watching UND go 0-2 to MSU and Tech was well worth it.

 

[Zudnic]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

I want the Ford Field thing to fail because it detracts from the game. Trying to watch hockey from the corner of an endzone doesn't sound appealing to me. I love college hockey for the game and the atmosphere. If there was ever a year to just watch on tv, this is it...you might even be able to see the puck on the tv screen.

Precisely.

The problem with Ford Field is that they are taking a robust, intense fan experience and placing it in a place where you can't even see the game. They sold the sport's soul for an extra 15 seconds on ESPN.

Say, hypothetically, that they pack the place with 70,000 people, it's UM-MSU and it's rocking. Great, they get a lot of exposure and it looks great to Steve Six-Pack in Memphis watching SportsCenter. He's going to think that college hockey is a big, loud, bombastic experience like the NFL. Which it most certainly is not. The way I see it, even if it's successful you've failed, because you're misrepresenting what the sport is about.

But even that hypothetical is moot because they'll be lucky to sell 25,000 seats. One point I have been trying to make is that 18,000 seat indoor arenas are perfect for the FF. It's the biggest game of the year and it'll be packed, but it's not so big that there's no local buzz and seats are being sold for $5 on Craigslist.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

...I would like this event to be a success. But I certainly hope the NCAA never tries this gimmick again.

Unfortunately, those two thoughts are mutually exclusive. If it's a "success" (i.e. a money maker and/or audience grower to increase future revenues), then they most certainly will do it again.

I hope they sell fewer tickets than they have been recently for proper hockey rinks.

 

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

Unfortunately, those two thoughts are mutually exclusive. If it's a "success" (i.e. a money maker and/or audience grower to increase future revenues), then they most certainly will do it again.

I hope they sell fewer tickets than they have been recently for proper hockey rinks.

Exactly. Which is why many of us college hockey fans want Ford Field to fail. I don't want to have the Frozen Four at a football field ever, and if this works, the NCAA will see no problem doing it again (especially if it means more revenue).

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

Exactly. Which is why many of us college hockey fans want Ford Field to fail. I don't want to have the Frozen Four at a football field ever, and if this works, the NCAA will see no problem doing it again (especially if it means more revenue).

You guys complain to much. If you want the sport to get bigger the best thing for it is to succeed. If ESPN sees a nearly capacity crowd at Ford Field they will start taking it more seriously. Maybe not covering a bunch of games but at least getting highlights on SC instead of reporting Bret Farve drama. A big success at this could encourage other schools to join in and start a team. The NCAA decided to roll the dice and people should be giving them credit for trying something new and showing some courage.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

You guys complain to much. If you want the sport to get bigger the best thing for it is to succeed. If ESPN sees a nearly capacity crowd at Ford Field they will start taking it more seriously. Maybe not covering a bunch of games but at least getting highlights on SC instead of reporting Bret Farve drama. A big success at this could encourage other schools to join in and start a team. The NCAA decided to roll the dice and people should be giving them credit for trying something new and showing some courage.

You dream too much.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

You guys complain to much. If you want the sport to get bigger

Fortunately, I can stop reading right there - saved myself some time.

 

[Gomer]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

My $0.02 FWIW.

My background:
I was in attendance at the Cold War in Spartan Stadium. 78,000+ in attendance I think. Froze my butt off. Couldn't hardly see a thing. It was awesome! (the pyrotechnics helped with that).

I have also been to Ford Field before (for a basketball game). It was the "Basket Bowl" between MSU and Kentucky. 78,000+ in attendance there as well.

I have been to one Frozen Four game. The important one! I drove to St. Louis, watched the game, celebrated at the arena, and drove back. My fiancee even lied to her parents for me (said I really had to study for the PE exam), so I could miss Easter dinner. Priorities! (I did study in the car on the way down so it wasn't too much of a lie.)


When I was at Ford Field in '03, I was amazed at how nice of a stadium it is. Were the sight lines crap for the basketball game? I dunno, I've only been to a few... but they are rocking HD displays on either end of the stadium that made the replays look like you were sitting in your living room.

Can they fill FF for the FF? Dunno... But barring Life getting in the way, I will be there regardless of venue. As should countless other college hockey fans that live in Michigan and the immediate region. I'd almost rather go to Ford Field. It's different! And it's a really sharp stadium.

If they are hosting it there to try to raise some coin by selling 80,000 tickets, they have the wrong idea. If they are trying to increase "exposure", cut that profit margin razor thin and price tickets to sell. You'll get your crowd.

Keep the change.

 

[pyhtboss]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

Precisely.

The problem with Ford Field is that they are taking a robust, intense fan experience and placing it in a place where you can't even see the game. They sold the sport's soul for an extra 15 seconds on ESPN.

So are you boycotting your beloved BC Eagles on Jan 8th when they play BU at Fenway? Is that a gimmick? It is sold out, by the way

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

So are you boycotting your beloved BC Eagles on Jan 8th when they play BU at Fenway? Is that a gimmick? It is sold out, by the way

Yes, that is a gimmick but you're now comparing apples and oranges. Is the Frozen Four going to be played outside? No. So, why the terrible site lines then?

 

[Rover]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

Count me in the "lets try something different once in awhile" camp. I'm sure 10 years ago people were whining about how the tournament was being awarded to too many NHL arenas and places like Albany and Providence were going to be shut out. I also wonder how excited the "purists" were about DC until the thing ended up being a smashing success.

What I like about this is that it'll give everyone, from die hard fans to casual fans to D-1 schools, etc a sense of how popular the sport is. An outdoor game in a college football or professional baseball stadium isn't as predictive because of the novelty aspect of it. This upcoming tournament has to live and die by its own merits. Say they get 25K (without any Michigan schools participating). That tells me directly that sticking with NHL sized arenas for the forseable future is the way to go. If they start getting more than than (35K and up) with no local teams I'll be surprised but will also be forced to admit that maybe a bigger venue once in awhile isn't a bad idea. Likewise, with local teams making it anything that crosses the 50K threshold up to filling the place and you seriously have to consider if once in awhile a strategically placed bigger venue is worth it (would have to be in "Big 10" country as there's no domed stadiums in the East IIRC).

I personally don't like the thought of bigger than NHL sized arenas. But its not about me. If the demand is there, and it gets more people to go to what is almost always an awesome event when its held outside of Ohio , then it should be done for the good of the sport, once in awhile. It would be a lot better if it wasn't in a $%!thole like Detroit, which is what I suspect a lot of the angst is about (probably wouldn't be getting this much grief for a New Orleans or Miami event ).

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

At first I was a naysayer when they first announced having the Frozen Four in Football Stadium. I finally came to the realization that this is the biggest chance to grow the sport. If the hockey championship can reach the attendance level of the two biggest sports in the college world, it will have a great chance of catching the eyes of larger universities. They may see it as a promising potential new market their athletic departments could enter.

but it has no chance of reaching that potential. You're asking 50,000 people to fill that building, sit in seats where they have no view of the ice, and get excited? No way it's going to happen. Bringing it to DC was a great idea. Bringing it to Florida is a great idea. Keeping it in a smaller venue is the best idea. I'm all for college hockey getting more exposure, but there's right ways to do it and not right ways to do it. If Ford Field doesn't get filled, college hockey will be the laughing stock of the college sports world, and you can forget about the sport ever getting any publicity.

 

[pyhtboss]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

This. Much of the upper bowl is empty during the GLI even with $10 tickets and a Michigan-Michigan State game.

Huh? Paid attendance for the 2007 final (not UM-MSU) was over 18,000, and I didn't see many empty seats.

I don't have yearly attendance figures for GLI but I thought it historically has sold well.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

The "host" is responsible for guaranteeing to the NCAA that all or some of the projected revenue figures outlined in the budget bid would be met. Clearly the revenue figures are not going to be met, based on the pre-sale of tickets. Perhaps they can scale back the budgeted costs by tweaking the budget and making the stadium seating chart smaller, but the costs of the ice & video equipment isn't going to come down.

The co-hosts, CCHA & Detriot Metro Sports Commission, clearly won't want to lay out cash to cover a disastrous turnout (if Michigan doesn't make the Frozen Four), so they'll probably move the event to Joe Louis.

But I wouldn't be surprised to see the NCAA yank the event from Detroit altogether, if they can't secure Joe Louis, sellout Joe Louis or want to punish Detroit for reneging.

 

[du78]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

The "host" is responsible for guaranteeing to the NCAA that all or some of the projected revenue figures outlined in the budget bid would be met. Clearly the revenue figures are not going to be met, based on the pre-sale of tickets. Perhaps they can scale back the budgeted costs by tweaking the budget and making the stadium seating chart smaller, but the costs of the ice & video equipment isn't going to come down.

The co-hosts, CCHA & Detriot Metro Sports Commission, clearly won't want to lay out cash to cover a disastrous turnout (if Michigan doesn't make the Frozen Four), so they'll probably move the event to Joe Louis.

But I wouldn't be surprised to see the NCAA yank the event from Detroit altogether, if they can't secure Joe Louis, sellout Joe Louis or want to punish Detroit for reneging.

If they did yank it out of Detroit, what cities with NHL size venues could quickly cobble together a plan and arena to hold it.

Ones that come to mind quickly with experience

Denver

St. Paul

Columbus

Boston

Ones without experience

Kansas City (nice big new empty arena)

Nashville

 

[Rover]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

but it has no chance of reaching that potential. You're asking 50,000 people to fill that building, sit in seats where they have no view of the ice, and get excited? No way it's going to happen. Bringing it to DC was a great idea. Bringing it to Florida is a great idea. Keeping it in a smaller venue is the best idea. I'm all for college hockey getting more exposure, but there's right ways to do it and not right ways to do it. If Ford Field doesn't get filled, college hockey will be the laughing stock of the college sports world, and you can forget about the sport ever getting any publicity.

I think this is a little dire. A sparsely attended FF would be news for one day, maybe. If it sells out the next few years it'll be a blip, much like Anaheim is now, in a string of successful tournaments.

The co-hosts, CCHA & Detriot Metro Sports Commission, clearly won't want to lay out cash to cover a disastrous turnout (if Michigan doesn't make the Frozen Four), so they'll probably move the event to Joe Louis.

But I wouldn't be surprised to see the NCAA yank the event from Detroit altogether, if they can't secure Joe Louis, sellout Joe Louis or want to punish Detroit for reneging.

1) I'm a little confused on this "moving to the Joe" idea. I don't care either way, but I thought somebody mentioned they'd already pre-sold too many tickets to move the event. IF that is indeed the case, wouldn't it prove that there is already more demand than the Joe can handle, which would mean over 20K already before even knowing the participants?

2) How logistically could they yank the event from Detroit? Where would it go on relatively short notice? Wouldn't they get sued? What about hotels and the like? Seems if they're planning on selecting a host city for 2015, how can they then turn around and change host cities within ???? a couple months time?

 

[dggoddard]

Re: Problems for Ford Field?

If Detroit is toying with the idea of moving venues, they would be in default of the contract, not the NCAA.

Not sure the validity of the 20,000 tickets sold, but its possible that many of the sold tickets are the "$40 Special" variety. I just went to Ticketmaster and the $40 Frozen Four Packages are only available for single seats. No more pairs remain.