The new Super League is going down the tubes.

[Rhett]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Being able to schedule 2 more games out of conference only matters if you can (a) get those extra games at home and hosting extra home games are profit generators, or (b) sell those games for a large guarantee. Consistently.

I think the number of teams for whom the Alaska games are a palatable advantage for is wildly overstated on these boards.

5,000 seat home arena + $25/ticket x 2 games = $250,000 revenue. There is no way to overstate that. Whut? $20 a ticket? Ok then ... $200,000 in revenue. You only have 2,500 seats? Gee, looks like you only make an extra $125,000 from having 2 extra home games. What was last years WCHA Final Five check that everyone creamed their jeans about? Oh yeah, 120 grand.

Maybe thinking is a different thing there in Boston than it is way out west?

Thinking includes: (1) factoring travel costs, (2) factoring that a percentage of seats will not be filled by people paying full price [students, comps, promotions], (3) factoring that few nonconference opponents fill the seats, (3) factoring that the extra home opponents will require a guarantee or a return trip with associated costs, etc.

But, I already addressed that and your response was wildly optimistic speculation that would not be borne out by the past attendance histories of the schools in question.

Do you know what games that the NCHC and Big Ten teams lose due to not visiting Alaska? The 2 worst dates and 2 least pallatable opponents on the schedule. These are the games scheduled on Wednesdays, or over Christmas break. These are the series you pay an AHA team to come take a 2 day beating for. It should be noted, these could be 4 separate games, a palatable conference opponent being played on a weekday due to schedule congestion and an unpalatable opponent taking up a late fall weekend due to conference scheduling.

You know what, for us nuts, and probably for some of the coaches and players, more games is almost always better. Bottom line-wise, I do not think that the extra games are worth the hassle of Alaska, and the best programs agree with me.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Harley was wrong about the formation of the NCHC, claiming "no schools would break away from the WCHA."

Now he's doubling down and saying Notre Dame will go Independent.

Notre Dame is going to join the NCHC at some point and that's why its ridiculous to claim that the League is a failure two years before the first game or beofre the league membership is even set.

Why is Notre Dame dragging their feet? The $100 Million "golden goose" is under attack from the BCS Agamemnon.

The funny part about all the conjecture on this thread is that the NCHC was the brainchild of several college hockey coaches. They wanted to play the best possible teams [each other] every weekend and jettison the dead weight. The tricky part was convincing the athletic directors and school presidents.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

You know what, for us nuts, and probably for some of the coaches and players, more games is almost always better. Bottom line-wise, I do not think that the extra games are worth the hassle of Alaska, and the best programs agree with me.

I'd add that more games can also lead to more injuries.

If the NCHC goes with seven teams they also get the luxury of four "extra" non-conference games. Presumably it would equate to a cupcake weekend at home and a marquee weekend at home or on the road every other season.

 

[SCSU Euro]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Notre Dame is going to join the NCHC at some point

And if they don't will you agree that the whole thing was a waste of time and effort?

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I'd add that more games can also lead to more injuries.

By that rationale, teams shouldn't play any non-conference games, or any scrimmages/exhibitions.

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.”

 

[dggoddard]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

And if they don't will you agree that the whole thing was a waste of time and effort?

I can't control what Notre Dame does or what they believe is the best course of action for their hockey program or school.

DU had to make a move and thankfully they did it.

SCSU could have easily been a NCHC charter member if they had fashioned a "package deal" with Duluth. Prez Potter wanted no part of it, and I guess Gino couldn't sway him at the time. That being said, if Notre Dame says "no" then the best course of action IMO would be to invite SCSU and be a seven team conference.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

DU had to make a move

That's debatable.

 

[scsutommyboy]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I'd add that more games can also lead to more injuries.

If the NCHC goes with seven teams they also get the luxury of four "extra" non-conference games. Presumably it would equate to a cupcake weekend at home and a marquee weekend at home or on the road every other season.

What if the four games are not against weak teams? With 10 non conference games the odds of playing a couple good non conference teams goes way up. four extra games could be a deciding factor in a player picking a SCSU over some other teams. would it make as much of a difference for a NCHC team as a WCHA team? Probably not because the WCHA will have more cup cakes in league play. The extra games however could even the playing field between the top two or three WCHA teams and the NCHC teams.

 

[scsutommyboy]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I can't control what Notre Dame does or what they believe is the best course of action for their hockey program or school.

DU had to make a move and thankfully they did it.

SCSU could have easily been a NCHC charter member if they had fashioned a "package deal" with Duluth. Prez Potter wanted no part of it, and I guess Gino couldn't sway him at the time. That being said, if Notre Dame says "no" then the best course of action IMO would be to invite SCSU and be a seven team conference.

There are rumblings that Potter is on the hot seat over how he has handled all this stuff. There are a lot of ****ed off boosters. Of course they just got a 10 million dollar donation last week for the remodel, which helps potter. From what I heard Gino is in big time damage control mode and Potter better pray he can save the day.......

 

[MUhawks628]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

So if SCSU gets an invite, does this leauge become the greatest idea of all time?

 

[Rhett]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

What if the four games are not against weak teams? With 10 non conference games the odds of playing a couple good non conference teams goes way up.

The odds of playing a couple more bad nonconference games and sinking your PWR numbers also goes way up.

Scheduling is a finite universe people. Most opponents in that universe don't sell tickets in your building, don't want to travel to your building, and would hurt your PWR numbers anyways. The price to earn these games are extended conference travel to a school that will also most likely hurt your PWR, and not fill seats during the return game in your building.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

So if SCSU gets an invite, does this leauge become the greatest idea of all time?

All time might be pushing it. Since sliced bread probably.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

The odds of playing a couple more bad nonconference games and sinking your PWR numbers also goes way up.

Scheduling is a finite universe people. Most opponents in that universe don't sell tickets in your building, don't want to travel to your building, and would hurt your PWR numbers anyways. The price to earn these games are extended conference travel to a school that will also most likely hurt your PWR, and not fill seats during the return game in your building.

It would only hurt you PWR if you lost or tied. That's true of any cupcake. As long as you win you get the boost in COp without suffering a hit on your RPI.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Harley was wrong about the formation of the NCHC, claiming "no schools would break away from the WCHA."

Now he's doubling down and saying Notre Dame will go Independent.

Notre Dame is going to join the NCHC at some point and that's why its ridiculous to claim that the League is a failure two years before the first game or beofre the league membership is even set.

Why is Notre Dame dragging their feet? The $100 Million "golden goose" is under attack from the BCS Agamemnon.

The funny part about all the conjecture on this thread is that the NCHC was the brainchild of several college hockey coaches. They wanted to play the best possible teams [each other] every weekend and jettison the dead weight. The tricky part was convincing the athletic directors and school presidents.

I think if you look at what I said in the early stages of the rumor mill about the breakaway, I stated, "I would be surprised if UND left the WCHA." And I am, like many college hockey fans around the country, many of whom are still bewildered and from many of the posts documented on this and other threads, it's reasonable to include some UND fans in the mix as well. Personally, I think it was a unnecessary and hasty move that appeared motivated by a "keeping up with the Jones" money grab.

I think the fact that you characterize the remaining teams and their fans as "dead weight" speaks volumes about some of the questionable motivations that formed some of the basis for this knee jerk reaction. I firmly believe future substantive negotiations over the next 2 years within the WCHA could have been successful in accomplishing some of the same benefits that the NCHC is now "hoping" will materialize. I'm "doubling down" because I said I'm leaning towards ND going independent? Wow, dg - the Butt Hurt Spin Doctor.

 

[scsutommyboy]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

So if SCSU gets an invite, does this leauge become the greatest idea of all time?

No it does not. The fact is if they were to get invited and said no, some other WCHA team would take the spot so they might as well say yes. Like I said before, I think it is along shot at his point they get in unless notre Dame says no.

 

[Rhett]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

It would only hurt you PWR if you lost or tied. That's true of any cupcake. As long as you win you get the boost in COp without suffering a hit on your RPI.

I thought these games weren't going to be against cupcakes? Also, this is a world where both Alaska teams are in a cupcake conference, so these extra games against "cupcakes" will be lost or tied the majority of the time.

You see, it's all about sample sizes. The more games programs play, the more their ratings will be pushed towards the mean. In 2 years, there will be 10 at-large bids for 53 teams. If you're a WCHA team, these extra games will not be your friend.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I thought these games weren't going to be against cupcakes? Also, this is a world where both Alaska teams are in a cupcake conference, so these extra games against "cupcakes" will be lost or tied the majority of the time.

You see, it's all about sample sizes. The more games programs play, the more their ratings will be pushed towards the mean. In 2 years, there will be 10 at-large bids for 53 teams. If you're a WCHA team, these extra games will not be your friend.

We're talking about the teams from the LTHC, right? They consider everyone a cupcake If they play a quality opponent in those games and lose, then yes, it would hurt their COp and RPI (and maybe the TUC). Win those games, and your PWR gets a big boost.

 

[Rhett]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

We're talking about the teams from the LTHC, right? They consider everyone a cupcake If they play a quality opponent in those games and lose, then yes, it would hurt their COp and RPI (and maybe the TUC). Win those games, and your PWR gets a big boost.

It started with countering why the NCHC would not find Alaska schools palatable, then it shifted to debunking the value of the extra games gained from playing Alaska schools in general.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I think the fact that you characterize the remaining teams and their fans as "dead weight" speaks volumes about some of the questionable motivations that formed some of the basis for this knee jerk reaction.

Hey, cut him some slack. At least he's finally admitting the real reason for this move all along, instead of living in some fantasy world where revenues are going to go through the roof because the NCHC is the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

It started with countering why the NCHC would not find Alaska schools palatable, then it shifted to debunking the value of the extra games gained from playing Alaska schools in general.

Using the reasoning offered by the league's PR guy below, the coaches probably don't want to fly all the way to Alaska...you know how dangerous flying is.