The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

[Squarebanks]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

After sleeping on it for a couple days, I can get why this "plan" made it through a vote. Fact is, there is an enormous amount of uncertainty, and in particular financial uncertainty, for the nWCHA teams. This may have been a knee-jerk reaction, but if the league is willing to only do it for the first two years and then possibly scrap it if/when the league winds up on better financial footing than anticipated, I can live with that. I don't like it more than anybody else, but I can live with it. Besides, it might be beneficial to us and Anchorage to not have to worry about possibly traveling out-of-state that weekend on short notice.

What's more annoying to me right now is the apparent lack of leadership. There needs to be a clear, solid voice for all of us minions to hear as the definitive source, not all of this leakage where it's apparent nobody has any decent idea what on earth is going on.

Getting back to the lasted "Alaska Experiment", McLeod's quote has stuck out to me.

"The plan was born from financial and geographical issues related to Alaska and Alaska-Anchorage being in the same conference for the first time when conferences reshuffle in 2013."

Never have these two schools been in the same league, both the WCHA and CCHA didn't have to deal with the financial ramifications of both schools in the same league. $1,000 per plane ticket, times 30 members in a traveling party, that is $30,000 alone in just plane tickets. Shipping two teams to Alaska for the playoff, shipping both teams to the lower 48, or one of each, the league is looking at shelling out $60,000 for playoff plane tickets alone for these two series, you still have food and lodging. And lets face it, the current WCHA Final Five cash cow is dead. The new WCHA will never obtain that payoff, the NCHC will never obtain that payoff, the Big Ten will never obtain that payoff.

Do I like this playoff scenerio, HECK NO. But I also realize the financial status of some of these schools and can live with it if it allows my school to be more financially stable.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

But can you convince enough Presidents or ADs that doing it is in the best interests of their programs?

I think that it comes down, in part, to the coaches convincing their ADs. Jim Roque may convince his AD that it can be done, since they've just done it.

I can understand leagues thinking twice about AL Huntsville. They're not quite the school that most programs in conferences like the WCHA (or NCHC or BiG) are used to playing.

One option is to have several leagues jointly offer a special relationship with the school. So maybe the WCHA, CHA and ECAC collectively schedule UAH 5 games a year each and it rotates who plays them. Kind of like the US national team. At least its not, full on membership or they lose their program.

Look, I understand the reasons why people hesitate to take us in their league. I really do. I don't think that a scheduling matrix works out purely because that involves some "greater good of college hockey" that's hard to believe in right now, UAH fan or no. I'd love such an arrangement, but I think a bid to be the baker's dozen in HE is only a touch less likely.

Leaving UAH as a road team for 85% of it's schedule, which isn't fair to them. They need home dates just like the rest of the other schools.

There isn't an easy solution to this. And making UAH drain their budget just to join the (apparently/obviously) cash-strapped WCHA isn't going to fix things.

You're right that we need home dates. I don't know that it's a drain on a budget so much as it is a budget item for us. If it takes a travel subsidy to have the program in a league, the value decision isn't made above 35N latitude. Are we offering one? If I read BGSU AD Greg Christopher's comments right, we are. I mean, we offered the CCHA $70k/yr. Why does the WCHA want a tenth team? My take is that it's to spread the burden of Alaska travel around to another member school. If we can spread that around and bring some money to the table, is that enough? I sure hope so.

GFM

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

I honestly can't believe the "Make UAF play UAA in the first round of the playoffs" concept is still on the table. $30,000 or $60,000 is a lot of money to you or me as individuals, but not to a University or a league. The league sits squarely centered over both hub cities for Delta (Minneapolis and Detroit).

Why doesn't the WCHA go make a sales pitch to Delta and ask for 60 tickets to/from Alaska each March in exchange for being the official airline of the WCHA or some other corporate marketing ploy. If the tickets cost $30,000 for passengers, that isn't Delta's cost to operate. That's how business works. What is a year worth of free advertising worth to them if they have to operate two flights at cost rather than a profit? That kind of advertising is worth way more than the cost of round trip tickets. Promise Delta a half page ad in every program throughout the season (no real "cost" to the teams) and make them a "presenting sponsor" of the Final Five.

Are we really talking about compromising playoff integrity over $60,000? What's next? Ask the traveling team if they want a check for $25,000 if they agree to forfeit their first round playoff games? C'mon let's get a little more creative them seeding the playoffs based on geography. If the nWCHA doesn't want to be seen as "leftovers" or "small potatoes" they better drop ideas like this real quick.

Ryan J

 

[giwan]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

I honestly can't believe the "Make UAF play UAA in the first round of the playoffs" concept is still on the table. $30,000 or $60,000 is a lot of money to you or me as individuals, but not to a University or a league. The league sits squarely centered over both hub cities for Delta (Minneapolis and Detroit). Why doesn't the WCHA go make a sales pitch to Delta and ask for 60 tickets to/from Alaska each March in exchange for being the official airline of the WCHA or some other corporate marketing ploy. If the tickets cost $30,000 for passengers, that isn't Delta's cost to operate. That's how business works. What is a year worth of free advertising worth to them if they have to operate two flights at cost rather than a profit? That kind of advertising is worth way more than the cost of round trip tickets. Promise Delta a half page ad in every program throughout the season (no real "cost" to the teams) and make them a "presenting sponsor" of the Final Five.
Are we really talking about compromising playoff integrity over $60,000? What's next? Ask the traveling team if they want a check for $25,000 if they agree to forfeit their first round playoff games? C'mon let's get a little more creative them seeding the playoffs based on geography. If the nWCHA doesn't want to be seen as "leftovers" or "small potatoes" they better drop ideas like this real quick. Ryan J

Because ideas like that would take leadership from a strong willed conference leader. Essentially it says that right now the regular season does not as matter much.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

Because Delta's only destination is to the Twin Cities, and UAA/UAF would need to switch flights. You'd have better luck with Alaska Air, but they'll only get you to Sea-Tac or O'Hare, and once again need to switch carriers to get closer to the participating schools.

Even if they fly into MSP, they're looking at an eight hour bus ride to the UP, or a connecting flight to Metro in Detroit to get to BGSU/FSU.

And on top of that, you need to get the hockey gear for 26 guys there on time as well.

In other words: until Green Bay, Detroit Metro, and MSP are all regular connecting flights for Alaska Air, or UAA and UAF charter personal flights, it ain't gonna happen.



Speaking of "Ain't gonna happen..." whoever the morons are that keep wishing for best of three and/or Championship at a member school, if the WCHA can't afford to fly Alaska for the first round, how to you expect them to pay for a month of playoff games at a home site?

 

[Squarebanks]

Delta flies ANC-MSP year-round and Alaska flies to MSP as well, albeit through Seattle. Not sure I see what the big deal is about changing planes.

Because Delta's only destination is to the Twin Cities, and UAA/UAF would need to switch flights. You'd have better luck with Alaska Air, but they'll only get you to Sea-Tac or O'Hare, and once again need to switch carriers to get closer to the participating schools.

Even if they fly into MSP, they're looking at an eight hour bus ride to the UP, or a connecting flight to Metro in Detroit to get to BGSU/FSU.

And on top of that, you need to get the hockey gear for 26 guys there on time as well.

In other words: until Green Bay, Detroit Metro, and MSP are all regular connecting flights for Alaska Air, or UAA and UAF charter personal flights, it ain't gonna happen.



Speaking of "Ain't gonna happen..." whoever the morons are that keep wishing for best of three and/or Championship at a member school, if the WCHA can't afford to fly Alaska for the first round, how to you expect them to pay for a month of playoff games at a home site?

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

Delta flies ANC-MSP year-round and Alaska flies to MSP as well, albeit through Seattle. Not sure I see what the big deal is about changing planes.

When you have hockey gear for 26 guys involved, changing planes is a big deal.

A couple of years ago, Bemidji State went out to Maine and half the teams' gear was "lost" during a change over. No Thursday evening or Friday morning skate for those players. Luckily the gear did show up, but it was only a couple of hours before game time.

 

[Squarebanks]

When you have hockey gear for 26 guys involved, changing planes is a big deal.

A couple of years ago, Bemidji State went out to Maine and half the teams' gear was "lost" during a change over. No Thursday evening or Friday morning skate for those players. Luckily the gear did show up, but it was only a couple of hours before game time.

UAF and UAA change many times every season. I've never heard a peep of complaint from either school about luggage. Although, there was the infamous UNO incident a few years ago where the Red Cows got to play a game in Fairbanks using Ice Dogs gear.

The bigger issue regarding travel to the smaller towns is aircraft size to places like Marquette, SSM, etc. That's a big reason why we fly into the bigger cities (presently DTW and O'Hare, soon to be MSP) and bus.

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

I honestly can't believe the "Make UAF play UAA in the first round of the playoffs" concept is still on the table. $30,000 or $60,000 is a lot of money to you or me as individuals, but not to a University or a league. The league sits squarely centered over both hub cities for Delta (Minneapolis and Detroit).

Why doesn't the WCHA go make a sales pitch to Delta and ask for 60 tickets to/from Alaska each March in exchange for being the official airline of the WCHA or some other corporate marketing ploy. If the tickets cost $30,000 for passengers, that isn't Delta's cost to operate. That's how business works. What is a year worth of free advertising worth to them if they have to operate two flights at cost rather than a profit? That kind of advertising is worth way more than the cost of round trip tickets. Promise Delta a half page ad in every program throughout the season (no real "cost" to the teams) and make them a "presenting sponsor" of the Final Five.

Are we really talking about compromising playoff integrity over $60,000? What's next? Ask the traveling team if they want a check for $25,000 if they agree to forfeit their first round playoff games? C'mon let's get a little more creative them seeding the playoffs based on geography. If the nWCHA doesn't want to be seen as "leftovers" or "small potatoes" they better drop ideas like this real quick.

Ryan J

For starters ….. Drop a dime on Suzanne Sanregret (906) 487-3070 and ask her…She voted for it.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

Because ideas like that would take leadership from a strong willed conference leader. Essentially it says that right now the regular season does not as matter much.

I'm pretty sure that the ADs and Presidents who do the voting are pretty intelligent and capable individuals. You could have the commish pushing the traditional type seeding and bracket. But if they don't want it, which they obviously don't, except for UAA, you aren't going to get it. But hey, it's easy to be critical when it's someone else's money you're playing with. Let's make sure the league has enough money to send two teams to Alaska or to send to Alaska teams to the 48. All playoff tickets in all rinks $20. Now watch the fans who want the traditional bracket chirp when it is them instead of the schools who have to pay the price for it.

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

I'm pretty sure that the ADs and Presidents who do the voting are pretty intelligent and capable individuals.

They are pretty"bush League" in my book, and what a great first impression they made to me and all UAA fans. The 3 stooges times 3.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

They are pretty"bush League" in my book, and what a great first impression they made to me and all UAA fans. The 3 stooges times 3.

whatever, just settle the fcuk down until things shake out, people need to stop acting like this is definitively what will happen in 2013-14...

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

They are pretty"bush League" in my book, and what a great first impression they made to me and all UAA fans. The 3 stooges times 3.

Feel free to petition the NCHC. I'm sure they'll be willing to vote in your favor. You got outvoted 8-1. So by your view, anyone who votes against UAA must be an idiot, right?

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

whatever, just settle the fcuk down until things shake out, people need to stop acting like this is definitively what will happen in 2013-14...

It is a pi_s poor start in my book.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

It is a pi_s poor start in my book.

being a member of the leftovers is a pi-s poor start for all of us, suck it up and give them a chance to see how things go. They don't have a venue picked for the F5 so and this is a new group so we have no idea what kind of revenues to expect from the tournament. Obviously flying a hockey team from/to Alaska on short notice sucks and hopefully a solution is found that makes the nWCHA look better but it won't happen tomrrow and you're not making it better.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

Feel free to petition the NCHC. I'm sure they'll be willing to vote in your favor. You got outvoted 8-1. So by your view, anyone who votes against UAA must be an idiot, right?

Even if AK teams come in 8th and 9th...they're a 50/50 to move on to the final weekend. Sure this wouldn't be ideal...but I don't see how its horrible.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

If people are really worried about the conference tournament not making money or losing money, then they should just get rid of it and award the auto-bid to the McNaughton winner.

 

[stuckinwi]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

Interesting tidbit from the Mel Peason show in the tech from mtu_huskies... Apparently it was Karr as the Fairbanks AD that thought of it... Interesting to see it that it is not be pushed on the Alaska schools, but from one of them...

Dirks questions - Postseason in the nWCHA and the Alaska teams always playing in the 1st round?
The average fan may not see the issues. Having both Alaska schools in the same league, creates issues, financially, travel, wear and tear, missed school time etc. There are so many uncertanties, Karr originally came up with the idea at Fairbanks, he has since moved to the AD at NMU. It does give one of the two to get to final five every year. Probably the best scenario, Mel thinks it will be fine. The best team will still have the opportunity to win the tournament and a birth to the NCAA.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

Interesting to see it that it is not be pushed on the Alaska schools, but from one of them...

Well honestly, what team wouldn't want a 50% chance of making the conference tourney every season? I would take it if offered, but it's a huge slap in the face of getting what you earned. I look at it along the lines of giving the CHA an auto-bid to the NCAAs with four teams. Sure people agreed to do it, but if it was really fair to the other teams is another story.

Ryan J

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA 2, The Electric Boogaloo (2013-14)

Even if AK teams come in 8th and 9th...they're a 50/50 to move on to the final weekend. Sure this wouldn't be ideal...but I don't see how its horrible.

I agree with you 100%. It's far from ideal. For me ideal would be leave out #9, play 1 v 8, 2 v 7, etc and the four winners advance.

But when you figure the cost of booking flights for 30 people from Marquette or Bemidji to Fairbanks on short notice, and hoping you can find enough seats to even get 30 people there on the same day on short notice, it's likely that you are going to have to pay closer to $1500 per seat plus equipment. Even a short notice ticket from Anchorage to Detroit is running close to $1300 right now. Now you may also have to book UAF or UAA to the tourney site as well on short notice, so you could be looking at an expense of $125K for the league for tourney transport. Whereas having UAA and UAF play in the first round significantly reduces that amount. Ideal, no. But practical, very.