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The New WCHA (2013-14)

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Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Read back in the thread. the Resch is probably Not available. It's going after women's HS basketball which is the same weekend. So either the WCHA changes it's calendar around to have the playoffs a week earlier, which is certainly possible, or we are most likely going somewhere else. Suzanne hinted at it too in her comments about Tech hosting the Regionals last weekend.
I'd prefer the Resch too but you have to be prepared.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

As much as I hate to say this since UMD was apart of the NaCHO break away's... but I still feel that Duluth would be a good location for a tourney if Green Bay is unable or unwilling to host. Duluth is close enough for fans to drive to (I know BSU, TECH, MSU and NMU fans have and will probably make the trip in decent numbers). The biggest draw back is that Duluth fans are pretty fair weathered. they can't even sell out their own games on a consistent basis, so attendance might be an issue.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

jdmaxim23 said:
As much as I hate to say this since UMD was apart of the NaCHO break away's... but I still feel that Duluth would be a good location for a tourney if Green Bay is unable or unwilling to host. Duluth is close enough for fans to drive to (I know BSU, TECH, MSU and NMU fans have and will probably make the trip in decent numbers). The biggest draw back is that Duluth fans are pretty fair weathered. they can't even sell out their own games on a consistent basis, so attendance might be an issue.
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Attendance will be an issue no matter where it is played. Don't kid yourself. This is not the same WCHA. Hopefully, it will grow to be a strong conference, but that will take years.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Dumb suggestion and please feel free to tell me so, but what about Indy?

We just hosted the Super Bowl, usually host the Final Four and/or Regionals so are well equipped to deal with large crowds, are home to the NCAA HQ and are getting our main USHL/Ice venue (Pepsi Coliseum - seats 10k) totally renovated over the next year. We also have the Bankers Fieldhouse downtown (seats 20k) which hosts USHL/Indiana Ice games several times a season.

No, we don't have much of a 'natural fan base' but we're a not-too-painful travel distance for most (except the UP/Northern MN fans) and there's a lot to do at not too expensive a cost.

Just a thought. Now, how do I make it happen? LOL!!
 
hoosierpuck said:
Dumb suggestion and please feel free to tell me so, but what about Indy?

We just hosted the Super Bowl, usually host the Final Four and/or Regionals so are well equipped to deal with large crowds, are home to the NCAA HQ and are getting our main USHL/Ice venue (Pepsi Coliseum - seats 10k) totally renovated over the next year. We also have the Bankers Fieldhouse downtown (seats 20k) which hosts USHL/Indiana Ice games several times a season.

No, we don't have much of a 'natural fan base' but we're a not-too-painful travel distance for most (except the UP/Northern MN fans)
and there's a lot to do at not too expensive a cost.

Just a thought. Now, how do I make it happen? LOL!!
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Biggest issue the next two years would be where to play. After this season ends for the ushl ice, Pepsi coliseium is shutting down two years for rennovations and the ushl ice is currently looking for alternative home for that period. Getting Simon to free up time at conseco unlikely.

But beyond the next two years possibly...
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

hoosierpuck said:
Dumb suggestion and please feel free to tell me so, but what about Indy?

We just hosted the Super Bowl, usually host the Final Four and/or Regionals so are well equipped to deal with large crowds, are home to the NCAA HQ and are getting our main USHL/Ice venue (Pepsi Coliseum - seats 10k) totally renovated over the next year. We also have the Bankers Fieldhouse downtown (seats 20k) which hosts USHL/Indiana Ice games several times a season.

No, we don't have much of a 'natural fan base' but we're a not-too-painful travel distance for most (except the UP/Northern MN fans) and there's a lot to do at not too expensive a cost.

Just a thought. Now, how do I make it happen? LOL!!
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The UP and N. Minnesota fans make up 5 of the 9 schools. The only one really convenient is Bowling Green, with Ferris about another hour.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Iwearpurple said:
Attendance will be an issue no matter where it is played. Don't kid yourself. This is not the same WCHA. Hopefully, it will grow to be a strong conference, but that will take years.
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I agree. These are smaller schools and don't have the traveling fan bases that Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin have. Also, the Final Five has built up a tradition that people mark on their calendars and will go to whether their team is in it or not.

Having been through the CHA Tournaments of the past (made it to all but the last one, dammit), attendance will be an issue. The CHA tried neutral sites and campus sites. The attendance was better at campus sites as long as the home team was involved. One year at Niagara, the Purple Eagles got knocked out on the first day and the place was a morgue. Wayne State was a bust, so much so, that CSTV had everyone sit on one side of the rink to try and make it look full. Bemidji was successful, but the home team made it through to the Championship. I would like to believe that the locals would have supported the tournament even if BSU got knocked out. UAH was alright, but they had a 6000+ seat arena, so it looked sparse.

As for neutral sites, Grand Rapids, MN, was the most successful. Kearney, NE, (twice) was alright, but it was mostly local hockey fans with some BSU fans sprinkled in. Des Moines was a bust. The CHA tried to capitalize on the USHL draw with Kearney and Des Moines, but it didn't pan out like they had hoped.

Not sure what the solution is. No matter which way the league decides to go, they are dealing with smaller fan bases.
 
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Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

beaverhockeyfan said:
As for neutral sites, Grand Rapids, MN, was the most successful. Kearney, NE, (twice) was alright, but it was mostly local hockey fans with some BSU fans sprinkled in. Des Moines was a bust. The CHA tried to capitalize on the USHL draw with Kearney and Des Moines, but it didn't pan out like they had hoped.
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The CHA had their tournament in Grand Rapids and Kearney? That blows my mind :eek:
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

I think Grand Rapids has a lot of potential. It's a big city with a lot of bars and restaurants right around the arena. There are plenty of hockey fans in Grand Rapids, the tournament just needs to be marketed better than NCAA Regionals have been in the past. I think there is a lot of upside if done right. I believe it could become a smaller version of the current WCHA Final Five.

Green Bay is a decent town with a good rink, but there didn't seem to be much local interest. Even the bars right next to the arena after last weekend's regional were mostly filled with uninterested townies who were indifferent to hockey. Location wise, it might be the best for the most teams. Not even a bad drive from Big Rapids, but I doubt it would become an annual trip for most.

Are there any rinks in Minneapolis/St. Paul other than Xcel or Mariucci that seat 7,000 plus?
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

There's not going to be sufficient attendance to need a large neutral site. Green Bay didn't draw flies for the NCAA regional, why would they draw for the "New WCHA?" Let the higher seed host at their home arena.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

MavsFan said:
There's not going to be sufficient attendance to need a large neutral site. Green Bay didn't draw flies for the NCAA regional, why would they draw for the "New WCHA?" Let the higher seed host at their home arena.
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That works out great, unless you have to send three teams to Alaska on short notice.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

MavsFan said:
There's not going to be sufficient attendance to need a large neutral site. Green Bay didn't draw flies for the NCAA regional, why would they draw for the "New WCHA?" Let the higher seed host at their home arena.
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I think this goes for whatever league you are talking about not just the new WCHA. Let's face it the only league that has done well at a neutral site in college hockey is the current WCHA and the ***** clown Big Ten teams screwed that up. I know you guys have two Alaska teams which makes it hard, but I would ahve the league champion host. I also think the NCHC and Big ten should do that as well. I know the host school has a huge advantage, but at least then they get that because they earned it.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

MavsFan said:
There's not going to be sufficient attendance to need a large neutral site. Green Bay didn't draw flies for the NCAA regional, why would they draw for the "New WCHA?" Let the higher seed host at their home arena.
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because there will be beer sales ;) and fans of the WCHA will know if their team wins the weekend before they will play in Green Bay (no possibility of bridgeport, worcester or st paul).
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Shirtless Guy said:
because there will be beer sales ;) and fans of the WCHA will know if their team wins the weekend before they will play in Green Bay (no possibility of bridgeport, worcester or st paul).
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Exactly. Additionally, Denver and Ithaca are much further away from Green Bay than the New WCHA schools, excluding the Alaskans. Like I said, not a bad drive from Big Rapids and we'd be one of the furthest (along with BGSU and BSU).
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

moose97 said:
Nope.

There are literally dozens, though, in the 3,000 seat range. Those, however, are HS/community rinks. The Wild have tried to get a 3-4000 seat "practice" rink built attached to the X that may be perfect - if it ever happens...
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If they do this maybe they can host the B1G and WCHA tourneys at the same time in the adjacent buildings. That should be interesting.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

I still have a fundamental problem with giving the league tournament to a city and a state that doesn't have a league school. Just me, I guess.
 
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

MavsFan said:
I still have a fundamental problem with giving the league tournament to a city and a state that doesn't have a league school. Just me, I guess.
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so which city of the nWCHA has a "neutral" site for this tournament that would be adequate? If you can name one, feel free to tell me.
 
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