Squarebanks
New member
Has UAH formally applied yet?
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
The New WCHA (2013-14)
- Thread starter aparch
- Start date
- Status
Has UAH formally applied yet?
JohnsonsJerseys
Michigan Tech Fan
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
There were a few comments discussing the success of the Green Bay regional and trying to extract the potential success of a WCHA tourney in GB. I don't believe you can make that comparison. Of the four teams that got scheduled for GB, their fans had only a couple weeks notice that they were playing there. Unfortunately this year GB got stuck without a "local" team our of the four and the teams that did come don't have great traveling fan bases. If you had WI, MN, MTU, NMU or someone within 4 hour playing in that region they would have easily doubled the attendance. Just a bad break this year with who got sent there. I think the new WCHA will still have its share of fans that see the conference tourney as an event to attend even if their team doesn't make it. In the new WCHA every team is going to feel like they have a legit chance to win the league, or at least finish in the top half (for the first few years).
Ryan J
There were a few comments discussing the success of the Green Bay regional and trying to extract the potential success of a WCHA tourney in GB. I don't believe you can make that comparison. Of the four teams that got scheduled for GB, their fans had only a couple weeks notice that they were playing there. Unfortunately this year GB got stuck without a "local" team our of the four and the teams that did come don't have great traveling fan bases. If you had WI, MN, MTU, NMU or someone within 4 hour playing in that region they would have easily doubled the attendance. Just a bad break this year with who got sent there. I think the new WCHA will still have its share of fans that see the conference tourney as an event to attend even if their team doesn't make it. In the new WCHA every team is going to feel like they have a legit chance to win the league, or at least finish in the top half (for the first few years).
Ryan J
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
If I were emperor of the new WCHA, I'd answer these questions in this order:
4: Admit UAH on a probationary basis. Give them a 4-5 year window to 'show cause' that they can put the program back on sound financial footing, and either get their own suitable building, or restructure their lease with VonBraun so they don't have to schedule goofy game times (Thurs nights and Sunday afternoons) around junior hockey and monster truck shows.
5: 24 game conference schedule, leaving room for 12 nc games. 2 games each against 6 opponents, 4 games each with the other three. Maintain geographical rivalries by keeping BG/FS, LS/NM, LS/MT, NM/MT, BS/MK, AF/AA as 4 game pairs, and rotate the others.
3: The geographical pairing listed above can help with this problem, but there's not much else that can be done...it is what it is. Perhaps teams scheduled to go to Alaska twice can schedule their games on consecutive weekends, and stay up north for the week in between. Most modern schools have at least some capability for their students to keep up with classwork on-line.
1 & 2: First round, best of 3 at campus sites; 10@7, 9@8. Quarterfinals, re-seed survivors, best of 3, campus sites. 8@1, 7@2, 6@3, 5@4. Semis and finals; 3000-5000 arena located in ANY mid-western city with decent air connections. Chicago, St Louis, Detroit, Dallas, Indy, Milwaukee. The key is to find some place that WANTS us to be there, and be willing to support and promote it. Avoid the cities of the traitors: Minneapolis, Madison, Omaha, Denver.
6: Who gives a crap where the offices will be. A double-wide on the outskirts of Cedar Rapids would suffice. Personally, I've never understood what the conference offices did or do in the first place...much like Washington DC, a black hole that sucks up $$$.
7: We ALL need to stand together against the evil 'so-called' elite. Our former conference mates, especially the Big____ (fill in the blank) are not likely to schedule reciprocal games in our buildings. We've got to take a strong, unified stance against this.
8: Haven't a clue. This is an area I know nothing about.
OTHER: I've followed the CCHA throughout it's entire history, and was vocal in my disdain for the shoot-out when it was first introduced. Over time, I have come to accept it...yes even find it an exciting/enjoyable climax. What's more, the casual fans, students and players all like it.
If I were emperor of the new WCHA, I'd answer these questions in this order:
4: Admit UAH on a probationary basis. Give them a 4-5 year window to 'show cause' that they can put the program back on sound financial footing, and either get their own suitable building, or restructure their lease with VonBraun so they don't have to schedule goofy game times (Thurs nights and Sunday afternoons) around junior hockey and monster truck shows.
5: 24 game conference schedule, leaving room for 12 nc games. 2 games each against 6 opponents, 4 games each with the other three. Maintain geographical rivalries by keeping BG/FS, LS/NM, LS/MT, NM/MT, BS/MK, AF/AA as 4 game pairs, and rotate the others.
3: The geographical pairing listed above can help with this problem, but there's not much else that can be done...it is what it is. Perhaps teams scheduled to go to Alaska twice can schedule their games on consecutive weekends, and stay up north for the week in between. Most modern schools have at least some capability for their students to keep up with classwork on-line.
1 & 2: First round, best of 3 at campus sites; 10@7, 9@8. Quarterfinals, re-seed survivors, best of 3, campus sites. 8@1, 7@2, 6@3, 5@4. Semis and finals; 3000-5000 arena located in ANY mid-western city with decent air connections. Chicago, St Louis, Detroit, Dallas, Indy, Milwaukee. The key is to find some place that WANTS us to be there, and be willing to support and promote it. Avoid the cities of the traitors: Minneapolis, Madison, Omaha, Denver.
6: Who gives a crap where the offices will be. A double-wide on the outskirts of Cedar Rapids would suffice. Personally, I've never understood what the conference offices did or do in the first place...much like Washington DC, a black hole that sucks up $$$.
7: We ALL need to stand together against the evil 'so-called' elite. Our former conference mates, especially the Big____ (fill in the blank) are not likely to schedule reciprocal games in our buildings. We've got to take a strong, unified stance against this.
8: Haven't a clue. This is an area I know nothing about.
OTHER: I've followed the CCHA throughout it's entire history, and was vocal in my disdain for the shoot-out when it was first introduced. Over time, I have come to accept it...yes even find it an exciting/enjoyable climax. What's more, the casual fans, students and players all like it.
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
You better add Chicago(BiG HH), Columbus, Happy Valley, Lansing, Ann Arbor to your list. Since, you are sadly getting rid of MPLS, you can still have St. Paul on your good list. BTW, UND and DU are the schools who ruined college hockey. Nobody else.
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
NCAA hockey is still somewhat of a mystery to many canadians, but they are obsessed with the sport in the Soo. A couple of weeks ago they hosted an amateur adult tournament and it went very well (see carhahockey.ca). In fact, in games involving former canadian and russian pros, the Essar Center (cap. 4800), the home of the Soo Greyhounds, was full. The parties, entertainment, and organization were great. I doubt a canadian venue would be chosen by the WCHA, but hopefully the tournament could be as well done as this one was.
NCAA hockey is still somewhat of a mystery to many canadians, but they are obsessed with the sport in the Soo. A couple of weeks ago they hosted an amateur adult tournament and it went very well (see carhahockey.ca). In fact, in games involving former canadian and russian pros, the Essar Center (cap. 4800), the home of the Soo Greyhounds, was full. The parties, entertainment, and organization were great. I doubt a canadian venue would be chosen by the WCHA, but hopefully the tournament could be as well done as this one was.
aparch
Well-known member
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Players should already (but one or two players may have issues).
Coaches obviously should if they're recruiting, but volunteer coaches and some of the training staff may not.
League staff may not. How often would they need to travel to Canada for league issues?
Media won't. You'd have to rely on local media, and how many of them are willing to cover NCAA hockey?
Fans. Here's the biggest point. A lot of fans don't have a passport, and while Sault Ste. Marie Ontario is right across the border, how many fans will be compelled to get a Passport just for a weekend to Canada to watch their hockey team?
Obviously, some fans will get a passport and make a weekend of it, but a trip to Sault Ste. Marie is only good for two things. One is Tim Hortons. The second is peelers. There really isn't much to do in the Soo in early March.
Stepping back, compare the following:
Hockey East Championship - TD Garden Boston, NHL Bruins, Boston MA
B1G Championship - Xcel Energy Center, NHL Wild, St. Paul, MN or Joe Louis Arena, NHL Red Wings, Detroit, MI
NCHC Championship - Pepsi Center, NHL Avalanche, Denver, CO (potential)
AHA Championship - Blue Cross Arena, AHL Americans Rochester, NY
ECAC Championship - Boardwalk Hall, AHL All-Star Game Atlantic City NJ
WCHA Championship - Essar Centre, OHL Soo Greyhounds, Sault Ste. Marie, ONT
I still feel that Green Bay first, or an AHL rink in the midwest is where this Tournament needs to be located.
The problem with choosing a Canadian venue is the small issue of passports. As in, all your traveling fans, team staff, coaches, players, league staff, media, etc. all need to have current passports.
Players should already (but one or two players may have issues).
Coaches obviously should if they're recruiting, but volunteer coaches and some of the training staff may not.
League staff may not. How often would they need to travel to Canada for league issues?
Media won't. You'd have to rely on local media, and how many of them are willing to cover NCAA hockey?
Fans. Here's the biggest point. A lot of fans don't have a passport, and while Sault Ste. Marie Ontario is right across the border, how many fans will be compelled to get a Passport just for a weekend to Canada to watch their hockey team?
Obviously, some fans will get a passport and make a weekend of it, but a trip to Sault Ste. Marie is only good for two things. One is Tim Hortons. The second is peelers. There really isn't much to do in the Soo in early March.
Stepping back, compare the following:
Hockey East Championship - TD Garden Boston, NHL Bruins, Boston MA
B1G Championship - Xcel Energy Center, NHL Wild, St. Paul, MN or Joe Louis Arena, NHL Red Wings, Detroit, MI
NCHC Championship - Pepsi Center, NHL Avalanche, Denver, CO (potential)
AHA Championship - Blue Cross Arena, AHL Americans Rochester, NY
ECAC Championship - Boardwalk Hall, AHL All-Star Game Atlantic City NJ
WCHA Championship - Essar Centre, OHL Soo Greyhounds, Sault Ste. Marie, ONT
I still feel that Green Bay first, or an AHL rink in the midwest is where this Tournament needs to be located.
beaverhockeyfan
Well-known member
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Very good point on the passports!
You may want to add the Target Center to the NCHC mix. I have read/heard that they are interested in persuing the event and the NCHC may be somewhat warm to it.
Very good point on the passports!
You may want to add the Target Center to the NCHC mix. I have read/heard that they are interested in persuing the event and the NCHC may be somewhat warm to it.
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
The primary conflict at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville isn't junior hockey or Monster Truck Pulls. It is professional hockey. The Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc rank second in the league in average attendance, with over 3369 per game. Only Bemidji State draws more than that among members of the new WCHA. It's a pretty good hockey town with a pretty knowledgeable fan base.
The primary conflict at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville isn't junior hockey or Monster Truck Pulls. It is professional hockey. The Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc rank second in the league in average attendance, with over 3369 per game. Only Bemidji State draws more than that among members of the new WCHA. It's a pretty good hockey town with a pretty knowledgeable fan base.
hattrick16
Put a jumbotron in Ewigleben!
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
There are a lot of innovative ideas on here that may fit the nWCHA perfectly. I would even suggest that the league try a couple different things for the first two or three years and actually figure out what works best, whether that's Green Bay, Grand Rapids, the Soo or NHL style three game series.
If there is a single site tournament, I still think they should try doing the entire tournament, inviting all nine or 10 teams, in one arena over four days. This is how every serious conference basketball tournament works. You would be guaranteeing every team at least one game, giving fans of every team an incentive to come. Everyone can plan on going weeks or months in advance because they know their team will be there and they'll get to watch a lot of good conference hockey and socialize with all the other conference members' fans. Put the tournament the second weekend of most schools spring break and I think you'll get a good crowd with representatives from all conference schools.
I think the biggest barrier to going to a conference tournament is too little time to plan and too expensive to go last minute.
There are a lot of innovative ideas on here that may fit the nWCHA perfectly. I would even suggest that the league try a couple different things for the first two or three years and actually figure out what works best, whether that's Green Bay, Grand Rapids, the Soo or NHL style three game series.
If there is a single site tournament, I still think they should try doing the entire tournament, inviting all nine or 10 teams, in one arena over four days. This is how every serious conference basketball tournament works. You would be guaranteeing every team at least one game, giving fans of every team an incentive to come. Everyone can plan on going weeks or months in advance because they know their team will be there and they'll get to watch a lot of good conference hockey and socialize with all the other conference members' fans. Put the tournament the second weekend of most schools spring break and I think you'll get a good crowd with representatives from all conference schools.
I think the biggest barrier to going to a conference tournament is too little time to plan and too expensive to go last minute.
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
It will be interesting to see what happens soon, I know the NCHC wants to have their hockey operations head picked around the Frozen Four and I think the plan for their conference tourney home could come soon as well, or that what the NCHC commish said back in March. I hope the NCHC doesn't want to have their conference tourney in the Target Center.
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
It would be great news if that other league chose the Target Center. Its a terrible venue for hockey, and there is nowhere to tailgate anywhere close to it!
It would be great news if that other league chose the Target Center. Its a terrible venue for hockey, and there is nowhere to tailgate anywhere close to it!
scsutommyboy
Frozen four or Bust!!
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Have you ever seen a hockey game at Target Center? The bottom bowl and half of the top level are very good for hockey. there is no way the NcHC draws more than 12-13K so the Target Center would be a perfect site. Also, you act like there are tons of places to tail gate in St. Paul and there is not. Plus Downtown Minneapolis has a lot more places to eat and drink. the only downside I see is there are a lot more thugs minneapolis, but on event nights it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem.
Have you ever seen a hockey game at Target Center? The bottom bowl and half of the top level are very good for hockey. there is no way the NcHC draws more than 12-13K so the Target Center would be a perfect site. Also, you act like there are tons of places to tail gate in St. Paul and there is not. Plus Downtown Minneapolis has a lot more places to eat and drink. the only downside I see is there are a lot more thugs minneapolis, but on event nights it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem.
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
For those that have never been, the locks are a pretty cool visit. I've been there probably 15 times and I still like watching the boats
But the passport thing would definitely kill it. If this was pre-passports to Canada I'd say it was a fantastic idea.
For those that have never been, the locks are a pretty cool visit. I've been there probably 15 times and I still like watching the boats
But the passport thing would definitely kill it. If this was pre-passports to Canada I'd say it was a fantastic idea.
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Yes, I have been to a game there, it sucked for hockey. There are places to tailgate in St. Paul.
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Point of clarification, MSU also has a higher attendance historically....3200 in 2012, 3711 in 2011, 3880 in 2010 and 4550 in 2009.
Point of clarification, MSU also has a higher attendance historically....3200 in 2012, 3711 in 2011, 3880 in 2010 and 4550 in 2009.
uaafanblog
AKA - "Drop The Puck"
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
So did Allstate Arena already get shot down? Wouldn't Chicago be preferred to Green Bay by the Michigan contingent?
So did Allstate Arena already get shot down? Wouldn't Chicago be preferred to Green Bay by the Michigan contingent?
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Chicago wouldn't be bad. It would probably be the best lower-48 location for your teams up in the great white north also.
aparch
Well-known member
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Soo Locks? Nope, they didn't open until this week. So no boat tours. And no boats to watch either.
Valley Camp Ship Museum? Doesn't open till mid-May.
Tower of History? Doesn't open till mid-May
River of History Museum? Doesn't open till mid-May.
Water Street Historic Block? Doesn't open till mid-June.
George Kemp Marina? Again, not open till mid-May.
There isn't a fu**ing thing "touristy" to do in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan or Canada until May.
Right, but what's open on Championship weekend?For those that have never been, the locks are a pretty cool visit. I've been there probably 15 times and I still like watching the boats
Soo Locks? Nope, they didn't open until this week. So no boat tours. And no boats to watch either.
Valley Camp Ship Museum? Doesn't open till mid-May.
Tower of History? Doesn't open till mid-May
River of History Museum? Doesn't open till mid-May.
Water Street Historic Block? Doesn't open till mid-June.
George Kemp Marina? Again, not open till mid-May.
There isn't a fu**ing thing "touristy" to do in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan or Canada until May.
Dave, with all do respect, why does a league like the SPHL have such a good draw instead of UAH who is lucky to average 1/3 of that? Because it's a fight league / paid beer league hockey and the fans are there to just get drunk and see fights. It's about equal to what the UHL was. It's not a development league like the ECHL or AHL. Or what the CHL pretends to do.
aparch
Well-known member
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
Allstate Arena gets my vote. Only if the WCHA can use the pyrotechnic show before the championship game.
Not officially, although others have whined about the size of the facility and how "empty" it would be.
Allstate Arena gets my vote. Only if the WCHA can use the pyrotechnic show before the championship game.
Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)
I really think for this league it's of utmost importance to be the big fish in a small pond. Going to a major metro area is a HUGE mistake in my opinion. If you go to Chicago, MSP, Detroit or Milwaukee your are going to get overshadowed by many, many other events. Hold it in a small town that where it's going to be the big ticket. My personal preference would be to have it at the conference champion's venue. I know travel concerns enter in here, but let's be honest, how many people from our schools are going to make this a yearly, planned event? My guess is that contingent is very small.
Assume that it's 200 people from each school. That's 1800 people. I think you could make the argument that half of those would travel to the tourney regardless of where it's at. That means that the home team (that is presumably going to have higher attendence during an "up" year) will have to make up for 900 tickets. I don't really think that's that big of a stretch to think that the home crowd could make up for that. So from a money standpoint, it makes sense. I will say that it's a tough one with the Alaska schools. Travel is just more expensive and that's going to be prohibitive for a lot of people. I'm sure there is a work around for that, but I don't know exactly how you address that.
I really think for this league it's of utmost importance to be the big fish in a small pond. Going to a major metro area is a HUGE mistake in my opinion. If you go to Chicago, MSP, Detroit or Milwaukee your are going to get overshadowed by many, many other events. Hold it in a small town that where it's going to be the big ticket. My personal preference would be to have it at the conference champion's venue. I know travel concerns enter in here, but let's be honest, how many people from our schools are going to make this a yearly, planned event? My guess is that contingent is very small.
Assume that it's 200 people from each school. That's 1800 people. I think you could make the argument that half of those would travel to the tourney regardless of where it's at. That means that the home team (that is presumably going to have higher attendence during an "up" year) will have to make up for 900 tickets. I don't really think that's that big of a stretch to think that the home crowd could make up for that. So from a money standpoint, it makes sense. I will say that it's a tough one with the Alaska schools. Travel is just more expensive and that's going to be prohibitive for a lot of people. I'm sure there is a work around for that, but I don't know exactly how you address that.
- Status