The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

[dxmnkd316]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

I just want to shoot whoever is in charge of the WCHA twitter feed. Half the time they make a mistake and when they don't...they aren't even posting about current WCHA teams. Today, they RT'd a post from @UNDSID about UND men's hockey announcing their captain for next season. I called them out on it saying UND isn't in the WCHA anymore...they said the women's team is and I responded with, "that isn't about the women's team." The tweets have since been deleted...apparently they assumed Stephane Pattyn was a girl. MORONS

To be fair, I had to reread the name to see that there wasn't an "i" in Stephane.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

To be fair, I had to reread the name to see that there wasn't an "i" in Stephane.

I understand the mix up but at the same time, it just irritates me to know when the original tweet is a RT of UNDSID and mentions UNDMHockey...not UNDWHockey. What I wouldn't give to be involved with the PR of the WCHA. They have so much to learn, hopefully the new guy has some turnover in that department.

 

[dxmnkd316]

I understand the mix up but at the same time, it just irritates me to know when the original tweet is a RT of UNDSID and mentions UNDMHockey...not UNDWHockey. What I wouldn't give to be involved with the PR of the WCHA. They have so much to learn, hopefully the new guy has some turnover in that department.

I get that. Just poking a little fun at uND and their French Canadian names.

I know how much this league means to you guys so in really, really hoping they get it turned around.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Resubscribed

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Shout out to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs for winning the NAHL Robertson Cup. They did so with 10 D-1 commits, five of whom are committed to WCHA schools.

http://m.collegehockeyinc.com/node/855

 

[Freddie]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

I wonder if the other teams in the NAHL spend a good portion of their spare time *****ing about having to travel to Fairbanks.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

I understand the mix up but at the same time, it just irritates me to know when the original tweet is a RT of UNDSID and mentions UNDMHockey...not UNDWHockey. What I wouldn't give to be involved with the PR of the WCHA. They have so much to learn, hopefully the new guy has some turnover in that department.

What ever happened to the staffers/interns the CCHA had their final two seasons? The WCHA needed to reach out to them and failed on that effort. (Or, maybe they did contact them, and they declined.)

Either way, there needs to be an improvement on that front. It's pretty sad when there are some stellar Twitter follows throughout the league team wise, but having one central hub to re-tweet and interact would help boost the brand.

Here's hoping the new guy's background in marketing means a clean start.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Along with the streaming media, I wonder if the WCHA front office has had any communication with the new Michigan Entertainment Sports channel to get a game a week broadcast.

They're ambitious, recently signing a 40 game HD broadcast contract with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=2832

They're shooting to be seen in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and considering that would cover MTU, NMU, LSSU, FSU, and BGSU, that could be a great fit for the WCHA.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Along with the streaming media, I wonder if the WCHA front office has had any communication with the new Michigan Entertainment Sports channel to get a game a week broadcast.

They're ambitious, recently signing a 40 game HD broadcast contract with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=2832

They're shooting to be seen in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and considering that would cover MTU, NMU, LSSU, FSU, and BGSU, that could be a great fit for the WCHA.

They should be investigating that, especially if the new MES channel ends up being part of typical expanded cable packages at the regional level (i.e. - not in the sports pack).

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Just checked their Linked-In page, they're nothing short of ambitious:

MES aims to be Michigan's complete sports network, launching in the fall of 2014. We are going to be a 24-7 sports television network in the mold of ESPN or Fox Sports, but with something a little different. Our entire focus will be on sports in Michigan, and not just the pro teams in Detroit or the Big Ten colleges. No, MES will focus heavily on the state's exciting minor league teams, it's smaller colleges and the MHSAA high school teams. We will also blend in our own, Michigan-based original programming, whether it's a daily live sports newscast, a big sailboat race on one of Michigan's Great Lakes or an equestrian event in the state's heartland. MES will cover sports across the state, taking advantage of all that Michigan has to offer.

http://www.linkedin.com/company/michigan-entertainment-sports

Curious as to their financial stability; signing a three year deal with the Griffins and their stated goals of covering not so popular sporting events (doesn't say live or taped, but likely taped for most sports). I'm in support of them, and hope that the WCHA can get a "game of the week" at least broadcast.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

If the WCHA won't show interest due to the regional nature of the network, at least MTU, NMU, LSSU, and FSU ought to be looking to strike a deal of their own.

The Griffins are clearly the anchor team for the network, and given their recent success and affiliation with the Wings, that should give them a modest built-in audience for 6-8 months out of the year at least. With the increasing bombardment of TV advertising now, I think that seems to offset the costs of running a minor network - why else would there be hundreds of these regional channels now?

 

[RaceBoarder]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

If the WCHA won't show interest due to the regional nature of the network, at least MTU, NMU, LSSU, and FSU ought to be looking to strike a deal of their own.

The Griffins are clearly the anchor team for the network, and given their recent success and affiliation with the Wings, that should give them a modest built-in audience for 6-8 months out of the year at least. With the increasing bombardment of TV advertising now, I think that seems to offset the costs of running a minor network - why else would there be hundreds of these regional channels now?

Just curious what would be involved for a team to strike a deal on their own? I assume that they are allowed to do so if they choose...

I would be curious who would cover production costs for something like this though... Live broadcasts seem like they would be pricey for an operation of this size...

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Just curious what would be involved for a team to strike a deal on their own? I assume that they are allowed to do so if they choose...

I would be curious who would cover production costs for something like this though... Live broadcasts seem like they would be pricey for an operation of this size...

Depends on how the package was drawn up. Using NMU as an example, they could use volunteers (similar to the B2 feed, some WNMU productions) and uplink the feed for MES to satellite downlink and then broadcast. Unless MES has some deep pockets, or a solid advertising commitment, and would be rolling an HD production truck to each location to produce the feed themselves.

Just spitballing, but this website says it's approximately $15,000 to rent a production truck. The WCHA or each school could... just spitballing... set up where they purchase cheap air time from MES, and in turn the WCHA/schools can sell advertising to cover the costs of producing the games/purchasing air time. The Chicago Wolves pony up for one of Corplex's HD trucks for every one of their games (except regular season games IN Canada), and they used to purchase air time on Comcast Chicago's local cable access channel, and currently purchase air time from WCIU's The U too channel (which broadcasts over-the-air in Chicagoland along with cable/satellite).

I don't see each University forging separate deals, but I COULD see the Michigan schools, for example, working together to get advertising/sponsorship to cover costs to provide a game of the week.

 

[pdt1081]

Just curious what would be involved for a team to strike a deal on their own? I assume that they are allowed to do so if they choose...

I would be curious who would cover production costs for something like this though... Live broadcasts seem like they would be pricey for an operation of this size...

Bowling Green has quite a few home games televised on BCSN (Buckeye Cable Sports Network). Ironically, if you live in Bowling Green, you are stuck with Time Warner and cannot see the games. Toledo, however, can.

 

[blackswampboy]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

http://overtheboards.net/recruiting-preview-wcha-uaa-uah/

<img src="http://overtheboards.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/recruitingpreview.jpg">

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Why hasn't the WCHA released a conference composite schedule yet? All the league games and dates are known.

 

[MaizeRage]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

What's wrong with the streaming option? An HDMI cable from the laptop to the TV makes for a pretty good view, especially if all you're doing is duplicating the streaming anyway.

The WCHA's number one goal needs to be increasing the fanbase in every market and getting more people interested enough in their teams to buy tickets. There's just not enough people that care enough about hockey at those schools for the WCHA to be successful, or possibly even survive. Streaming at $7 a game contributes exactly zero to that goal. Putting games on local cable and getting casual fans more interested in the sport might help.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

So where do you find the advertising dollars to cover those costs in markets like Houghton, the Soo, Big Rapids & Marquette? How deeply do those dollars cut into the current broadcast partners revenues? Those organizations that invest tens of thousands of dollars each year to cover their respective schools in multiple sports with minimal, if any profit? What's wrong with the streaming option? An HDMI cable from the laptop to the TV makes for a pretty good view, especially if all you're doing is duplicating the streaming anyway.

Oh cool. Lemme call up TV6 and tell them to stop their efforts into broadcasting NMU and/or MTU games, since you say it's just a big waste of time.

You have Minnesota Public Television's number handy? I want to let them know that you feel their efforts in broadcasting Bemidji games is a lost cause. Just air some Lawrence Welk in their place.

I would think the TV side would be an additional marketing tool available to the schools and/or the WCHA. Like Maize said, it's a way to draw casual viewers into your product. As for the sponsorship, why does it have to be local businesses in those markets? Who says Schwan Food Company wouldn't want to advertise more to the WCHA markets if the WCHA spearheaded the TV package? Mother Mining? Wells Fargo? Caterpillar? Meijer?

I'm not saying the new commissioner needs to visit every business with his hat in hand, but there are wells to tap instead of going back to same dry ones.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Oh, and to add to the discussion of sponsorship: I believe companies would love to partner with the WCHA, considering the WCHA's status as a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization. What a great way for companies to make a donation to lessen their tax burden AND get "free" advertising by the WCHA.

I mean, the WCHA's tax returns even state their mission is to "Improve and Promote Amateur Athletics." Surely the additional donations could help offset their stated expenses of "Distribution of Surplus Funds to Member Organizations at the End of Each Year With Equal Amounts to Each Organization," "Incurs Expenses for Statistics Promotion of the Sport and Publications. Operate Amateur Hockey League Where a League Champion is Determined," and "Incur Expense and Pay For All Officiating Expenses for all League Games."

 

[true2BSU]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Why can't we allow the cup winner host the next years playoffs? Would give each school a year to advertise and prepare, yet still allow the WCHA to have time to prep. I would go to Alaska if I had a year to plan it ahead of time. Just a thought.