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The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

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Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

aparch said:
Whoops. :o for some reason I was thinking the WCHA was in St. Paul this upcoming year and the B1G was in Detroit.


Manure: Average attendance for the early game at JLA was pathetic, but in a 10k venue, that small crowd can be much louder. And, Grand Rapids doesn't have the stigma to tourists that Detroit does. I really think 7500 is an achievable number for attendance. And, that happens to be the average attendance for Griffins games.

There will need to be work between the WCHA and Griffins. Promote it is a chance to see future AHL stars before they play for/against the Griffins. Play up the Griffins "NHL'ers start here" campaign.
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I have 2 words to summarize the promotion of this: Tailgating Olympics. Several events, Gold-Silver-Bronze in each. Play for drink tickets at local, sponsoring bars, to be used after the game, in conjunction with a game ticket. :D
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

My concern is where Ferris or even a Michigan team isn't involved. I'm not sure Bemidji v Fairbanks or Mankato v Bowling Green will be a big draw.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

davyd83 said:
My concern is where Ferris or even a Michigan team isn't involved. I'm not sure Bemidji v Fairbanks or Mankato v Bowling Green will be a big draw.
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Agreed. My wife has already informed me to save my money for the St. Paul years. But on a more serious note, remember that the winner (and maybe others) will go to a regional the following week. Do you want to travel to both? We all want to recreate the Final 5 atmosphere and attendance, but the Final 5 had several advantages, not the least of which was that that 5 schools in the old WCHA were from Minnesota, and 2 others were from "suburbs" of Minnesota. And with the Gophers and Badgers, you had 2 huge state schools with a lot of alumni in the MSP area. How many Ferris or Kato, or even NMU or LSSU alumni are in the Grand Rapids area? For that matter, how many LSSU alumni exist anywhere? Kato went from being 7th or 8th in enrollment in the old WCHA to 2nd or 3rd in the nWCHA. Even in St. Paul, we can't expect to draw like the old Final 5 did, but in GR it likely will be even worse.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

aparch said:
...There will need to be work between the WCHA and Griffins. Promote it is a chance to see future AHL stars before they play for/against the Griffins. Play up the Griffins "NHL'ers start here" campaign.
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davyd83 said:
My concern is where Ferris or even a Michigan team isn't involved. I'm not sure Bemidji v Fairbanks or Mankato v Bowling Green will be a big draw.
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I wasn't able to make it to any of the recent Griffins games in GR (health issues), but two of the games were on TV. When the TV cameras would pan the crowd, I couldn't believe how many little kids (elementary age) were at the games. I asked a friend who went to games 4 and 5 about this and he said it was some kind of package ticket deal for families or some such thing. Plus they had $2 hot dogs and $2 beers (something like that) for much of the game.

There is somewhat of a hockey culture here in GR; but, I think davyd is right, if there aren't any Michigan teams in the WCHA finals you're not going to get much of a turnout. The WCHA is definitely going to have to team up with the Griffins and offer all kinds of ticket incentives, promotions, bargains, rebates, layaways, deals, giveaways, aid, and assistance (you get the picture) to draw a crowd for college hockey games here in Grand Rapids.
 
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Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

purpleinnebraska said:
Agreed. My wife has already informed me to save my money for the St. Paul years. But on a more serious note, remember that the winner (and maybe others) will go to a regional the following week. Do you want to travel to both? We all want to recreate the Final 5 atmosphere and attendance, but the Final 5 had several advantages, not the least of which was that that 5 schools in the old WCHA were from Minnesota, and 2 others were from "suburbs" of Minnesota. And with the Gophers and Badgers, you had 2 huge state schools with a lot of alumni in the MSP area. How many Ferris or Kato, or even NMU or LSSU alumni are in the Grand Rapids area? For that matter, how many LSSU alumni exist anywhere? Kato went from being 7th or 8th in enrollment in the old WCHA to 2nd or 3rd in the nWCHA. Even in St. Paul, we can't expect to draw like the old Final 5 did, but in GR it likely will be even worse.
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I am just as concerned for a Ferris-Alaska Anchorage or Lake Superior-Michigan Tech matchup in St Paul.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

davyd83 said:
I am just as concerned for a Ferris-Alaska Anchorage or Lake Superior-Michigan Tech matchup in St Paul.
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I'm even concerned with a Kato- Bemidji matchup in St. Paul. It would draw well if it were the final, but I don't think even that would sell out. The schools in our conference just aren't that big. I don't think tradition, or TV contract, or even quality of hockey are the big disadvantages the nWCHA faces. I think it's fewer students, fewer alumni, and more distance between schools.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

The conference tournament will be a very interesting situation. How will things go? Will enough non-WCHA gopher fans decide to go to see hockey in person? Depends on prices in St. Paul. In GR, you're going to need to BG and Michigan Schools front and center in the tournament or get a large amount of Griffins fans to check it out.
 
Shirtless Guy said:
The conference tournament will be a very interesting situation. How will things go? Will enough non-WCHA gopher fans decide to go to see hockey in person? Depends on prices in St. Paul. In GR, you're going to need to BG and Michigan Schools front and center in the tournament or get a large amount of Griffins fans to check it out.
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And don't forget, the WCHA tourneys in StcPaul will compete with the NCHC tourney at the Target Center at the same time
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

bigmrg74 said:
GR has a great area around the arena, and you're not going to have the NCAA No Fun Police there either as part of a championship.
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The Bob right across the street and I liked the Spanish Tapis place there too. When I was there I stayed too far away from the arena(it was for work for the NCAAs in 2004). The other thing I remember was the it was hot inside the arena... That and everyday while doing a live shot, I had a different drunk to deal with...
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

davyd83 said:
And don't forget, the WCHA tourneys in StcPaul will compete with the NCHC tourney at the Target Center at the same time
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Yeah, I don't think anyone that has seen a hockey game at Target Center would voluntarily choose to attend a game there that didn't involve their team.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

It's going to be a tough draw at either site. The CCHA attendance the last few years at the Joe was subpar and that featured either MI, MSU or both. Not to mention, an Ohio team usually snuck in to the equation.

If out-of-state teams end up at each respective Tourney, the WCHA better put on their marketing pants because they are going to need all the host-city fan support they can get.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

davyd83 said:
And don't forget, the WCHA tourneys in StcPaul will compete with the NCHC tourney at the Target Center at the same time
Click to expand...
Anyone who has seen a hockey game at Target Center wouldn't go back willingly, to see a team they have no rooting interest for. Terrible venue.

edit: I guess shirtless got to it before me.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

Shirtless Guy said:
Yeah, I don't think anyone that has seen a hockey game at Target Center would voluntarily choose to attend a game there that didn't involve their team.
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What's interesting is that Target Center doesn't own hockey boards, glass, or even a Zamboni(at least that I've seen backstage). The last time they had a game there, they bought brand new boards and sold them the next day to an arena in Iowa. They're also replacing all the jacks that raises the floor for hockey. The other issue they had was when they put in new seats 8-9 years ago, they didn't allow for the openings from the hockey locker rooms to the benches. Renovations are supposed to start next summer to Target Center too.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

Bruce McLeod has hinted that he will retire at the end of next season, so perhaps that's why he's staying in his office at DU.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

I bet they use a tarp to close off the upper bowl in order to make it look full for television.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

I'm curious. What makes hockey at the Target Center much worse than anywhere else? I've never been there.
 
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