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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)

Regarding games at GR.
I think you need to draw at least half the crowd from the local population. In order to do that maybe you offer a package deal to Griffins season ticket holders which gives them the games at half price and you let kids in for 2 dollars. Also you have offers in the supermarkets for kids nights etc. No matter what, I think you have to target the Griffins season ticket holders in some way to get half a chance at a good crowd. I think you give it away rather than play to an empty rink.

If you have any of the eastern half of the league in, there will be some fans, but you can't expect a lot even for Ferris.
 
manurespreader said:
Regarding games at GR.
I think you need to draw at least half the crowd from the local population. In order to do that maybe you offer a package deal to Griffins season ticket holders which gives them the games at half price and you let kids in for 2 dollars. Also you have offers in the supermarkets for kids nights etc. No matter what, I think you have to target the Griffins season ticket holders in some way to get half a chance at a good crowd. I think you give it away rather than play to an empty rink.

If you have any of the eastern half of the league in, there will be some fans, but you can't expect a lot even for Ferris.
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Sadly, giving away tickets is not the way to go. It is better to play in a 6 to 8 thousand seat arena in Michigan before tickets should be given away.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

4four4 said:
Sadly, giving away tickets is not the way to go. It is better to play in a 6 to 8 thousand seat arena in Michigan before tickets should be given away.
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Flint 2018! There is an NAHL team that plays in the suitably dumpy Perani Arena. :D ;)

perani1.jpg
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

4four4 said:
Sadly, giving away tickets is not the way to go. It is better to play in a 6 to 8 thousand seat arena in Michigan before tickets should be given away.
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I don't mean giving it away literally. I mean giving it away figuratively. I also mean cutting the price to get butts in the seats. What this league needs is exposure. Having an empty arena or one that appears empty is not a good idea.
 
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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Pretty good odds that at least one Michigan team will make the Final Whatever each season with four to pick from - MTU, NMU, LSSU, FSU and BGSU is closer to Grand Rapids than any of the UP teams so they should travel at least as well.

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

JohnsonsJerseys said:
Pretty good odds that at least one Michigan team will make the Final Whatever each season with four to pick from - MTU, NMU, LSSU, FSU and BGSU is closer to Grand Rapids than any of the UP teams so they should travel at least as well.

Ryan J
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I do think both Tech and Northern would be among the stronger draws in Grand Rapids. Both have drawn well playing in Detroit. And both have pretty solid alumni bases in that part of the state.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

I think ticket prices and advertising will be hugely important for the WCHA tournament. The NCAA's advertising was nearly non-existent and ticket prices were to high for people to bring their families/kids.

The NCAA's had a bunch of single guys, not any families. It also didn't help that they started games in the middle of the afternoon, it was not set up to draw the maximum number of fans. If the WCHA is going to draw better lower ticket prices and better games times would be a start. Also, hopefully they can partner with VanAndel and offer the $1 dogs and $1 beers promotion (this is what the arena does every Friday night, during the playoffs they bumped it up to $2). I'm assuming beer will be sold at the event, or is this wrong?

I listen to a lot of radio, and quite a bit to the local GR ESPN affiliate. I heard maybe a half-dozen radio commercials total for the NCAA's the entire two weeks before the event. Most people I talked to had no clue it was even happening. Partnering with the Griffins in this respect will be hugely important. They need to advertise downtown, at the breweries, on radio, do morning spots on the local news stations, email season ticket holders, etc. The NCAA's didn't put any work at all into getting their product visible, the WCHA has to better.

Getting some Michigan schools in it during the GR years would obviously be big. Considering the size of the crowd I was impressed by the number of CCHA jerseys I saw during the NCAAs. They were mostly from the smaller state schools (UM and MSU sent virtually NOBODY - due to their march madness games occurring at the same time I suppose). I would think Ferris, NMU, and Tech would all draw pretty well in GR, they have decent alumni bases here.

The WCHA is not going to sell out VanAndel, it holds almost 11,000, it's not going to happen. The Griffins only sold out ONE of their playoff games (and that was a potential clincher being up 3-0 on a Friday night). During hockey season however they draw much better (about 7500 I believe). With a lot of hard work and and good prices I think the WCHA should be hoping for 5-7k.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

Jwilly48 said:
I think ticket prices and advertising will be hugely important for the WCHA tournament. The NCAA's advertising was nearly non-existent and ticket prices were to high for people to bring their families/kids.

The NCAA's had a bunch of single guys, not any families. It also didn't help that they started games in the middle of the afternoon, it was not set up to draw the maximum number of fans. If the WCHA is going to draw better lower ticket prices and better games times would be a start. Also, hopefully they can partner with VanAndel and offer the $1 dogs and $1 beers promotion (this is what the arena does every Friday night, during the playoffs they bumped it up to $2). I'm assuming beer will be sold at the event, or is this wrong?

I listen to a lot of radio, and quite a bit to the local GR ESPN affiliate. I heard maybe a half-dozen radio commercials total for the NCAA's the entire two weeks before the event. Most people I talked to had no clue it was even happening. Partnering with the Griffins in this respect will be hugely important. They need to advertise downtown, at the breweries, on radio, do morning spots on the local news stations, email season ticket holders, etc. The NCAA's didn't put any work at all into getting their product visible, the WCHA has to better.
Getting some Michigan schools in it during the GR years would obviously be big. Considering the size of the crowd I was impressed by the number of CCHA jerseys I saw during the NCAAs. They were mostly from the smaller state schools (UM and MSU sent virtually NOBODY - due to their march madness games occurring at the same time I suppose). I would think Ferris, NMU, and Tech would all draw pretty well in GR, they have decent alumni bases here.

The WCHA is not going to sell out VanAndel, it holds almost 11,000, it's not going to happen. The Griffins only sold out ONE of their playoff games (and that was a potential clincher being up 3-0 on a Friday night). During hockey season however they draw much better (about 7500 I believe). With a lot of hard work and and good prices I think the WCHA should be hoping for 5-7k.
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I don't think you can put the blame on the NCAA for what I bolded in regards to the NCAA Regioinals. The way I understand it, whoever is hosting the event is in charge of all the things you mentioned. Granted the NCAA has some rules that you have to live by, but the event host/committee has to set the ticket prices, get the advertising out there, etc. The NCAA is going to get the money they were promised in the bid and it is up to the committee to try and maximize profits.

I would guess the WCHA will be more involved in this event due to the fact that the schools share in any profits made if the contracts are like the previous ones for the WCHA Final Fives. There is an incentive there, where with the NCAA Regionals, the NCAA was getting the same amount of money no matter what.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

I like the idea of streaming via the internet! Now I just hope the WCHA starts up a Roku channel like the USHL. It would be great!
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

Apparently Mel Pearson is on the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee going forward.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

WiscDC said:
I'm curious. What makes hockey at the Target Center much worse than anywhere else? I've never been there.
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The lower level is fine. The upper level is like the kohl center and you have blind spots and the real upper seats are mile away from the ice.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

scsutommyboy said:
The lower level is fine. The upper level is like the kohl center and you have blind spots and the real upper seats are mile away from the ice.
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I prefer the upper level of the Kohl center. If you're in a good spot up there you can see everything.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

beaverhockeyfan said:
I don't think you can put the blame on the NCAA for what I bolded in regards to the NCAA Regioinals. The way I understand it, whoever is hosting the event is in charge of all the things you mentioned. Granted the NCAA has some rules that you have to live by, but the event host/committee has to set the ticket prices, get the advertising out there, etc. The NCAA is going to get the money they were promised in the bid and it is up to the committee to try and maximize profits.

I would guess the WCHA will be more involved in this event due to the fact that the schools share in any profits made if the contracts are like the previous ones for the WCHA Final Fives. There is an incentive there, where with the NCAA Regionals, the NCAA was getting the same amount of money no matter what.
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I agree that you can't place all the blame on the NCAAs, they got paid either way. But my larger point was they decided to host an event here and called it good. They did little to make sure the event was a success; it is this approach that I would hope the WCHA is smart enough to avoid as they have more at stake.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

davyd83 said:
I do think both Tech and Northern would be among the stronger draws in Grand Rapids. Both have drawn well playing in Detroit. And both have pretty solid alumni bases in that part of the state.
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Tech fans do travel fairly well, and at GVSU football games there's usually a good turnout of MTU alumni that seems to be from the area. Northern Michigan usually isn't too far behind Tech. I would feel pretty confident about filling the Van Andel most years if the WCHA had managed to collect Western Michigan, if for nothing more than to give them another alumni body in the area to draw fans from. Somebody had to screw that up for everybody! :mad:
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

MavsFan said:
They're saying all games for free, high def, streaming package.

http://mankatofreepress.com/sports/x2113331814/Online-broadcast-deal-would-be-perfect-fit-for-WCHA
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Great quotes for McLeod (I know):
“This is extremely important,” McLeod said. “It’s an indication as a group of how competitive we are. This group, we’re going to compete. We’re not rolling over in any shape or form. To do that, we need to have a media presence both regionally and nationally, and this is our opportunity.”
 
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Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

Shirtless Guy said:
tumblr_m4zc1fMLux1rwcc6bo1_500.gif


Great quotes for McLeod (I know):
“This is extremely important,” McLeod said. “It’s an indication as a group of how competitive we are. This group, we’re going to compete. We’re not rolling over in any shape or form. To do that, we need to have a media presence both regionally and nationally, and this is our opportunity.”
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I'm speechless. This is amazing news. I'm more excited about this than anything tech hockey related besides tMel.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

MavsFan said:
They're saying all games for free, high def, streaming package.

http://mankatofreepress.com/sports/x2113331814/Online-broadcast-deal-would-be-perfect-fit-for-WCHA
Click to expand...

But he and the league indeed appear to be on the cusp of latching onto something new, something that would be perfect for the WCHA as it heads into a new era full of so many questions.

No announcements or press releases came out of a meeting between presidents, athletic directors and other representatives of the WCHA’s member schools last week in Bemidji. However, a proposal for a league-wide media package was presented to the group, one that would put all of the teams’ games online for free every Friday and Saturday night.

The supposed high-definition, multi-platform (computer, tablet, handheld) broadcast deal, reportedly through a service of Fox Sports and the new network it will be unveiling later this summer, might be the perfect format for a conference seeking a new identity.
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Don't want to dampen everyone's enthusiasm, but this doesn't seem to be a done deal at this point. I am all for it though and would even pay a fee if need be.
 
Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)

aygwm2 said:
Don't want to dampen everyone's enthusiasm, but this doesn't seem to be a done deal at this point. I am all for it though and would even pay a fee if need be.
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Same here, I'd but if they are looking towards it for exposure purposes, free and ad supported is the way to go. Not everyone is a diehard fan like most of us here :D
 
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