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The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

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Jwilly48 said:
I really feel like VanAndel was a great venue, but if Ferris doesn't make it the place would've been empty. Moving to a more central location I don't think would have helped at all. If we had been in Green Bay Ferris probably brings several thousand fewer. BG and Alaska about the same, and best case Manakto a thousand more? A more central location probably brings more attendance certainty, but most often very poor attendance. I think the only way to improve upon attendance is to have the number one seed host, but even that isn't a guarantee. If Ferris had hosted the crowds would have been smaller by nessecity. I think having the one seed host it or holding it close to a campus site and hoping for the best are the only two options. Green Bay makes no sense in any scenario.
Click to expand...

I don't doubt Grand Rapids is a solid venue, but as spread out as this league is, I think it would be better off in a place with better air connections, like MSP or Chicago, that is still centrally located for driving. Just speaking for myself, had UAF made the Final Five and it was in St. Paul this year, I would have gone because MSP is an easy nonstop flight from AK. On the flip side, the likelihood of me going to Grand Rapids was zilch.

That, or ditch the whole concept of one set tourney location and start rotating the F5 through campus venues/cities.
 
Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

I'm not sure the neutral site problems can be alleviated. There are only 3 schools within a half day's drive of Grand Rapids (Ferris, BG, LSSU) and two within the Twin Cities (Minn St, Bemidji). Green Bay would have four (Tech, NMU, LSSU, Minn St). And all (except the UA's) are within 7 or 71/2 But there are availability issues. Whichever venue they are at, attendance will largely depend upon which teams make it. I'd hate to see what would have happened had Ferris not been in Big Rapids. I also don't hold out much hope for St Paul if Minn St isn't there, and playing in an 18,000 seater at the same time as the NCHC at the Target Center is ludicrous. Duluth might be a nice compromise, but what kind of control does UMD have at AMSoil. I also like the idea of the top seed hosting the W4, but is it plausible to find 50 rooms for the teams, plus fans etc on short notice? There are dozens of questions, but few slam dunk easy answers. I don't envy those in the league office and the ADs making the decisions.
 
Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

Great hockey.
Great venue.
But something has to be done to increase attendance.
From what we saw on TV the Final 4ive lost rather than made money.
I don't have the answer however the league better come up with something quick or it looks like red ink renting a 20,000 seat arena for next year.
Maybe Squarebanks idea of rotating would help.
And get real about the rotation. No Ferris or Alaska schools hosting. Remember two sentences back? Get real! Lets try to make a buck not be politically correct.
And yes I am a staunch UAA supporter living in Anchorage.
 
Seawolf Fan said:
Maybe Squarebanks idea of rotating would help.
And get real about the rotation. No Ferris or Alaska schools hosting. Remember two sentences back? Get real! Lets try to make a buck not be politically correct.
Click to expand...

So have the WCHA finals in Bowling Green, Huntsville, Soo, Houghton, Marquette, Mankato, and Bemdji.

Would it work?

I think so. It sure would help the economy in those cities.
 
Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

A central location doesn't exist. The Alaskas and Huntsville are complete outliers, and Ferris, Lake State, and BG are screwed by Lake Michigan. That leaves Tech, Northern, Mankato, and Bemidji. The most central location now is Green Bay, which is still 3 hours for Northern.

The most central location we have for a Final Five is Marquette. I think we should just scrap playing on neutral ice, and have the higher seeds host, but that's just me.
 
Seawolf Fan said:
Great hockey.
Great venue.
But something has to be done to increase attendance.
From what we saw on TV the Final 4ive lost rather than made money.
I don't have the answer however the league better come up with something quick or it looks like red ink renting a 20,000 seat arena for next year.
Maybe Squarebanks idea of rotating would help.
And get real about the rotation. No Ferris or Alaska schools hosting. Remember two sentences back? Get real! Lets try to make a buck not be politically correct.
And yes I am a staunch UAA supporter living in Anchorage.
Click to expand...

Funny thing is, Anchorage would actually make a great host city. The arena is right-sized, tons of hotel space in March, good restaurants and bars, lots of flights. Just the minor detail of being 2500+ miles from the rest of the conference, minus one exception.
 
Squarebanks said:
Funny thing is, Anchorage would actually make a great host city. The arena is right-sized, tons of hotel space in March, good restaurants and bars, lots of flights. Just the minor detail of being 2500+ miles from the rest of the conference, minus one exception.
Click to expand...
Negatory on that good sir. HS Basketball tournament is the same weekend and ASAA isn't about to give up their lone cash cow.

Otherwise it'd be a decent idea.
 
Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

We're all missing the obvious.
Huntsville should be the permanent home for the Final-Whatever...why?
The arena is the right size.
Yes, its a long way, but its long for everybody.
We can all bring our golf clubs along
 
Freddie said:
We're all missing the obvious.
Huntsville should be the permanent home for the Final-Whatever...why?
The arena is the right size.
Yes, its a long way, but its long for everybody.
We can all bring our golf clubs along
Click to expand...

Warmth! What's that?

Honestly, it sucks that geography is such a limiting factor. I don't doubt that many of the places suggested are great towns/venues. I wish we all had enough disposable income that it wasn't an issue.

But for the WCHA's sake I hope a Minnesota school gets in next year. Last nights game was a ferris home crowd (though full credit to the respectable sized group who came from Minnesota) and I'm not too optimistic that that many FSU fans would have gone given the ticket prices if we hadn't made it to the final. I'm a little nervous about that 17,000 seat rink...
 
Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

I think the key is to change the format of the tournament. No other college sports league has the geography issues the WCHA faces.

Two options:

Option A: Do it like most NCAA basketball tournaments and invite all 10 schools to one venue, say Grand Rapids, Green Bay, MSP, Detroit or Chicago (All-State or Sears Center is my choice) and do a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday single elimination tournament with a consolation game. That way everyone knows in September that they will get to see they're team play at least one game at the conference tournament and book their tickets, hotels and flights ahead of time.

Option B: End the season a week earlier and do a NHL style playoff where the higher seed hosts an opponent for a best of 3 series for three weekends in row. Large home crowds will be there throughout. Mankato took it to Ferris this season, but a three game series in Big Rapids between the two schools for the Broadmoor would have been raucous and made for some fantastic hockey.
 
hattrick16 said:
I think the key is to change the format of the tournament. No other college sports league has the geography issues the WCHA faces.

Two options:

Option A: Do it like most NCAA basketball tournaments and invite all 10 schools to one venue, say Grand Rapids, Green Bay, MSP, Detroit or Chicago (All-State or Sears Center is my choice) and do a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday single elimination tournament with a consolation game. That way everyone knows in September that they will get to see they're team play at least one game at the conference tournament and book their tickets, hotels and flights ahead of time.

Option B: End the season a week earlier and do a NHL style playoff where the higher seed hosts an opponent for a best of 3 series for three weekends in row. Large home crowds will be there throughout. Mankato took it to Ferris this season, but a three game series in Big Rapids between the two schools for the Broadmoor would have been raucous and made for some fantastic hockey.
Click to expand...

This pretty much effectively eliminates a lower seed from making the NCAA tournament with a late playoff run. It's much tougher to win three series than one series and 2 games.
 
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