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

[bigblue_dl]

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

3....2.....1.....

 

[manurespreader]

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

well I never intended to start up a **** storm over flying to Alaska. More to the point is this. if we could find a way to fly from Hunstville to Bemidji, or Sault ste Marie to Mankato, or Toledo to Houghton, it would really make things better. We already fly to Alaska so rather than worry about that, I suggest if we can fly to some of the other games, it would improve things and make the long trips to alaska more palatable..

So the issue here is how to do it affordably. I think the league still has to find out what the financials will look like after the season, but assuming they are doing ok, I think flying to the further cities would be do able, if... everyone participated, ( in other words the league did the leg work and everyone benefitted) Also, the more you do, the cheaper it is, so really all you need is to keep the plane busy x hours per week. It would cost somewhat more than bussing, but isn't it worth it ?

 

[Pink Pony]

So the issue here is how to do it affordably. I think the league still has to find out what the financials will look like after the season, but assuming they are doing ok, I think flying to the further cities would be do able, if... everyone participated, ( in other words the league did the leg work and everyone benefitted) Also, the more you do, the cheaper it is, so really all you need is to keep the plane busy x hours per week. It would cost somewhat more than bussing, but isn't it worth it ?

A committe should be formed and ran by an announcer who has tons of experience in these issues from pro to college.

 

[gfmorris]

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

well I never intended to start up a **** storm over flying to Alaska. More to the point is this. if we could find a way to fly from Hunstville to Bemidji, or Sault ste Marie to Mankato, or Toledo to Houghton, it would really make things better. We already fly to Alaska so rather than worry about that, I suggest if we can fly to some of the other games, it would improve things and make the long trips to alaska more palatable..

So the issue here is how to do it affordably. I think the league still has to find out what the financials will look like after the season, but assuming they are doing ok, I think flying to the further cities would be do able, if... everyone participated, ( in other words the league did the leg work and everyone benefitted) Also, the more you do, the cheaper it is, so really all you need is to keep the plane busy x hours per week. It would cost somewhat more than bussing, but isn't it worth it ?

I don't think that we have enough volume to get any interest in supporting our travel in any way. We all have different airlines of value, too: the Alaska schools have Alaska Air, and UAH has Delta, and the other schools all probably have different ones. You won't see an Airline of the WCHA, and that's kinda what we need.

All I know is that UAH has gotten screwed on travel yesterday and today with cancelled flights. They're hopping a bus with two drivers in it in about an hour. They'll get to Mankato around noon. Hopefully.

GFM <— from a city without the frequency of wintry weather to merit procurement of equipment to find it.

 

[RaceBoarder]

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

I don't think that we have enough volume to get any interest in supporting our travel in any way. We all have different airlines of value, too: the Alaska schools have Alaska Air, and UAH has Delta, and the other schools all probably have different ones. You won't see an Airline of the WCHA, and that's kinda what we need.

All I know is that UAH has gotten screwed on travel yesterday and today with cancelled flights. They're hopping a bus with two drivers in it in about an hour. They'll get to Mankato around noon. Hopefully.

GFM <— from a city without the frequency of wintry weather to merit procurement of equipment to find it.

I feel for you guys down there... Been following a ton of the guys through Facebook/Twitter that are setting up shop for the Bassmaster Classic over on Lake Guntersville... Seeing the pics they're posting, it seems surreal... I can only imagine how rough it is to get around down there right now...

 

[davyd83]

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

One suggestion I'd make to improve travel costs is what was done the WPHL (now merged into the CHL). Set a minimum standard (such as Days Inn, Fairfield, etc) and, if you cannot get a hotel chain as a league sponsor, then make the home team responsible for the rooms. Seven conference opponent x 15 rooms x 2 nights each = 210 room nights per season. A school could get a good discount for guaranteeing a hotel that volume and could trade a portion of the expense for sponsorship, advertising, tickets, etc. Host hotels would have to be league approved so Joe's No Tell Motel doesn't get the contract, but a reputable, quality local hotel could.

 

[RaceBoarder]

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

One suggestion I'd make to improve travel costs is what was done the WPHL (now merged into the CHL). Set a minimum standard (such as Days Inn, Fairfield, etc) and, if you cannot get a hotel chain as a league sponsor, then make the home team responsible for the rooms. Seven conference opponent x 15 rooms x 2 nights each = 210 room nights per season. A school could get a good discount for guaranteeing a hotel that volume and could trade a portion of the expense for sponsorship, advertising, tickets, etc. Host hotels would have to be league approved so Joe's No Tell Motel doesn't get the contract, but a reputable, quality local hotel could.

That's actually a very good idea... Add in that there probably would be some additional travel (parents/family, other fans, students, whomever is affiliated with the team) and it can make a dent in a hotel's bottom line... I don't think something like this would take a ton of effort to get started....

 

[gfmorris]

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

A common hotel would be great, but having a lot of smaller cities involved probably makes a league-wide sponsorship a pipe dream. Everyone's going to want to stay at the Embassy Suites when they come to Huntsville, and I'm fairly sure that we do something with them — they have a prominent board ad.

GFM

 

[RaceBoarder]

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

A common hotel would be great, but having a lot of smaller cities involved probably makes a league-wide sponsorship a pipe dream. Everyone's going to want to stay at the Embassy Suites when they come to Huntsville, and I'm fairly sure that we do something with them — they have a prominent board ad.

GFM

Actually, I think there are only 3-4 "major" hotel groups... There are bunch of different brands under these major groups... Pretty sure you can find an affiliated hotel in all 10 towns...

 

[gfmorris]

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

Actually, I think there are only 3-4 "major" hotel groups... There are bunch of different brands under these major groups... Pretty sure you can find an affiliated hotel in all 10 towns...

Challenge accepted.

GFM

 

[RaceBoarder]

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

Challenge accepted.

GFM

http://www.tripstyler.com/2010/the-wild-web-of-hotel-affiliations/


This is a simple breakdown that I found from a basic Google search... You've been around more, but I know MQT has 3 of those and a couple of other name brands that are probably affiliated with someone, but not listed there...

 

[gfmorris]

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

Okay: there is at least one Wyndham (Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites, Howard Johnson's, Knights Inn, Microtel, Ramada. Super 8, Travelodge, Wingate by Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts) and one InterContinental (Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plazam Holiday Innm Holiday Inn Expressm Hotel Indigon, InterContinental, Staybridge Suites) property in every city. The Michigan schools don't have Hilton properties (Conrad Hotels, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites, Waldorf Astoria), but everyone else does.

That's what I get for about 30 minutes with Kayak and time with Wikipedia. Thanks, RaceBoarder.

The breakdown from my text file:

Anchorage: Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, Wyndham

Fairbanks: Intercontinental, Hyatt, Wyndham, Marriott, Hilton

Huntsville: Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, Starwood, Wyndham, Choice

Bemidji: Intercontinental, Wyndham, Hilton, Choice

Mankato: Wyndham, Carlson, Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental (North)

Houghton: Intercontinental, Wyndham, Carlson

Marquette: Intercontinental, Wyndham, Choice

Sault Ste Marie: Wyndham, Intercontinental

Big Rapids: Intercontinental, Carlson, Choice, Wyndham

Bowling Green: Intercontinental, Carlson, Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham

If I made an omission, please correct me. You know your city better than I do!

GFM

 

[bueller]

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

How do franchises play into the hotel discussion?

 

[manurespreader]

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

I'm not talking about hotels, though I think it's a good idea, but some sort of airplane deal. I think the league hasn't done their homework on the possibility of a dedicated turbo prop charter strictly for the league. So you can go there when you want and leave when you want, and more importantly, instead of 15 to 18 hours of driving it's 2. Even if it cost slightly more, it's worth it. for one of these trips, maybe not, but for 4 or 5 of them, yes.

 

[purpleinnebraska]

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

I don't think that we have enough volume to get any interest in supporting our travel in any way. We all have different airlines of value, too: the Alaska schools have Alaska Air, and UAH has Delta, and the other schools all probably have different ones. You won't see an Airline of the WCHA, and that's kinda what we need.

All I know is that UAH has gotten screwed on travel yesterday and today with cancelled flights. They're hopping a bus with two drivers in it in about an hour. They'll get to Mankato around noon. Hopefully.

GFM <— from a city without the frequency of wintry weather to merit procurement of equipment to find it.

Hilton Garden Inn connects via skywalk to the Verizon Wireless Center. You don't even have to go outside! Come on, Geof! Beer's on me!

 

[Squarebanks]

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

I don't think that we have enough volume to get any interest in supporting our travel in any way. We all have different airlines of value, too: the Alaska schools have Alaska Air, and UAH has Delta, and the other schools all probably have different ones. You won't see an Airline of the WCHA, and that's kinda what we need.

All I know is that UAH has gotten screwed on travel yesterday and today with cancelled flights. They're hopping a bus with two drivers in it in about an hour. They'll get to Mankato around noon. Hopefully.

GFM <— from a city without the frequency of wintry weather to merit procurement of equipment to find it.

Alaska Air flies to Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, and (starting in September) Detroit, plus Anchorage and Fairbanks. That actually covers a pretty decent league footprint.

But Alaska is not the airline you want to be flying between Atlanta and Minneapolis, unless connecting in Seattle is appealing.

 

[Squarebanks]

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

Okay: there is at least one Wyndham (Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites, Howard Johnson's, Knights Inn, Microtel, Ramada. Super 8, Travelodge, Wingate by Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts) and one InterContinental (Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plazam Holiday Innm Holiday Inn Expressm Hotel Indigon, InterContinental, Staybridge Suites) property in every city. The Michigan schools don't have Hilton properties (Conrad Hotels, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites, Waldorf Astoria), but everyone else does.

That's what I get for about 30 minutes with Kayak and time with Wikipedia. Thanks, RaceBoarder.

The breakdown from my text file:

Anchorage: Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, Wyndham

Fairbanks: Intercontinental, Hyatt, Wyndham, Marriott, Hilton

Huntsville: Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, Starwood, Wyndham, Choice

Bemidji: Intercontinental, Wyndham, Hilton, Choice

Mankato: Wyndham, Carlson, Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental (North)

Houghton: Intercontinental, Wyndham, Carlson

Marquette: Intercontinental, Wyndham, Choice

Sault Ste Marie: Wyndham, Intercontinental

Big Rapids: Intercontinental, Carlson, Choice, Wyndham

Bowling Green: Intercontinental, Carlson, Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham

If I made an omission, please correct me. You know your city better than I do!

GFM

It may be different now, but historically a lot of visiting teams to Fairbanks have stayed at the Westmark, which isn't in any of the major chains. Since UAF has always heavily subsidized travel, the Westmark would do in-kind sponsorship with UAF...free hotel rooms in exchange for some branding play. It might be different now since it sounds like the WCHA schools are less reliant on the Alaska schools for travel arrangements (less the cutting of the check, of course).

 

[Jimjamesak]

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

Alaska Air flies to Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, and (starting in September) Detroit, plus Anchorage and Fairbanks. That actually covers a pretty decent league footprint.

But Alaska is not the airline you want to be flying between Atlanta and Minneapolis, unless connecting in Seattle is appealing.

SeaTac has an Ivar's so connecting in Seattle is kind of appealing.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

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

I'm not talking about hotels, though I think it's a good idea, but some sort of airplane deal. I think the league hasn't done their homework on the possibility of a dedicated turbo prop charter strictly for the league. So you can go there when you want and leave when you want, and more importantly, instead of 15 to 18 hours of driving it's 2. Even if it cost slightly more, it's worth it. for one of these trips, maybe not, but for 4 or 5 of them, yes.

Don't hockey teams have a problem with a plane of that size dealing with all the equipment they need? I could be mistaken but I though typically MTU couldn't bring all of it's stuff on one plane out of Houghton when they used the turbo prop?

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

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

Don't hockey teams have a problem with a plane of that size dealing with all the equipment they need? I could be mistaken but I though typically MTU couldn't bring all of it's stuff on one plane out of Houghton when they used the turbo prop?

I have heard this about flying out of Bemidji as well, which is why BSU tends to fly out of MSP (which flying out of Bemidji would take you to anyway for a connection) or Fargo/Grand Forks (on occasion).

As for hotels, in Bemidji most teams stay at the Hampton Inn or now the Doubletree, which are closest to the Events Center. In about 18 months, there will be a Country Inn and Suites connected right to the events center, so that would probably be the hotel of choice.