Squarebanks
New member
Your basketball overhead has to be through the roof with the AAC.
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
- Thread starter mmf
- Start date
Your basketball overhead has to be through the roof with the AAC.
Suze
New member
Never have been intended to be supported by attendance according to Steve Cobb
Squarebanks
New member
UAF was close to break-even on athletics until about two years ago when the budget cut hammer started to drop. We were supposed to cut $600,000 this year and there simply wasn't anything left to cut. We are already at the NCAA minimum of 10 sports. There was a photo of our AD at the GNAC championship handing out water to the basketball team. You can't run a much more bare bones athletic program than we do right now.
Now, the Carlson Center agreement is up for renewal and they want more money (big article in the News Miner a few days ago about the borough negotiations with SMG...interesting read). I would not be surprised if we play part of our schedule at the Patty Center to cut down on costs next year.
Suze
New member
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
I've never been to the Patty Center Ice Arena, so I am not sure, but I saw photos of it and it looks similar to UAA's practice arena with seating on just one side. I asked Hackett about using the Farg for UAA games, and he said this is not an option, that the league would not accept it for a DI sport, yadda yadda yadda. How many fans can the Patty Center hold? The farg only holds like 700 I believe.
With the Ice Dogs having so many games at the Big Dipper, that may not work out, but it's a better venue IMO. The Carlson is a dump anyway, can't believe they could charge more than they do now. Poor sound system, plywood floors, sharp metal brackets along the end rows. It's old and it needs a facelift like the Sully got.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
I've never been to the Patty Center Ice Arena, so I am not sure, but I saw photos of it and it looks similar to UAA's practice arena with seating on just one side. I asked Hackett about using the Farg for UAA games, and he said this is not an option, that the league would not accept it for a DI sport, yadda yadda yadda. How many fans can the Patty Center hold? The farg only holds like 700 I believe.
With the Ice Dogs having so many games at the Big Dipper, that may not work out, but it's a better venue IMO. The Carlson is a dump anyway, can't believe they could charge more than they do now. Poor sound system, plywood floors, sharp metal brackets along the end rows. It's old and it needs a facelift like the Sully got.
Last edited:
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
It would be really sad if our hockey program was cut. I would rather cut the Great Alaska Shootout and move the games to the Ben Boeke than to cut the team. But I know times are tough.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
It would be really sad if our hockey program was cut. I would rather cut the Great Alaska Shootout and move the games to the Ben Boeke than to cut the team. But I know times are tough.
Suze
New member
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
I think the Shoot Out is on the line too ... it loses money.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
I think the Shoot Out is on the line too ... it loses money.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
yes, everything is on the line....and it is sad too, because the shootout has been a staple for over 30 years!
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
yes, everything is on the line....and it is sad too, because the shootout has been a staple for over 30 years!
Squarebanks
New member
Patty Center seats somewhere between 1000 and 1500, currently. Same set up as WFSC, bleachers on one side. It's far from ideal, but who knows what the future holds.
The problem with the Big Dipper is it is also Borough-owned, as is the Carlson. What the Borough needs to figure out is that if UAF left the Carlson, they might as well mothball the place.
Squarebanks
New member
My opinion, kill the Shootout already. Other than giving your basketball team the chance to get some D-1 opponents at home, it has been dying a slow and painful death ever since ESPN got into the preseason tournament business. It is almost completely irrelevant in the national college basketball landscape now, and won't ever be relevant again.
Not trying to be harsh, but times change.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
I want the shootout to stay! It has steadily grown since it has moved to the AAC. However, you are right, times have changed. I wish UAA had more sports than 13 too. But, money is tight. I really believe that if more people supported hockey, we wouldn't have this conversation about the team possibly disbanded. That would also put the only college hockey team in Alaska in Fairbanks!
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
I want the shootout to stay! It has steadily grown since it has moved to the AAC. However, you are right, times have changed. I wish UAA had more sports than 13 too. But, money is tight. I really believe that if more people supported hockey, we wouldn't have this conversation about the team possibly disbanded. That would also put the only college hockey team in Alaska in Fairbanks!
Suze
New member
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
The same for the Sully. If hockey goes away, the city loses a ton of revenue. So why not make the venues more affordable? $24,000 for one weekend is highway robbery.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
The same for the Sully. If hockey goes away, the city loses a ton of revenue. So why not make the venues more affordable? $24,000 for one weekend is highway robbery.
Jimjamesak
Already insane, UAA making it worse
Because the Aces want to squeeze out the competition. That's been their business plan for years.
Of the course the Aces won't be around in two years anyway...
Squarebanks
New member
Sully would still have the Aces, at least. Without UAF hockey the Carlson Center would be reduced to the occasional trade show, and that's about it (unless the FNSB could get the Ice Dogs in there, which I would doubt considering it's $28,000 per weekend and likely to rise).
Suze
New member
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
That's true, but the lack of revenue to the city would be pretty deep. Thomas still has two years left on his $150,000 a year contract. I assume UAA would have to buy him out? If Hackett hacks hockey I really feel bad for Thomas, because he came here with assurances that the university was 100% committed to the hockey program. We will see. What is ironic is that one of the things UAA vice chancellor Bill Spindle wanted Hackett to do was "help repair the rift between UAA and the hockey community". I found this quote from Spindle in the ADN "Obviously, we're not in the same league as the Minnesotas and North Dakotas of the world -- their salaries are off the charts -- but we're trying to get to the level where we're competitive,'' Spindle said. "We're saying to Matt, 'Listen, we know it takes time, we know it doesn't happen overnight, and we want you to feel part of the family and give you time to succeed."
Let's hope those words hold true!
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
That's true, but the lack of revenue to the city would be pretty deep. Thomas still has two years left on his $150,000 a year contract. I assume UAA would have to buy him out? If Hackett hacks hockey I really feel bad for Thomas, because he came here with assurances that the university was 100% committed to the hockey program. We will see. What is ironic is that one of the things UAA vice chancellor Bill Spindle wanted Hackett to do was "help repair the rift between UAA and the hockey community". I found this quote from Spindle in the ADN "Obviously, we're not in the same league as the Minnesotas and North Dakotas of the world -- their salaries are off the charts -- but we're trying to get to the level where we're competitive,'' Spindle said. "We're saying to Matt, 'Listen, we know it takes time, we know it doesn't happen overnight, and we want you to feel part of the family and give you time to succeed."
Let's hope those words hold true!
UAFHockeyFan314
Blogger
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Matt makes $200,000/year base salary, with about $75K of possible bonuses (possibly only $3K of which he will get this year if the team gets a 3.0GPA) as of July 1, 2015, and will make that base salary through the remainder of his term July 1, 2018.
http://cdn3.bgsuhockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RobertMattThomas.pdf
Re: uaa @ UAF March 4 & 5 … Why? …Because it really is never too early.
Matt makes $200,000/year base salary, with about $75K of possible bonuses (possibly only $3K of which he will get this year if the team gets a 3.0GPA) as of July 1, 2015, and will make that base salary through the remainder of his term July 1, 2018.
http://cdn3.bgsuhockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RobertMattThomas.pdf
Squarebanks
New member
He renegotiated after his first season.
Jimjamesak
Already insane, UAA making it worse
Listen, if it's up to Hackett the hockey program is not getting the axe. The guy has his job because the previous guy PO'd the hockey community majorly. Try to cut hockey and see how far he gets.
If anything the Shootout is getting the axe. Like Squarebanks said, the economic landscape of college basketball changed in a few short years. Loyalty died in the face of large $$ (see the Big East) and as soon as ESPN started their own stuff it was curtains. It's a sad thing, there's great history from the Shootout, but as Wu Tang said "C.R.E.A.M."
Speaking of cash, don't doubt me when I say the Aces likely have two seasons left. The massive shift in minor league hockey has left them high and dry. With other teams leaving their travel budget has likely doubled and given the attitude shift of NHL teams about how they handle their prospects the Aces aren't likely to be anyone's affiliate. Because of that, they can't compete. And without needed playoff revenue they're going to hurt financially. They'll tread for a year or two but time is running out.
Seems legit