UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

[JDUBBS1280]

Marquette is also adding lacrosse in the next couple of years, so I would not expect any movement to add a more expensive sport any time soon.

Maybe.

 

[NMH]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

Not sure where people are getting their stats. From the Ads website, they averaged 6,027 last season. Conversely, the Wave drew 4,531. The Wave hasn't topped 5,000 since 2003-04.

The article quoted about UWM wanting to move basketball on campus is over a year old. That push was really being done by former AD (and former Packer) George Koonce. Koonce was put on admin leave for undisclosed reasons and then resigned. There hasn't been much talk about it since he left. It's been more a vague "plan" for campus - kind of like every university has in case they magically get gifted millions of dollars.

There's no info to back this up, but my experience with Admirals games is that Ads fans have absolutely no interest or knowledge of college hockey. We're often shocked when we talk to Ads season ticket holders who have never even been to a Badger game. You'd think that they'd support hockey at all levels, but they somehow seem to compartmentalize it. They don't even go to MSOE games, which are just down the street.

It's a very strange dynamic and I don't know why it happens. The Badgers have been good and they won the Frozen Four when it was in Milwaukee. The Admirals bring the Badger Band to a game every season and no one knows the dances or the chants - we're pretty much there doing them by ourselves.

Considering there's been a decent stream of college players - including Badgers - making there , way through the AHL, it doesn't make any sense that the fans aren't interested. We've gone to Ads games to see former Badgers come in with other teams - Burish, Earle, Skille, Davies, Dowell, Drewiske.

Honestly, there were Ads fans who had no idea who Blake Geoffrion was til he was assigned to Milwaukee.

 

[Deleted member 3166]

Huh? I think you have me confused with FTLT.

He's just confused.

 

[Lady wore Black]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

He's just confused.

You think!?

I am the one who grew up in Racine, so I lived it. I remember when Festival Hall closed the ice rink. Sad, sad day.

 

[CardinalandWhite]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

That would be a great move for WI and the sport. Hope it happens!

Agreed! UW-Milwaukee adding men's hockey would be a far better decision than adding football.

FBS Level - UWM can't meet the attendance and other requirements of FBS competition. Not to mention the tens of millions in cost for: a new DI-level stadium, fielding a team of 85 scholarships, plus title IX women's sports.

FCS Level - Many schools at the FCS level are losing money and several have dropped the sport entirely. For example, Nebraska-Omaha's recent decision to drop football when going from DII to DI, one of the reasons UNO cited was an average $2 million loss FCS football programs face annually.

What conference would UW-Milwaukee hockey be in, NCHC (along with Air Force to stay at an even number)? Or the WCHA?

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

Hockey won't happen at UWM. I don't think a D-1 college team in Milwaukee would get any attendance, other than students.

Milwaukee isn't the hockey version of Dyersville, Iowa. I know it's a totally different city than Madison, but few even follow Badger Hockey. What ever happened to that "Super Rink" that crashed and burned in SE Wisconsin? Lack of support....Ditto.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

I don't think a D-1 college team in Milwaukee would get any attendance, other than students.

I disagree...it's still Wisconsin which is still a hockey strong state. Like I said earlier, they don't have to draw 10,000 to be successful. If they can get 3,000 to come out on a nightly basis that would put them in the middle of the pack in the country.

Hockey in Milwaukee continues to grow and I'm not sure it's fair to write something off just because of the opinion that hockey isn't strong in that part of the state. Actually programs like the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals are starting to churn out some players and some of the high school programs are really strong (USM has won two state titles recently).

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

I disagree...it's still Wisconsin which is still a hockey strong state. Like I said earlier, they don't have to draw 10,000 to be successful. If they can get 3,000 to come out on a nightly basis that would put them in the middle of the pack in the country.

Hockey in Milwaukee continues to grow and I'm not sure it's fair to write something off just because of the opinion that hockey isn't strong in that part of the state. Actually programs like the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals are starting to churn out some players and some of the high school programs are really strong (USM has won two state titles recently).

We'll agree to disagree; I respect your opinions and appreciate your insight. I HOPE it happens being the hockey honk that I am, but I don't see it. We'll see what shakes out.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

We'll agree to disagree; I respect your opinions and appreciate your insight. I HOPE it happens being the hockey honk that I am, but I don't see it. We'll see what shakes out.

Milwaukee is not a good hockey town, despite how bad Chuck wants it to be. There isn't a single outdoor hockey rink in the entire Milwaukee metro area. That's pathetic IMHO.

However, I do agree with Chuck that you don't need to draw 10,000 people to games to make it work. If they can get 1,000-3,000 people to show up, that would be more than sufficient.

Still doubt they add a hockey program, but it would be cool if they did.

 

[GopherBigGuy911]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

If MSU-Moorhead and UW-Milwaukee both add D-1 hockey it seems to me that the WCHA will be just fine when the B1G forms.

 

[4four4]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

Milwaukee is not a good hockey town, despite how bad Chuck wants it to be. There isn't a single outdoor hockey rink in the entire Milwaukee metro area. That's pathetic IMHO.

However, I do agree with Chuck that you don't need to draw 10,000 people to games to make it work. If they can get 1,000-3,000 people to show up, that would be more than sufficient.

Still doubt they add a hockey program, but it would be cool if they did.

There are no out door rinks in Alabama and they made it work for 30 years. ;')

 

[JDUBBS1280]

There are no out door rinks in Alabama and they made it work for 30 years. ;')

And no one would label any city in Alabama a great hockey town, which, if you re-read my post, was the point of that comment

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

Milwaukee is not a good hockey town, despite how bad Chuck wants it to be.

I never said anything close to that. Reading comprehension...work on it.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

I never said anything close to that. Reading comprehension...work on it.

You didn't come right out and say it, no. But we both know you think Milwaukee is more than a poor hockey city, which it is.

 

[Almington]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

You didn't come right out and say it, no. But we both know you think Milwaukee is more than a poor hockey city, which it is.

That's not what he said at all. I think that Chuck is skeptical that it could ever compete attendance wise with Madison and that you can't expect 10k attendance per game. The question that the UWM needs to answer is can they average the ~3k that they'd need to be in the new WCHA?

 

[JDUBBS1280]

That's not what he said at all. I think that Chuck is skeptical that it could ever compete attendance wise with Madison and that you can't expect 10k attendance per game. The question that the UWM needs to answer is can they average the ~3k that they'd need to be in the new WCHA?

My comment had nothing to do with attendance. I even said in my post that an average attendance of 1,000-3,000 would be fine. And I think a hockey program at UW-Milwaukee would flourish. I just think they have their eyes set more on football and hockey was an after thought comment.

My comment was in response to his statement that hockey is growing in the Milwaukee area and what I perceived to be an underlining sentiment in his post that Milwaukee is anything other than a poor hockey town.

That said, I will admit my perception is based only on what people I know who have lived in the area have told me. And if I misinterpreted what Chuck was saying, then I apologize.

Though I do think not having a single outdoor hockey rink in the entire Milwaukee metro area (if still true) is incredibly sad. That needs to change if hockey is going to grow in that area.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

I disagree...it's still Wisconsin which is still a hockey strong state. Like I said earlier, they don't have to draw 10,000 to be successful. If they can get 3,000 to come out on a nightly basis that would put them in the middle of the pack in the country.

Hockey in Milwaukee continues to grow and I'm not sure it's fair to write something off just because of the opinion that hockey isn't strong in that part of the state. Actually programs like the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals are starting to churn out some players and some of the high school programs are really strong (USM has won two state titles recently).

I very much want to agree with your sentiment but no-one in milwaukee except the few hockey fans there are (and only a fraction of them) would know University School won a State title. but virtually everyone in milwaukee that's a sports fan can name last year's HS BB champion.

and that's the problem w/hockey in general in southeast wisconsin. until the homestead/brookfield/hartland/waukesha/new berlin etc., schools start producing great players that can compete regularly w/Wausau/Superior/Eagle River/Hudson we'll be at this impass were hockey is marginally popular.

3,000 a game would be great but that's what the Admirals are drawing I thought? If that's true (on non-concert nights) that's ugly and doesn't portend well to good college hockey attendance.

we can't even get regular articles on the UW team, though I guess the JS would HAVE to cover a milwaukee team if it transpired.

I don't know. I'd fully support UWM if this happens. I'd go to as many games as I could (with Madison still being my #1 so I guess I'd split my tickets), but I just don't see a clamor for hockey in milwaukee like there *could* be if this was say UW-GB seeking info instead

 

[davyd83]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

Milwaukee does have a solid hockey community. BUT does UWM have enough drawing power? Would a matchup between UWM and Northern Michigan or Ferris or Bemidji state be compelling enough to get 3000 hockey fans out to the games? MSOE has had a solid D-III program, tied for first place in the MCHA and they are lucky to get 500 fans into their rink. The Admirals are a solid draw and have been since their USHL days. The NCAA Frozen Four has always done well in Milwaulee. The WCHA tourney did pretty well also. But if Wisconsin wasn't playing, attendance suffered. As a former Milwaukee resident who lived within walking distance of the Bradley Center, I do believe there is a decent hockey market in the city. But I'm not sure there is a UWM hockey market, especially when you consider competing with the Admirals for ticket sales.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: UW-Milwaukee exploring adding D-1 hockey

Milwaukee is indeed a lousy hockey town. As much as I hate to agree with a certain jagbag-not-to-be-named, there are maybe three places to skate in the winter, only one of them has nets that I know of and they're usually locked up until late in the day. This is not the same town that once drew huge numbers for the Admirals and should have gotten an NHL franchise.

On the other hand- and this is more important- Chuck is right that it is changing. There are more kids playing each year there, so the future is bright(er). Granted, that's comparable to saying that Tim Tebow will be having more sex after he gets married, but still...

 

[JDUBBS1280]

Milwaukee is indeed a lousy hockey town. As much as I hate to agree with a certain jagbag-not-to-be-named, there are maybe three places to skate in the winter, only one of them has nets that I know of and they're usually locked up until late in the day. This is not the same town that once drew huge numbers for the Admirals and should have gotten an NHL franchise.

On the other hand- and this is more important- Chuck is right that it is changing. There are more kids playing each year there, so the future is bright(er). Granted, that's comparable to saying that Tim Tebow will be having more sex after he gets married, but still...

I just call it like it is. If that bruises egos, then people need to toughen up. If Gopher fans are arrogant, Badger hockey fans are ultra defensive. And anyone who disagrees that Milwaukee is a **** poor hockey town, or thinks that is changing significantly, is fooling no one.