Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids
Two things....I'm not sure this is different than any other sport at any other level. MSU's paid attendance is actually up approximately from the old WCHA, but we are also winning nearly double the amount of games AND tickets are cheaper. It's not an issue right now, but it certainly could be in the future.
Secondly, you're leaving out a very key component that I covered. We don't have any REAL rivals in the conference. That's not to say that we don't have any competition, so please don't take it that way. We just don't have anyone that moves the meter because we don't have any other connections other than the conference.
As goofy as it may be, there is a reason that the NHL changed their playoff format so that teams are playing division and geographical rivals in the first round. It's because location, rivals and who you are playing make a difference. You can say that's sad, but the reality is that the casual fans are the ones that can make your revenues go up or down. Casual fans care about different things than what those of us that post on these message boards care about. Who your team plays, makes a difference.
Sorry for being late to the thread. I spent a good amount of my childhood around Mankato and have a Dad who is a grad from there. There are a lot of systemic issues with MSU an why it will always be a challenge to be a hockey school:
MSU is Southern Minnesota's University. Southern MN is not known for their love of hockey. I grew up 1 hour north of Mankato and I don't recall a notable "plains" high school hockey team outside of the Mankato and Metro area. Ok, maybe Rochester. Northern MN was loaded with great hockey teams. Go down around I-90, how many people can skate? They have more in common with Iowa (A non hockey school) than they do SCSU, UMD, and North Dakota. How many towns have hockey rinks? If they do, how busy are they?
When I was a kid, MSU was not known for athletics. When I went to Tech and told my dad we were playing Minnesota State, his response was "We have a hockey team?" He was an athlete and can tell you all about the athletes he spent time with in college, but overall is not a big sports fan. He knew MSU had a great gymnastics, football and soccer program. Hockey, clueless. (I know I didn't go D1 until later) He knew about the Gophers, UMD, SCSU and North Dakota's hockey program. That is going to take a long time to correct.
Your very nice rink is not on campus. I don't care what sport it is, that always kills student attendance/energy.
I don't mean to trash MSU, but somethings are hard to overcome.
For recruits, are guys signing significant pro contracts? Look at Tech's undrafted players. They are going to the ECHL and AHL out of school, with a few flirting with the NHL. By your mentality, MSU shouldn't bother recruiting guys like Brickley or Knutson. They weren't drafted so they must suck.
I fell MTU and MSU have a good rivalry. We are usually fighting for top spot in the WCHA. Our games usually mean something. I think we all wish the lower schools were better. That has to come from them. Like every team, MSU can only worry about what they can control.
