Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

[el_norte]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

With Johns Hopkins earning an affiliate membership to the Big Ten for Lacrosse, the door could be open for some crazy affiliate membership scenarios. Here is one crazy scenario: The University of Toronto and McGill University. Two top research universities, both in the AAU which the Big Ten loves and both in large new TV markets which the B1G loves even more. Just like Rutgers and Maryland were invited for new TV markets and recruiting territory, Toronto and McGill would make perfect matches for affiliate membership in hockey. Another scenario: Army and Air Force, again as affiliate members.

 

[pinch]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

With Johns Hopkins earning an affiliate membership to the Big Ten for Lacrosse, the door could be open for some crazy affiliate membership scenarios. Here is one crazy scenario: The University of Toronto and McGill University. Two top research universities, both in the AAU which the Big Ten loves and both in large new TV markets which the B1G loves even more. Just like Rutgers and Maryland were invited for new TV markets and recruiting territory, Toronto and McGill would make perfect matches for affiliate membership in hockey. Another scenario: Army and Air Force, again as affiliate members.

I think they would need to join the NCAA... but what if...

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

With Johns Hopkins earning an affiliate membership to the Big Ten for Lacrosse, the door could be open for some crazy affiliate membership scenarios. Here is one crazy scenario: The University of Toronto and McGill University. Two top research universities, both in the AAU which the Big Ten loves and both in large new TV markets which the B1G loves even more. Just like Rutgers and Maryland were invited for new TV markets and recruiting territory, Toronto and McGill would make perfect matches for affiliate membership in hockey. Another scenario: Army and Air Force, again as affiliate members.

Toronto, McGill is very interesting. Many possibilities...including causing the CHA actually see real competition with the NCAA in the Toronto area. But yeah, I think they need to join the NCAA...

 

[joecct]

Toronto, McGill is very interesting. Many possibilities...including causing the CHA actually see real competition with the NCAA in the Toronto area. But yeah, I think they need to join the NCAA...

As D-II members -- that may preclude B1G participation.

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

As D-II members -- that may preclude B1G participation.

If UBC didn't want to join no way Toronto or McGill will.

 

[komey1]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

Another scenario: Army and Air Force, again as affiliate members.

I would be SHOCKED if those teams left Atlantic Hockey. One of the reasons that Air Force left the CHA was to be more competive. That clearly won't be the case in the Big Ten.

 

[el_norte]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

I realize none of these schools (Air Force, Army, McGill, Toronto) would be likely for many reasons, which is why I said CRAZY scenarios. But as the Big Ten Network's appetite and greed continue to grow the Big Ten's options will start to minimize and they will be forced to become a little more innovative and outside the box. For example, now that most of the Big Ten's targets are locked up in Grants of Rights with other conferences (ACC - Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Notre Dame and B12 - Kansas and Texas) the school will need to look elsewhere for expansion potential. If they work with the military academies to make some sort of affiliate arrangement they could add a solid chunk of media rights and material for the Big Ten Network. The academies do have the prestige and national following to be outside of the box candidates. The Big Ten tried making a similar arrangement with the Pac 12 to make a scheduling arrangement for more BTN exposure but it fell through. And with the power the Big Ten has in college athletics if they work their magic to get Toronto and McGill in the NCAA the pay off could be huge for BTN and B1G hockey in Canada.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

I realize none of these schools (Air Force, Army, McGill, Toronto) would be likely for many reasons, which is why I said CRAZY scenarios. But as the Big Ten Network's appetite and greed continue to grow the Big Ten's options will start to minimize and they will be forced to become a little more innovative and outside the box. For example, now that most of the Big Ten's targets are locked up in Grants of Rights with other conferences (ACC - Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Notre Dame and B12 - Kansas and Texas) the school will need to look elsewhere for expansion potential. If they work with the military academies to make some sort of affiliate arrangement they could add a solid chunk of media rights and material for the Big Ten Network. The academies do have the prestige and national following to be outside of the box candidates. The Big Ten tried making a similar arrangement with the Pac 12 to make a scheduling arrangement for more BTN exposure but it fell through. And with the power the Big Ten has in college athletics if they work their magic to get Toronto and McGill in the NCAA the pay off could be huge for BTN and B1G hockey in Canada.

I don't see Army, Air Force additions as being any benefit.

But the minute you mentioned Toronto or McGill along with the concept of affiliates...I got it. It really would be a J Hopkins scenario + ...regardless of whether it could come to pass.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

With Johns Hopkins earning an affiliate membership to the Big Ten for Lacrosse, the door could be open for some crazy affiliate membership scenarios. Here is one crazy scenario: The University of Toronto and McGill University. Two top research universities, both in the AAU which the Big Ten loves and both in large new TV markets which the B1G loves even more. Just like Rutgers and Maryland were invited for new TV markets and recruiting territory, Toronto and McGill would make perfect matches for affiliate membership in hockey. Another scenario: Army and Air Force, again as affiliate members.

Yeah, but what keeps em from inking some deal with North Dakota to let em into the BTHC?

As D-II members -- that may preclude B1G participation.

Tis possible.

If UBC didn't want to join no way Toronto or McGill will.

I think UBC wants to have the route to being a full fledged D1 program open to them if they go to the NCAA. And that's bit of a Catch-22 as the NCAA isn't going to do much with changing their rules about Canadian schools becoming NCAA D1 athletic programs until they've got a bunch of Canadian NCAA D2 schools that want to go D1, with a bunch of D1 athletic conferences more than happy to bring them into their fold. Right now, its still just Simon Fraser that's crossed the border.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

Yeah, but what keeps em from inking some deal with North Dakota to let em into the BTHC?

UND brings nothing to the B1G and will never be considered. If you say a competitive hockey team...I say you're on the wrong track.

 

[Wayfarnorth]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

Help me out here. Big Ten. Doesn't that mean there are ten (10) schools in that conference? The obvious 7th team would be one of the conference schools. Or 2 or 3 or 4 of them maybe? Or is this the conference that calls themselves 10 and actually has 12 schools or something? Very confusing.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

UND brings nothing to the B1G and will never be considered. If you say a competitive hockey team...I say you're on the wrong track.

Competitive hockey team would be the only thing we'd bring to the table....UND to the Big Ten is not happening anytime soon, or most likely ever.

Help me out here. Big Ten. Doesn't that mean there are ten (10) schools in that conference? The obvious 7th team would be one of the conference schools. Or 2 or 3 or 4 of them maybe? Or is this the conference that calls themselves 10 and actually has 12 schools or something? Very confusing.

Calls itself 10, but there are 14 teams, one affiliate, and one that doesn't sponsor athletics.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

Competitive hockey team would be the only thing we'd bring to the table....UND to the Big Ten is not happening anytime soon, or most likely ever.

Calls itself 10, but there are 14 teams, one affiliate, and one that doesn't sponsor athletics.

Chicago isn't technically in the Big Ten, just the CIC.

Big Ten won't be adding anybody for hockey. JHU was added because the lacrosse conference doesn't have any premier teams besides Maryland, but more importantly, because they bring in zilly dollars for research and academics.

 

[darker98]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

Competitive hockey team would be the only thing we'd bring to the table....UND to the Big Ten is not happening anytime soon, or most likely ever.

I'm going with never.

 

[BUPhD]

I wouldn't count on Rutgers to do anything for the New York tv market. I once attended a presentation by Mike Tragehse they ex-Big East ocmmissionor on the New York market for college sports which was pretty fascinating and mad a lot of sense. In his view, particularly for college sports, there really isn't a "college market" that nay one team can bring you. Not Rutgers, not Army, Not UConn, not New York's self proclaimed college team Syracuse. For college athletics the New York market is essensially a series of smaller sub markets. There are UConn fans in Fairfield county, where they are dominant, and Rutgers fans in parts of New Jersey,where they dominate but there are also St Johns fans and Michigan fans and Notre Dame fans and Syracuse fans and fans of lots of other schools. The Big East managed to have success in New York by controlling multiple fan bases across the spectrum. In basketball they had UConn, Syracuse, Rutgers plus St Johns and Seton Hall, in football UConn, Syracuse, and Rutgers and for a while Miami which also had NY fans. As a result they were able to parlay that support into something that was bigger than the individual bases. In effect they created Big East fans, but it required lots of effort to bring lots of pieces together. His view was that most market analysis, and most other conferences mis-read things and assume that if you had Rutgers or Syracuse or UConn or St Johns you could get the New York market. In reality you only get the Rutgers sub-market, and maybe some of the smaller Big 10 alumni markets, leaving the UConn and Syracuse pieces on the table(not to mention St Johns, Seton Hall et al). And if Michigan only plays in Piscataway every 4-6 years, how big a deal is Rutgers to the Big 10 really going to be to them. They may actually be worse off. Rather than get th eBig 10 network on a free tier, now they have to pay premium prices in return for getting their team live once in a while. That model is actually applicable to a lot of major cities, especially on the East Coast where professional athletics dominate.In effect the NFL has managed to unify Michigan grads and UConn grads behind the Giants. Boston College, for example, is no more in control of the Boston market, nor Temple in the Philly market. Both pale in comparison to the Patriots and the Eagles.

My understanding was that the Rutgers-New York market connection had nothing at all to do with fans in the area watching games or the like.

It was about putting the b10 channel as an automatically included channel on the NYC area cable providers packages thus giving the channel an immense boost due to the 'per subscriber fee' that makes them money.

It's less about marketing a brand to be bought and more taking advantage of how cable companies bundle channels.

 

[4four4]

My understanding was that the Rutgers-New York market connection had nothing at all to do with fans in the area watching games or the like.

It was about putting the b10 channel as an automatically included channel on the NYC area cable providers packages thus giving the channel an immense boost due to the 'per subscriber fee' that makes them money.

It's less about marketing a brand to be bought and more taking advantage of how cable companies bundle channels.

100% correct!

 

[Butch]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

100% correct!

http://snyuconn.com/

Just a little more insight on the NYC market. There's still a void in New England for the B1G.

(I have to say, it's funny how some people feel all important to rate people's posts with the dumbest comments imaginable. If that's what makes you feel better about your life, please, go all out on me.)

 

[Butch]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

In regard to that part you quoted, Butchie really isn't trolling. He truly believes these minute things matter and that makes CT some historically relevant state in football.

Just thought I'd throw in another thought just for fun. Connecticut is historic ground. Older and more relevant than anywhere in the Midwest, at least from a collegiate standpoint. There's no way we'll be left out of the "big boy table". UConn's development has been remarkable. Place looked North Korean when I went.

 

[Pink Pony]

Just thought I'd throw in another thought just for fun. Connecticut is historic ground. Older and more relevant than anywhere in the Midwest, at least from a collegiate standpoint. There's no way we'll be left out of the "big boy table". UConn's development has been remarkable. Place looked North Korean when I went.

I can see UCONN in the Big

 

[RSTuthill]

Re: Who will be the 7th member of the Big Ten Hockey Conference?

I hesitate to jump in here, but to Butch's point about investment in UConn, it is NOT an extra $1.0 billion. It is an extra $2.0 billion. They are expanding the University so that they can hire more professors. And the key metric to getting hired? How many research $$ you can bring in. Research income is the primary obstacle to getting AAU affiliation right now. But they should have that obstacle overcome in 2-3 years. Then the conversation may change.