Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
Posted this on the scores thread:
And:
Posted this on the scores thread:
And:
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WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
- Thread starter Chuck Schwartz
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Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
I don't understand. The Kohl Center is a beautiful place, even if it's not a pure hockey rink, so I can see some fans being a little cool to the loss of amenities. But for a one weekind only, play off type game--how can that happen? Especially when the team has pulled itself up from near irrelevance to a conference contender in the hunt for a playoff berth? Having watched most of my college hockey in either Madison or Grand Forks, I've always felt privileged to see two of the best venues in college hockey. Sioux fans tend to be more intense in my view, but Badger fans usually filled an awfully big building and they know how to have fun with their hockey like few other fanbases. Unlike what rodent fans often say on this site, I think Badger fans know their hockey too. I know there has been a lot of talk here about the shrinking interest from the losing over the last several years, but I still don't understand this could happen on this weekend. Were admin's FUs that bad on this thing?
The players win the games, but those players repeatedly say the crowd carries them at times. I'm not a Badger hockey fan, but it ****es me off too just because of what a great hockey tradition you all have, and this just should not be happening.
tough loss tonight for UW, I thought they played well.
man that building was EMPTY. I don't know if that's hockey fans abandoning UW now or that they feel the Dane is a dump, or both.
anyway, a nice nostalgia trip watching this on tv w/PB making the call. banners were up, maybe not as creative as in years past but they looked good anyway.
I didn't hear any of the old cheers though
I don't understand. The Kohl Center is a beautiful place, even if it's not a pure hockey rink, so I can see some fans being a little cool to the loss of amenities. But for a one weekind only, play off type game--how can that happen? Especially when the team has pulled itself up from near irrelevance to a conference contender in the hunt for a playoff berth? Having watched most of my college hockey in either Madison or Grand Forks, I've always felt privileged to see two of the best venues in college hockey. Sioux fans tend to be more intense in my view, but Badger fans usually filled an awfully big building and they know how to have fun with their hockey like few other fanbases. Unlike what rodent fans often say on this site, I think Badger fans know their hockey too. I know there has been a lot of talk here about the shrinking interest from the losing over the last several years, but I still don't understand this could happen on this weekend. Were admin's FUs that bad on this thing?
The players win the games, but those players repeatedly say the crowd carries them at times. I'm not a Badger hockey fan, but it ****es me off too just because of what a great hockey tradition you all have, and this just should not be happening.
Go4PuckFan2.0
The Dude Abides
Yeah, either those things or BEER.
They totally shat the bed with this and now are trying to entice us with beer. Hilarious.
To be fair, beer AND open concession stands!!
That's funny...
The Hallucination
half-crazy half-insane maniac
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
Well, that sucked. Two good periods of hockey, but the third less so and that soft goal was painful. I think that building is just cursed with soft goals for otherwise good goaltenders- I distinctly remember a terrible Bruckler softy during a first round WCHA series vs. UAA when they used to let the WIAA have the KC during first round playoffs. (Cursed for KC-era, getting kicked out by the WIAA purposes anyway. Probably not long-term historically so.)
The building was terribly empty, and I can hardly blame other fans- as I said before, we were on the fence because I was SO ANGRY that not only did they surrender their usual venue to the ****ed WIAA, but then they tried to blow smoke up our asses telling us the throwback series was an awesome fun thing and not a give-in-to-the-WIAA-threatening-to-leave-Madison thing. Really, it was their play in Omaha that sealed it- it was just last weekend we decided to go to at least the Friday game. And we're fairly dedicated season ticket holders who also make the occasional roadtrip.
For me, I was on the fence because of the REASON they were playing at the coliseum. A high school tournament is not a good excuse to me. I KNOW it's all about $$ and the city had a lot to lose if the WIAA pulled all the high school tourneys, so there was a lot of pressure to cut a KC scheduling deal, but letting them take a college team's on campus venue and forcing the college team off campus is still a bunch of crap. That severely limited the amount of $$ I was willing to give them for the privilege of entering the venue under those circumstance.
Also, they did not even satisfy my childhood concessions nostalgia- I couldn't find a malt cup anywhere! I used to get a malt cup while my parents had a beer. Granted, I did have what I *think* was my first beer garden beer... I'm pretty sure the last time they did first round WCHA at the coliseum I was still slightly underage, or else I just didn't bother. Pre-game as I'm not much for chugging between periods, but even if it was bud light (I'm a beer snob normally) at least I've partaken in that tradition.
Someone near us did lead the rumble rink, but most of the arena probably couldn't hear as we were in the upper level corner. (First row and student tickets so we could stand, so while standing it was actually a fine view.)
We'll go again tonight to see if they can at least get home ice, but we'd be on the fence again if we didn't think we could get cheap seats. They may be terrible, or they may come back with a great game to seal home ice and go on just enough of a WCHA run to make us think we've got a chance so they can crush our hopes one more time this year. Who can tell with this team? Certainly not me.
Well, that sucked. Two good periods of hockey, but the third less so and that soft goal was painful. I think that building is just cursed with soft goals for otherwise good goaltenders- I distinctly remember a terrible Bruckler softy during a first round WCHA series vs. UAA when they used to let the WIAA have the KC during first round playoffs. (Cursed for KC-era, getting kicked out by the WIAA purposes anyway. Probably not long-term historically so.)
The building was terribly empty, and I can hardly blame other fans- as I said before, we were on the fence because I was SO ANGRY that not only did they surrender their usual venue to the ****ed WIAA, but then they tried to blow smoke up our asses telling us the throwback series was an awesome fun thing and not a give-in-to-the-WIAA-threatening-to-leave-Madison thing. Really, it was their play in Omaha that sealed it- it was just last weekend we decided to go to at least the Friday game. And we're fairly dedicated season ticket holders who also make the occasional roadtrip.
For me, I was on the fence because of the REASON they were playing at the coliseum. A high school tournament is not a good excuse to me. I KNOW it's all about $$ and the city had a lot to lose if the WIAA pulled all the high school tourneys, so there was a lot of pressure to cut a KC scheduling deal, but letting them take a college team's on campus venue and forcing the college team off campus is still a bunch of crap. That severely limited the amount of $$ I was willing to give them for the privilege of entering the venue under those circumstance.
Also, they did not even satisfy my childhood concessions nostalgia- I couldn't find a malt cup anywhere! I used to get a malt cup while my parents had a beer. Granted, I did have what I *think* was my first beer garden beer... I'm pretty sure the last time they did first round WCHA at the coliseum I was still slightly underage, or else I just didn't bother. Pre-game as I'm not much for chugging between periods, but even if it was bud light (I'm a beer snob normally) at least I've partaken in that tradition.
Someone near us did lead the rumble rink, but most of the arena probably couldn't hear as we were in the upper level corner. (First row and student tickets so we could stand, so while standing it was actually a fine view.)
We'll go again tonight to see if they can at least get home ice, but we'd be on the fence again if we didn't think we could get cheap seats. They may be terrible, or they may come back with a great game to seal home ice and go on just enough of a WCHA run to make us think we've got a chance so they can crush our hopes one more time this year. Who can tell with this team? Certainly not me.
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SatNightFever
New member
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
Hallucination......you summed up most of my thoughts very well...good work.
Hallucination......you summed up most of my thoughts very well...good work.
solovsfett
Registered User
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
I hear you man, but I think the UW fanbase may finally be saying a few things that I hope Barry "I'm Not A Hockey Guy" ****ing finally hears"
- we're tired of lousy or mediocre hockey teams, missing the NCAA's and watching teams that play such a boring style of hockey that even when winning it's painful to watch
- we're tired of the notion that ****ing high school sports push our team out of their home arena
I don't know what else it can be to be honest with you, if you look at the attendance figures posted earlier in the thread they're very telling
Wisconsin Hockey 2012-2013: Denouement
I hear you man, but I think the UW fanbase may finally be saying a few things that I hope Barry "I'm Not A Hockey Guy" ****ing finally hears"
- we're tired of lousy or mediocre hockey teams, missing the NCAA's and watching teams that play such a boring style of hockey that even when winning it's painful to watch
- we're tired of the notion that ****ing high school sports push our team out of their home arena
I don't know what else it can be to be honest with you, if you look at the attendance figures posted earlier in the thread they're very telling
Wisconsin Hockey 2012-2013: Denouement
DoorCtyBadgers
New member
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
we need to push that peon basketball tournament out of madison, or have them go play in the fieldhouse......oh well guess the uw hockey program has become irrelevant
we need to push that peon basketball tournament out of madison, or have them go play in the fieldhouse......oh well guess the uw hockey program has become irrelevant
solovsfett
Registered User
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
that's just it
1. the high school basketball tournament can play in the field house, it's high school and it's basketball (sorry Indiana) so take off eh!
2. the hockey program IS irrelevant to the UW admin under Barry Alvarez UNLESS there is an outdoor game to make $ on
that's just it
1. the high school basketball tournament can play in the field house, it's high school and it's basketball (sorry Indiana) so take off eh!
2. the hockey program IS irrelevant to the UW admin under Barry Alvarez UNLESS there is an outdoor game to make $ on
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
I was shocked at the (embarrassingly) small crowd, but at least it was enthusiastic - more than most of the Kohl games this year. Quite a few Jan fans there also. The student section was located too far from the band, which made no sense. The old flying saucer sure seemed bigger back in the day, the place is tiny!
On the game, I thought the Badgers out-hustled the Huskys more often than not, and had more than a few great scoring chances. The puck didn't seem to bounce in their favor once again. Goals 2 and (especially) 3 were soft, but, as mentioned, there were a couple pipe saves.
Overall a very disappointing night at the end of an equally disappointing season.
I was shocked at the (embarrassingly) small crowd, but at least it was enthusiastic - more than most of the Kohl games this year. Quite a few Jan fans there also. The student section was located too far from the band, which made no sense. The old flying saucer sure seemed bigger back in the day, the place is tiny!
On the game, I thought the Badgers out-hustled the Huskys more often than not, and had more than a few great scoring chances. The puck didn't seem to bounce in their favor once again. Goals 2 and (especially) 3 were soft, but, as mentioned, there were a couple pipe saves.
Overall a very disappointing night at the end of an equally disappointing season.
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
Your season ticket estimates were a bit high -
Here's the article.
Your season ticket estimates were a bit high -
Wisconsin State Journal said:
Here's the article.
drewski192
Member
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
I used to be a HUGE Badger hockey fan. In college I'd MAKE my buddies turn on the hockey game every friday and saturday night. I wouldnt miss a game (if it was on t.v.) from the time I was a little kid until I was 26 years old. I was excited to watch EVERY game. And my parents have had season tickets since the 1980's and they would go every Saturday night.
Now (I'm 28): I've watched one game this year on t.v. My dad has gone to only one game and he had to go by himself because my mom wouldnt go with him.
Bottom Line: UW Hockey is mediocre at best. This is the University of frickin Wisconsin. We have the best academics in the league and we're the most well known University due to the success of not only hockey but also football and basketball. We have the best party school in the country. The campus is awesome (though very big). The Kohl Center can fill 15,000 when were good. And Mike Eaves cant recruit top talent to come here? It's sad and Barry wont do sh*t about it.
I used to be a HUGE Badger hockey fan. In college I'd MAKE my buddies turn on the hockey game every friday and saturday night. I wouldnt miss a game (if it was on t.v.) from the time I was a little kid until I was 26 years old. I was excited to watch EVERY game. And my parents have had season tickets since the 1980's and they would go every Saturday night.
Now (I'm 28): I've watched one game this year on t.v. My dad has gone to only one game and he had to go by himself because my mom wouldnt go with him.
Bottom Line: UW Hockey is mediocre at best. This is the University of frickin Wisconsin. We have the best academics in the league and we're the most well known University due to the success of not only hockey but also football and basketball. We have the best party school in the country. The campus is awesome (though very big). The Kohl Center can fill 15,000 when were good. And Mike Eaves cant recruit top talent to come here? It's sad and Barry wont do sh*t about it.
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
I don't understand either. I mean, the Badgers did a terrible job marketing this. It was as if they didn't notice that they might need to mention something to the fans until it was just a week away, and then they scrambled to build enthusiasm. Last night was my first time at the Dane County Coliseum / Alliant Energy Center. Ummmm....It's not that bad, at least from a fan's perspective. (I have no idea what condition the locker rooms are in.) The noise made during Phil's count was great, and that was with a half empty building! I did a lot of looking up at that circular ceiling and around at the seats and imagined it back in the "good ole days." Wow. Those seats are super-cushy, and not what I expected based on what I heard. The downside is that they don't make any of noise when you kick them, like the wonderful hollow plastic Kohl Center chairs.
Honestly, it comes down to mentality. I don't know what it's like to live in Madison. I only know what it's like to live as an undergrad on campus. Every so often I pick up the sports section of the Wisconsin State Journal sitting in College Library, just to see what the locals are getting for their sports news. It's nice to see hockey articles mixed in with the rest. It's nice to see the WCHA standings with the other college sports stuff. Coverage and winning are probably the two biggest factors in overall enthusiasm for a sports team. On campus? It's football-only. At hockey games, I talk to many strangers in the student section discussing PairWise rankings and the WCHA race, but that's because we're people who keep up with it actively, by logging on to WCHA.com each weekend and checking USCHO.com. The overall mentality on campus with regards to spectator sports revolves around the football team. And this is an athletic department that prides itself on 2 big things (besides "winning," obviously) - operating in the black financially and having great fan enthusiasm for many sports. On campus, the athletic department pretty much decides how much exposure each sports team gets. I'm not expecting the average student to keep track of the team even a fraction of how much I do, but the overall buzz of the team could be much greater.
Speaking of student fans, I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout. Those many emails sent over the past week did some good. I feel like we did better than the "old people," despite the drastic difference between a nice walk to the Kohl Center and commuting to the Coliseum. It boggles my mind why more people wouldn't want to go to such a fun event at such a not-that-bad-despite-its-reputation venue.
I agree with your stance on caving to the WIAA. I understand that the state tournament was held way in advance and that there's a lot to gain by hosting those tournaments, but they do that (almost) every year without this problem. But this is a campus venue. This is a venue built for the University of Wisconsin's intercollegiate athletic teams. This is not just some public venue in Madison. That is why it's unacceptable, and a grade-A screw-up. (Not that they don't know that, but I wish they'd make a stronger PR effort with the fans.) Heck, they're losing a lot of money by playing this series away from the Kohl Center.
As far as anger is concerned, I feel like that would be motivation to go. If we could have had full crowds at the Coliseum, it shows how we'll stand by our favorite team, and we'd rather be at the Badger Hockey game.
I hope everything goes better tonight. Wisconsin, UNO, Denver, and Minnesota State are all going to settle into slots 4, 5, 6, and 7. A tie tonight clinches home ice. A UNO tie or loss or a Denver loss would do the same. Oddly enough, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, if UW is in a tie with Minnesota State, they lose the tiebreaker, but if it's a three-way tie with those two teams and UNO or Denver, Wisconsin wins the tiebreaker because of combined head-to-head records. (Where you get a +1, -1, or 0 for your head-to-head with each team.) Because Minnesota State and Wisconsin split, they go to goal differential, which Wisconsin loses.
I don't understand either. I mean, the Badgers did a terrible job marketing this. It was as if they didn't notice that they might need to mention something to the fans until it was just a week away, and then they scrambled to build enthusiasm. Last night was my first time at the Dane County Coliseum / Alliant Energy Center. Ummmm....It's not that bad, at least from a fan's perspective. (I have no idea what condition the locker rooms are in.) The noise made during Phil's count was great, and that was with a half empty building! I did a lot of looking up at that circular ceiling and around at the seats and imagined it back in the "good ole days." Wow. Those seats are super-cushy, and not what I expected based on what I heard. The downside is that they don't make any of noise when you kick them, like the wonderful hollow plastic Kohl Center chairs.
Honestly, it comes down to mentality. I don't know what it's like to live in Madison. I only know what it's like to live as an undergrad on campus. Every so often I pick up the sports section of the Wisconsin State Journal sitting in College Library, just to see what the locals are getting for their sports news. It's nice to see hockey articles mixed in with the rest. It's nice to see the WCHA standings with the other college sports stuff. Coverage and winning are probably the two biggest factors in overall enthusiasm for a sports team. On campus? It's football-only. At hockey games, I talk to many strangers in the student section discussing PairWise rankings and the WCHA race, but that's because we're people who keep up with it actively, by logging on to WCHA.com each weekend and checking USCHO.com. The overall mentality on campus with regards to spectator sports revolves around the football team. And this is an athletic department that prides itself on 2 big things (besides "winning," obviously) - operating in the black financially and having great fan enthusiasm for many sports. On campus, the athletic department pretty much decides how much exposure each sports team gets. I'm not expecting the average student to keep track of the team even a fraction of how much I do, but the overall buzz of the team could be much greater.
Speaking of student fans, I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout. Those many emails sent over the past week did some good. I feel like we did better than the "old people," despite the drastic difference between a nice walk to the Kohl Center and commuting to the Coliseum. It boggles my mind why more people wouldn't want to go to such a fun event at such a not-that-bad-despite-its-reputation venue.
I agree with your stance on caving to the WIAA. I understand that the state tournament was held way in advance and that there's a lot to gain by hosting those tournaments, but they do that (almost) every year without this problem. But this is a campus venue. This is a venue built for the University of Wisconsin's intercollegiate athletic teams. This is not just some public venue in Madison. That is why it's unacceptable, and a grade-A screw-up. (Not that they don't know that, but I wish they'd make a stronger PR effort with the fans.) Heck, they're losing a lot of money by playing this series away from the Kohl Center.
As far as anger is concerned, I feel like that would be motivation to go. If we could have had full crowds at the Coliseum, it shows how we'll stand by our favorite team, and we'd rather be at the Badger Hockey game.
I hope everything goes better tonight. Wisconsin, UNO, Denver, and Minnesota State are all going to settle into slots 4, 5, 6, and 7. A tie tonight clinches home ice. A UNO tie or loss or a Denver loss would do the same. Oddly enough, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, if UW is in a tie with Minnesota State, they lose the tiebreaker, but if it's a three-way tie with those two teams and UNO or Denver, Wisconsin wins the tiebreaker because of combined head-to-head records. (Where you get a +1, -1, or 0 for your head-to-head with each team.) Because Minnesota State and Wisconsin split, they go to goal differential, which Wisconsin loses.
Badger Booster
Registered User
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
When it's all said and done, this series would be a great case study for a sports business class. A lot of different variables at play that have led to a shockingly low Friday night turnout. My interest in this series came as a direct result of the sweep of Omaha and the chance of getting a share of the McNaughton. I was neutral on the fact that it was being played at the Coliseum. Having gone to school at UW during the late 80's/early 90's, I clearly had good memories of games there.
With that said, the ticket prices (and surcharges) almost made it a no-go. If not for figuring out that I could buy student tickets on-line at about a 1/3 of the price, I'm not sure what I would have done. No family packs specials or any kind of tiered pricing available, which was a major mistake. So pricing must have had a significant negative effect on sales.
Even with the pricing, I'm guessing the loss last night killed a lot of potential day-of-game sales for today. If the McNaughton was still in play, I have to believe interest would be relatively high. Now it's just for playoff home ice and preventing St. Cloud from winning the title outright. That's not getting the casual fan to the game.
Hopefully, the UW will be taking a hard look at how to better market this hockey program. Of course, that requires people who care about the program. And lastly it requires a program that needs to stop losing home games on a regular basis.
When it's all said and done, this series would be a great case study for a sports business class. A lot of different variables at play that have led to a shockingly low Friday night turnout. My interest in this series came as a direct result of the sweep of Omaha and the chance of getting a share of the McNaughton. I was neutral on the fact that it was being played at the Coliseum. Having gone to school at UW during the late 80's/early 90's, I clearly had good memories of games there.
With that said, the ticket prices (and surcharges) almost made it a no-go. If not for figuring out that I could buy student tickets on-line at about a 1/3 of the price, I'm not sure what I would have done. No family packs specials or any kind of tiered pricing available, which was a major mistake. So pricing must have had a significant negative effect on sales.
Even with the pricing, I'm guessing the loss last night killed a lot of potential day-of-game sales for today. If the McNaughton was still in play, I have to believe interest would be relatively high. Now it's just for playoff home ice and preventing St. Cloud from winning the title outright. That's not getting the casual fan to the game.
Hopefully, the UW will be taking a hard look at how to better market this hockey program. Of course, that requires people who care about the program. And lastly it requires a program that needs to stop losing home games on a regular basis.
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
Just a couple of thoughts I wanted to float out to you guys -
I remember in the previous Wisconsin season thread, the idea of UW "taking its fans for granted" was mentioned a few times. I feel like the bad off-ice things going on that everyone's mentioned kind of fit that theme.
I can't help but think about Michigan State hockey. There was a time when they would pack Munn Ice Arena, and would help fill up Yost as well. Well, the program hit a rut. Attendance went down. I didn't bother doing research going back to the '80s, but you can even see what I'm talking about if you just go back to 2006-07, when they won the national championship. Here are their average attendance figures as reported on USCHO.com (I'm just hoping there aren't outliers skewing the attendance, though there weren't any home outdoor games, so I think we're good) --
2006-07 - 6,364
2007-08 - 5,507
2008-09 - 5,473
2009-10 - 4,966
2010-11 - 5,353
2011-12 - 5,364
2012-13 - 5,869
Munn officially seats 6,470.
These changes aren't as drastic as at UW, but we're dealing with smaller numbers anyway. But it is a program that's had many ups and downs like the Badgers have. It's not like hockey fans in the Lansing area ceased to exist. MSU made the NCAAs last spring. They had a game this year with an announced attendance of over 7000, this November game against Michigan -
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/weBkRL6DN30" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
While they're not a top-notch team, they're coming out of their rut. From what I read, that game against Michigan was a super-charged atmosphere like back in the '80s.
It's not totally analogous, and I don't know why I made this post as long as I did. I just feel like it reassures me that the event and experience of Wisconsin Badgers Hockey is not lost forever, but is going through a rough patch that shall be mended in the future.
Just a couple of thoughts I wanted to float out to you guys -
I remember in the previous Wisconsin season thread, the idea of UW "taking its fans for granted" was mentioned a few times. I feel like the bad off-ice things going on that everyone's mentioned kind of fit that theme.
I can't help but think about Michigan State hockey. There was a time when they would pack Munn Ice Arena, and would help fill up Yost as well. Well, the program hit a rut. Attendance went down. I didn't bother doing research going back to the '80s, but you can even see what I'm talking about if you just go back to 2006-07, when they won the national championship. Here are their average attendance figures as reported on USCHO.com (I'm just hoping there aren't outliers skewing the attendance, though there weren't any home outdoor games, so I think we're good) --
2006-07 - 6,364
2007-08 - 5,507
2008-09 - 5,473
2009-10 - 4,966
2010-11 - 5,353
2011-12 - 5,364
2012-13 - 5,869
Munn officially seats 6,470.
These changes aren't as drastic as at UW, but we're dealing with smaller numbers anyway. But it is a program that's had many ups and downs like the Badgers have. It's not like hockey fans in the Lansing area ceased to exist. MSU made the NCAAs last spring. They had a game this year with an announced attendance of over 7000, this November game against Michigan -
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/weBkRL6DN30" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
While they're not a top-notch team, they're coming out of their rut. From what I read, that game against Michigan was a super-charged atmosphere like back in the '80s.
It's not totally analogous, and I don't know why I made this post as long as I did. I just feel like it reassures me that the event and experience of Wisconsin Badgers Hockey is not lost forever, but is going through a rough patch that shall be mended in the future.
MadCityRich
20 Years and Counting
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
Horrible environment (not the building, the lack of fans), could have been at LaBahn. Under 4,000? ****ing embarrassing.
The style is getting old; how many recruits are we missing out on because of this?
I'm not blaming the players, they are living their dream. We get what we get.
That said, what change MUST be made? In Jeff Sauer's waning years, there were **** near lynch mobs calling for his *** and I don't think things were this bad.
Jus' sayin'.
Horrible environment
(not the building, the lack of fans), could have been at LaBahn. Under 4,000? ****ing embarrassing.The style is getting old; how many recruits are we missing out on because of this?
I'm not blaming the players, they are living their dream. We get what we get.
That said, what change MUST be made? In Jeff Sauer's waning years, there were **** near lynch mobs calling for his *** and I don't think things were this bad.
Jus' sayin'.
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Wisko McBadgerton
Teaching you how to Bucky.
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
While as a fan of UW Hockey I do prefer they play in the KC and as part of the season tix package, I'm not really at all upset that this game was moved. In the broadest sense, The University of Wisconsin is not Notre Dame, a private institution who can tell anybody they want to take a long walk off a short pier. UW is essentially owned by the people of Wisconsin and it's facilities, while controlled by the UW, are ultimately public facilities and as such, decisions about who plays where when necessarily are in consideration of the whole public. There are legitimate arguments as to why the WIAA bb tourney is a better use of this facility than Hockey this weekend, just as there are legitimate arguments that Hockey is the best use. Because I might personally disagree with the decision doesn't undermine it's legitimacy at all in my mind.
The problem, rather, lies with the AD not taking this challenge and turning it into an opportunity. Promoted correctly, the AD could have turned this weekend into the event of the year. The 50th year of Badger Hockey. The end of the WCHA. What more do you need to build a promotion around? Even having a big event every year at the Coliseum. A celebration of Badger Hockey annually that no one wants to miss. As I said at the beginning of the week, a chance to bridge gaps between generations of fans and players. Instead they chose to do nothing until a week before the event. Why exclude it from the season ticket package? With less than 6,000 ticket holders/ night, there is plenty of room for all plus the band, and 2,500 students. Or at the least they could have given one of those annoying out options that said, "By choosing not to purchase tickets to the season finale at the Coliseum I understand and I'm choosing to NOT support Badger Hockey and all the great history and traditions it entails. I fully acknowledge I AM A BAD PERSON."
Instead of a supportive Athletic department that is really on top of things, we have what feels like a few folks loyal to Badger hockey forced to handle promoting the program like it is (no offense intended Coach Van Emburgh) the tennis team. It could be so much better with so little effort.
Also I'm baffled by the way ticketmaster showed the lower bowl being nearly sold out yet there were so many empty seats there? Strange.
Hope for a big turnout tonight to close out the regular season with a Badger win. Go Red!
While as a fan of UW Hockey I do prefer they play in the KC and as part of the season tix package, I'm not really at all upset that this game was moved. In the broadest sense, The University of Wisconsin is not Notre Dame, a private institution who can tell anybody they want to take a long walk off a short pier. UW is essentially owned by the people of Wisconsin and it's facilities, while controlled by the UW, are ultimately public facilities and as such, decisions about who plays where when necessarily are in consideration of the whole public. There are legitimate arguments as to why the WIAA bb tourney is a better use of this facility than Hockey this weekend, just as there are legitimate arguments that Hockey is the best use. Because I might personally disagree with the decision doesn't undermine it's legitimacy at all in my mind.
The problem, rather, lies with the AD not taking this challenge and turning it into an opportunity. Promoted correctly, the AD could have turned this weekend into the event of the year. The 50th year of Badger Hockey. The end of the WCHA. What more do you need to build a promotion around? Even having a big event every year at the Coliseum. A celebration of Badger Hockey annually that no one wants to miss. As I said at the beginning of the week, a chance to bridge gaps between generations of fans and players. Instead they chose to do nothing until a week before the event. Why exclude it from the season ticket package? With less than 6,000 ticket holders/ night, there is plenty of room for all plus the band, and 2,500 students. Or at the least they could have given one of those annoying out options that said, "By choosing not to purchase tickets to the season finale at the Coliseum I understand and I'm choosing to NOT support Badger Hockey and all the great history and traditions it entails. I fully acknowledge I AM A BAD PERSON."
Instead of a supportive Athletic department that is really on top of things, we have what feels like a few folks loyal to Badger hockey forced to handle promoting the program like it is (no offense intended Coach Van Emburgh) the tennis team. It could be so much better with so little effort.
Also I'm baffled by the way ticketmaster showed the lower bowl being nearly sold out yet there were so many empty seats there? Strange.
Hope for a big turnout tonight to close out the regular season with a Badger win. Go Red!
The Hallucination
half-crazy half-insane maniac
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
Attendance-wise, I don't think things weren't this bad, but it had been over a decade since we'd won a title, and about a decade since they'd been to a final/Frozen Four. But perhaps regular NCAA appearances without any ****ed results draw more people than a four-year cycle. Now, if we're off that cycle (and I fear we very well may be), I'll join that lynch mob next year.
Attendance-wise, I don't think things weren't this bad, but it had been over a decade since we'd won a title, and about a decade since they'd been to a final/Frozen Four. But perhaps regular NCAA appearances without any ****ed results draw more people than a four-year cycle. Now, if we're off that cycle (and I fear we very well may be), I'll join that lynch mob next year.
DoorCtyBadgers
New member
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
most of the tickets in the lower bowl were given away to the local corporations in turn they give them to employees who don't show,,,also I knew several people who had lower bowl seats but they moved up to the 300 sections so could actually see the game
most of the tickets in the lower bowl were given away to the local corporations in turn they give them to employees who don't show,,,also I knew several people who had lower bowl seats but they moved up to the 300 sections so could actually see the game
Almington
Blood Boiling with Rage and Hate
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
You only can have lynch mobs if people care, I fear that the decline has been gradual enough and the style unappealing ehough that many have become apathetic and detached as opposed to angry and fed-up with the results.
You only can have lynch mobs if people care, I fear that the decline has been gradual enough and the style unappealing ehough that many have become apathetic and detached as opposed to angry and fed-up with the results.
Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time
I love it.
I partly blame the beer garden. That thing is stupid. I didn't go there at all, but it appeared to be a completely out-of-sight-from-the-rink area for people to drink. People have tickets for a game but go completely out of sight to engage in recreational drug use. That's the impression I got, at least. I would think differently if it was open to the main arena bowl, even if it didn't have great sightlines. It wouldn't seem so ridiculous to me.
I love it.
I partly blame the beer garden. That thing is stupid. I didn't go there at all, but it appeared to be a completely out-of-sight-from-the-rink area for people to drink. People have tickets for a game but go completely out of sight to engage in recreational drug use. That's the impression I got, at least. I would think differently if it was open to the main arena bowl, even if it didn't have great sightlines. It wouldn't seem so ridiculous to me.
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