Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

As I noted in a quick blog update (that hasn't been published yet) on the subject, I'm assuming the Ducks wanted to look at his shoulder. His family lives by the Ducks training facility, he could easily rehab there for two weeks while the students are still on break. I don't know if that's the case for sure, but it makes sense.

gotcha...I didn't realize the break was went on for another 2 weeks

 

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

As someone naturally interested in many sports, a lot boggles my mind. I do find it odd that so many die-hard UW men's hockey fans, who have been to every game for who knows how many years, haven't been to a women's hockey game. Similarly, I find it strange that students who are sports fans don't give men's hockey a chance. I understand that people are different, and not everyone learns the rules and history of cricket, for example, out of interest in sports. People have different interests. That said, there are enough sports fans who go to school here to justify my boggled mind. I don't get why there are so many fans who are interested in only 1 or 2 sports (in general, not just at UW)...why wouldn't they want to get into more sports, rather than just watching studio analysts beat the same topics to death?

I find it kind of sad that someone who goes to Marquette (a friend who was doing a fellowship program in Madison last semester) has been to a hockey game and a volleyball game, yet so many UW upperclassmen haven't. He said that if he went to Wisconsin, he would certainly get football, basketball, and hockey tickets, and doesn't understand why you wouldn't if you could.

People are strange.

One of the disconnects I've never, ever been able to figure out is the folks in Milwaukee that are hard-core Admirals fans (AHL) that have never been to a Badger game. And it's most of them.

Every season-ticket holding Admiral fan I've talked to has no interest in the Badgers. They just don't go.

Seriously, you LOVE hockey. You watch many, many of these players the second they leave college. And you won't drive 90 minutes to see them play?

Baffled.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Niche sport and the Badgers are a niche of the niche.

I live in Madison, play hockey twice a week, have been a youth coach for the past 10 years, my son plays, I watch hockey several nights a week at home, subscribe to Center Ice, grew up a Badger hockey fan, have been a season ticket holder going on 20 years, parents shared Hawks tickets when growing up, etc, etc...

I am hockey.


And I still struggle to muster the energy to go watch this program any more. Just tired of them mucking along for the past 20 years with a couple of exceptions.

Doesn't baffle me in the least that they're where they are attendance wise and that people from Milwaukee don't drive 90 minutes to attend a game.


I'll be there Friday though!

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Niche sport and the Badgers are a niche of the niche.

I live in Madison, play hockey twice a week, have been a youth coach for the past 10 years, my son plays, I watch hockey several nights a week at home, subscribe to Center Ice, grew up a Badger hockey fan, have been a season ticket holder going on 20 years, parents shared Hawks tickets when growing up, etc, etc...

I am hockey.


And I still struggle to muster the energy to go watch this program any more. Just tired of them mucking along for the past 20 years with a couple of exceptions.

Doesn't baffle me in the least that they're where they are attendance wise and that people from Milwaukee don't drive 90 minutes to attend a game.


I'll be there Friday though!

Pretty much the same situation with me, G. (sans the 2X a week thing - quit "beer league" years ago - hockey & football took a toll on the old fart's knees ;-) ) I DO go to some games, but not like the past where on Thursday nights, I couldn't wait for Friday-Saturday just for Badger Hockey. A great example was last Friday night against UAA. My wife of 30 years has not gone to a game with me for a few years. After the 1st period she said, ..."wow, this atmosphere has changed..." I used to take her to games at the Coliseum BOTH NIGHTS; she's a firey Irish lass from MN who loved Badger hockey. I do love that building, but the last 5 years has been, well as "G" put it, struggle to muster the energy to go.

ED: I hope that the hockey program has somebody to monitor these sites. Eyes need to be opened.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

As I noted in a quick blog update (that hasn't been published yet) on the subject, I'm assuming the Ducks wanted to look at his shoulder. His family lives by the Ducks training facility, he could easily rehab there for two weeks while the students are still on break. I don't know if that's the case for sure, but it makes sense.

Thanks for the info Chuck. That makes sense too. Warmth and sunshine should hopefully speed up his recovery a bit. We could all use that.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

ED: I hope that the hockey program has somebody to monitor these sites. Eyes need to be opened.

I think Andy Baggot does, or I read that he at least keeps an eye on it. As hyper-controlling as Barry is, you would think he would have a troll or two - but then again, he's not a hockey guy

Seriously, I would hope the ADept has someone monitoring this site and threads. Despite their public perception, they can't be blind to the problem and finding out what the die-hard fans are saying or thinking would make sense. I'm hopeful that with what Andringa said last weekend, eyes are being slowly pried open.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

I think Andy Baggot does, or I read that he at least keeps an eye on it. As hyper-controlling as Barry is, you would think he would have a troll or two - but then again, he's not a hockey guy

Seriously, I would hope the ADept has someone monitoring this site and threads. Despite their public perception, they can't be blind to the problem and finding out what the die-hard fans are saying or thinking would make sense. I'm hopeful that with what Andringa said last weekend, eyes are being slowly pried open.

"Butt Head" was on Lucas & Lepay this morning. He pretty much mentioned the same thing, but I personally think he was too PC. Lay it on the line!

 

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

The thing is, I'm not talking about lack of interest LATELY. I'm talking ever.

I'm fairly new to hockey - I didn't grow up watching or playing and only starting going to games when my bf and I got together in 05. And even back then folks in Milwaukee had no interest in the Badgers. Even when the FF was here, the "hockey fans" in Milwaukee were majorly disinterested because they don't do college hockey.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

The thing is, I'm not talking about lack of interest LATELY. I'm talking ever.

I'm fairly new to hockey - I didn't grow up watching or playing and only starting going to games when my bf and I got together in 05. And even back then folks in Milwaukee had no interest in the Badgers. Even when the FF was here, the "hockey fans" in Milwaukee were majorly disinterested because they don't do college hockey.

It goes both ways. Playing and being around all of these hockey people for years and years, I've never heard of anyone ever going to an Admirals game.

I've been to one and that's because my kid's mite team got to skate between periods.


To be honest, if the Badgers played 90 minutes from where I lived, I doubt I'd go to many (any?) games. That's true of just about any sport for me these days though.

Haven't been to a Brewers game since 08 and turned down free indoor box seats for a Packer game this past season.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

One of the disconnects I've never, ever been able to figure out is the folks in Milwaukee that are hard-core Admirals fans (AHL) that have never been to a Badger game. And it's most of them.

Every season-ticket holding Admiral fan I've talked to has no interest in the Badgers. They just don't go.

Seriously, you LOVE hockey. You watch many, many of these players the second they leave college. And you won't drive 90 minutes to see them play?

Baffled.

Obviously, not many are going to regularly make the drive over to Madison, but it would be nice if UW hockey had more of a fan base in Milwaukee from more people following the team on TV.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

One of the disconnects I've never, ever been able to figure out is the folks in Milwaukee that are hard-core Admirals fans (AHL) that have never been to a Badger game. And it's most of them.

Every season-ticket holding Admiral fan I've talked to has no interest in the Badgers. They just don't go.

Seriously, you LOVE hockey. You watch many, many of these players the second they leave college. And you won't drive 90 minutes to see them play?

Baffled.

How many Rockford Icehog games did you catch when Skille & Dowell were playing down this direction? I'm guessing none or not many at best. People aren't generally driving an hour and a half to watch hockey that is one (or multiple....in the case of college) steps away from the show. Hell....people don't drive an hour and a half to watch the show on a regular basis.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

"Butt Head" was on Lucas & Lepay this morning. He pretty much mentioned the same thing, but I personally think he was too PC. Lay it on the line!

I'll see if they podcast parts of those shows...I want to hear what he had to say.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

I'll see if they podcast parts of those shows...I want to hear what he had to say.

LINK

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Here's McCabe's first goal on Saturday.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Thanks Chuck!

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

UW should play an annual 2 game B6 series in Milwaukee on a Fri/Sat. That would get grab some attention in the area with a very familiar opponent. Maybe even do a double header with the Admirals one of the days. A 90 minute drive is tough for Milwaukee folks to do too often, but maybe do a promotion where if you live in Mil. county/adjacent counties you get half priced tickets for a specific game; start it at 6 so you can get home at a decent time. Maybe throw in a free women's ticket for select games. These things would help cultivate the largest tv market in the state. On a related note, pbs should show women's games tape delayed as well. They wouldn't have to be fancy broadcasts, just another way to get hockey into the minds of folks in the state. The biggest issue UW has though, is getting Madisonians back into the seats of the KC.

I'm excited to see the Z Z Barnes line tonight. Hopefully Zenerglee and Barnes can get Zullinick going, which would be huge for the team.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

UW should play an annual 2 game B6 series in Milwaukee on a Fri/Sat. That would get grab some attention in the area with a very familiar opponent. Maybe even do a double header with the Admirals one of the days. A 90 minute drive is tough for Milwaukee folks to do too often, but maybe do a promotion where if you live in Mil. county/adjacent counties you get half priced tickets for a specific game; start it at 6 so you can get home at a decent time. Maybe throw in a free women's ticket for select games. These things would help cultivate the largest tv market in the state. On a related note, pbs should show women's games tape delayed as well. They wouldn't have to be fancy broadcasts, just another way to get hockey into the minds of folks in the state. The biggest issue UW has though, is getting Madisonians back into the seats of the KC.

I'm excited to see the Z Z Barnes line tonight. Hopefully Zenerglee and Barnes can get Zullinick going, which would be huge for the team.

That's a good idea, or one worth thinking about (ahem...Barry?). I would go to Milwaukee to see one of those games (disclaimer - I do go to games at the KC) and maybe even stay overnight. Agreed it would have to be a name opponent, if not Michigan or Minnesota then maybe Notre Dame. If they price it right and do whatever it is to market games like this then it could be a great event. But I agree that the primary issue and goal is getting Madisonians or Dane County folks back into the Kohl Center.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Pipe dream. Not gonna happen.

My guess is that the vast majority of butts in the seats when things were going well were from Dane County and maybe 1 county away all around.

Milwaukeans in significant numbers are not going to come over here for college hockey games regardless of how much you promote it over there. It's just not a big hockey market.

Couple that with wanting to take away a big home series from the bread and butter fans - Really? You're gonna give my Michigan or Minnesota series to Milwaukee? - and you'd further erode my willingness to buy season tickets.

The rebuilding must start right here in the wheelhouse.

I appreciate that many want to come up with solutions, but the reality is that hockey in this state will most likely always be a niche sport and will be very regional in its draw.

If the Badgers were based in Milwaukee, it's very unlikely that I'd go to very many, if any, games. Sure, I'd still be a fan and watch them on TV every chance I got, but as I said, I'm not traveling 90 minutes for that.

Hate to sound like a Minnesotan, but I've actually really been enjoying watching my kid's school's varsity team - and he's not even on it (JV). We sold our Badger tix that conflicted with those games.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Part of the solution is to slash ticket prices. Admit that this isn't currently one of the top three draws (there are only 2 right now) on campus.

Make all of the seats in the 100 & 200 level $15 a game. Make the 300s $10 a game. Better to have a full stadium that would have more money for concessions and merchandise than maintain the hard line on ticket prices and draw 7k a game. 7k of people who will not be enjoying the atmosphere and will be less in the mood to buy merch and maybe even food & drink.

Promote it as a family fun activity rather than as a hockey game.

The most successful minor league teams understand their market and promote their product in just this way. Take the Mallards for instance. They're not selling baseball. They know they're not the Brewers or Major League Baseball. They're selling the experience - come out to the ballpark and enjoy an affordable day with your family.


Anyway, a few years of cheap tickets and hooking people and maybe you could begin to raise prices again.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Pipe dream. Not gonna happen.

My guess is that the vast majority of butts in the seats when things were going well were from Dane County and maybe 1 county away all around.

Milwaukeans in significant numbers are not going to come over here for college hockey games regardless of how much you promote it over there. It's just not a big hockey market.

Couple that with wanting to take away a big home series from the bread and butter fans - Really? You're gonna give my Michigan or Minnesota series to Milwaukee? - and you'd further erode my willingness to buy season tickets.

The rebuilding must start right here in the wheelhouse.

I don't disagree with you G, and I agree the rebuilding had to start right here. I was just offering a thought on an idea that another posted suggested. In retrospect Minnesota or Michigan wouldn't be the team to play in Milwaukee, that was stupid of me to say. But Notre Dame maybe. Again, just throwing it out there as one small possible option to generate interest or do something different. That does not however take away from our joint belief that change needs to happen here first and foremost.