Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

A few more schedule observations:
Lots of off weekends in the front of the schedule, then no breaks once we get to January. 12 straight conference weekends to end the season.
4 of the last 6 weekends are on the road.
There is the possibility (however unlikely) that we may play a Sat/Sun home series against Michigan and then a Thu/Fri home series against Minnesota (as noted on Chuck's twitter). Don't get me wrong, I would love to see 4 games in a 7 day window, but I have to think that the schedulers are smarter than that.
There is another chunk of home games in the middle of the season, Nov 28 - Jan 10 the team doesn't have to leave town.

Should be a good season, I'm looking forward to it, I just wish that we would have Friday/Saturday scheduling...but that's just my opinion, I'm sure someone will come along shortly and explain why it is a great thing to play on Thursdays and Sundays.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Should be a good season, I'm looking forward to it, I just wish that we would have Friday/Saturday scheduling...but that's just my opinion, I'm sure someone will come along shortly and explain why it is a great thing to play on Thursdays and Sundays.

Just because the schedule lists possibilities of Thursday/Sunday games doesn't mean they are actually going to happen. Wisconsin has two tentatively scheduled for home games, and as you pointed out they come in back-to-back weeks with just four days between games. I'd be shocked if this actually happened.

If you look at the schedule, the Big Ten blocked 8 Thursday's and 4 Sunday's with games. But some of those days have multiple games. There's only one reason why those games are being played on those days, TV (obviously). So if there are two games possibly scheduled for the same Thursday, I'm guessing it's likely that only one happens. I'm kind of thinking the same is going to happen for Sunday's but we'll have to see.

I mean fans should really only care about home games that aren't on Friday/Saturday night, right? Sure, a few fans travel, but for everyone else wouldn't you rather a game at Ohio State be on Sunday and on National TV than on Friday night when you have to listen to the radio (no offense Posick)? Think about the Big Ten playing eight Thursday games on national TV this year. What is the rest of the hockey world doing? Probably tuning into the Big Ten Network. What are recruits doing? Probably tuning into the Big Ten Network. What are they doing on Sunday's in February after football is over?

Tentative times scheduled right now for each team Minnesota (7), Ohio State (6), Wisconsin (5), Michigan (5), Michigan State (4), Penn State (2). When you look at how the games set up I'll guess the final totals look like Minnesota (7), Ohio State (5), Wisconsin (4), Michigan (4), Michigan State (3), Penn State (1). 3 of the 4 for Wisconsin will be on the road.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I mean fans should really only care about home games that aren't on Friday/Saturday night, right?

Exactly. We have potentially four of our five Big Ten home series on off days. I'll accept two bad series and not be annoyed, or one if it has to be the badger series. Pretty sure attendance took a hit on Thursday games last year.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I mean fans should really only care about home games that aren't on Friday/Saturday night, right?

Every game is a home game for one of the teams involved.

If one team gets stuck with 3 or more "flexed" home games this year, you can bet that their administration will push to have fewer flexed games the next year, and then someone has to have them. So even if Wisconsin only has 2 home series that might get the Thursday or Sunday treatment this season, you can bet that we'll have 3 or 4 home series next year to keep things balanced.

Since all schools will be sharing equally in the extra money that the Thursday/Sunday TV coverage would generate, you would have to think that administrators will push to have each team take an equal share of the burden of hosting those games and absorbing the (assumed) loss in local revenue.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Every game is a home game for one of the teams involved.

If one team gets stuck with 3 or more "flexed" home games this year, you can bet that their administration will push to have fewer flexed games the next year, and then someone has to have them. So even if Wisconsin only has 2 home series that might get the Thursday or Sunday treatment this season, you can bet that we'll have 3 or 4 home series next year to keep things balanced.

Since all schools will be sharing equally in the extra money that the Thursday/Sunday TV coverage would generate, you would have to think that administrators will push to have each team take an equal share of the burden of hosting those games and absorbing the (assumed) loss in local revenue.

Do you think it's a coincidence Minnesota leads the way with the most games and Penn State the least? No. It's about TV ratings. Minnesota draws, Penn State doesn't. The schools will do what the Big Ten, and more importantly, the Big Ten Network tell them.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Think about the Big Ten playing eight Thursday games on national TV this year. What is the rest of the hockey world doing? Probably tuning into the Big Ten Network. What are recruits doing? Probably tuning into the Big Ten Network. What are they doing on Sunday's in February after football is over?

Let's not fool ourselves into thinking anyone but a hockey fanatic is going to tune in to the BTN to watch a hockey game that they have no personal attachment to. During the off weekends from this past season there was always plenty of hockey on TV between NBCSN, BTN, FSN...did I watch a single game that didn't involve the Badgers? Nope. Am I going to watch any Thursday or Sunday game that doesn't involved the Badgers this year? Nope.

I love the "expand the brand" movement (any exposure for college hockey is a good thing), but to think that "the hockey world" is going to automatically turn a BTN game on just because it is there is a bit too much of a stretch for me to believe.

Do you think it's a coincidence Minnesota leads the way with the most games and Penn State the least? No. It's about TV ratings. Minnesota draws, Penn State doesn't. The schools will do what the Big Ten, and more importantly, the Big Ten Network tell them.

I don't know all of the financial details, but I would guess that Minnesota has a sizable contract with Fox Sports for their local broadcast rights. Will they make more out of the revenue sharing from a Thursday/Sunday night BTN game or a Saturday night Fox Sports game? I don't know, but if the numbers come back showing that the Fox Sports games generate more revenue for the school (when you factor in any changes in attendance for a Thursday/Sunday vs Saturday game), you can bet that they will lobby for less of the Thursday/Sunday games. And when that happens, someone else will have to pick them up.

And heck, if you look at a team like Penn State or Ohio State that may not have strong local TV coverage, they should be begging BTN to pick up more of their games, to get more exposure, to get more games that the locals can watch on TV, right? But I don't think that any fan base is going to wholeheartedly support this move.


But let's not fool ourselves, as you correctly stated this is about money and nothing else. The Big Ten Conference will do whatever is the in the best interest of the Big Ten Network, regardless of what schools, administrations, coaches, players, fans, local businesses, or anyone else wishes.

Sorry to come across as so contrarian, and maybe this is me arguing just for the sake of arguing during the early summer days when I don't find much in the sports world to grab my attention, but I think that this is an issue that will be debated for a long time to come and in the end none of our opinions are likely to matter anyways so this is just an exercise in internet debate...

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Let's not fool ourselves into thinking anyone but a hockey fanatic is going to tune in to the BTN to watch a hockey game that they have no personal attachment to. During the off weekends from this past season there was always plenty of hockey on TV between NBCSN, BTN, FSN...did I watch a single game that didn't involve the Badgers? Nope. Am I going to watch any Thursday or Sunday game that doesn't involved the Badgers this year? Nope.

You sound like quite the hockey fan

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I personally wouldn't mind a Sunday afternoon game over the winter months. Thursday and Sunday nights suck IMO, and are not good for attendance.

Only two possible games that will get moved is OK in my book. Sucks that the Friday ticket holders get the brunt of these scheduling options.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

You sound like quite the hockey fan

I think his viewing is typical for most fans. I don't watch from start to finish any non-WI games either. I'll check in from time to time to see the score of non-WI games. If it's a 1 goal game late in the 3rd or a tie I may watch the last 5 minutes or so, depending on what else I am watching. But if the eldest son is around and we're veiwing a non-hockey show together, his smart phone tells him updates and then he tells me. If it's a Friday and UW isn't on tv, I'll bounce from game to game, that's kinda my night to watch hockey.

Hopefully UW's b6 slice of hockey money will make up for them losing 4-6000 ticket sales for a Th/Su game.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

I don't watch from start to finish any non-WI games either.

Not even playoffs/NHL/NHL playoffs? I know you didn't mention the NHL, but I'm curious.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Not even playoffs/NHL/NHL playoffs? I know you didn't mention the NHL, but I'm curious.

NHL is pretty much the same thing, it's really just a matter of having time to watch all this stuff, having a family and house and all. Usually I have a time window of 9-10pm open watch whatever I want, hence catching the later parts of games and NHL OT to see a recap. If the Rangers get to the finals, I'll watch more of the games, my eldest son and I are Ranger fans, but he works a lot of nights til 9:30, so that's a bummer for him.

Gefferion classic.....I read they were trying to get some former UW gals but they had some scheduling issues with Vetter and Duggan. Hopefully they can get Knight to come. I would have loved to see Vetter in goal opposite Elliott.

 

[The-C2]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Don't know if I completely missed someone saying this earlier but Dahl signed with a team in Germany a week ago. Really proud of him, was my favorite guy to watch the past few years.

 

[TJbadgerfan]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

After the Northern Michigan series they have 2 games in the following 33 days. Wonder if that's bad for a young team trying to gel, or if all the practice time would be more beneficial for that.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Not even playoffs/NHL/NHL playoffs? I know you didn't mention the NHL, but I'm curious.

NHL is pretty much the same thing...

Yeah, that is about the same for me to. I'll turn on the highlights, or catch a few minutes here and there of other games or a few minutes of an NHL game (I love the play-by-play calls of Doc Emrick). But without a personal interest in the games, I just can't get past 5-10 minutes of anything else.

If it is the Badgers, I'll watch from beginning to end. I've even been known to get home from the Kohl Center just in time to watch the replay on WPT to see what their take is on a controversial penalty call or goal review.

But I couldn't really care less about the latest AHA/ECAC/HEA/NCHC/WCHA game unless the outcome of that game has a direct impact on the Badgers. And even when it is another set of B6 teams, I might have that on in the background with mild interest while I occupy myself with something on my computer or cell phone.

 

[hotpocket]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

When does the Madison Capitals schedule get released? Curious to see how many weekends both teams are at home and the impact it will have on attendance.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

After the Northern Michigan series they have 2 games in the following 33 days. Wonder if that's bad for a young team trying to gel, or if all the practice time would be more beneficial for that.

Still trying to schedule another series in there after NMU/before UND.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Still trying to schedule another series in there after NMU/before UND.

I assume this will be away, as the ticket package renewals are on the street. Why not another home series in there versus away? Only 9 games for the Friday package and 9 (+1 exhibition) on Saturday.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

When does the Madison Capitals schedule get released? Curious to see how many weekends both teams are at home and the impact it will have on attendance.

Well badger fans only watch the badgers, so no overlap there... I feel like the Caps are already facing major headwinds before they've even started playing.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

Well badger fans only watch the badgers, so no overlap there... I feel like the Caps are already facing major headwinds before they've even started playing.

There you go again trying to be smart and make connections that may not be there.

... But without a personal interest in the games, I just can't get past 5-10 minutes of anything else...

I didn't say that I won't watch any other games regardless of situation, I said that I won't watch games that I don't have a personal interest in.

With another local team, depending on what their schedule is compared to the Badgers, I might go catch a few games this season. For me, so much of watching and enjoying hockey is being at the game; if the level of play and the overall environment turn out to be something that clicks with me, the Caps may have another fan.

It isn't that I don't like hockey, or won't follow any other team, it is that I don't watch hockey for the sake of watching hockey. If this is a team that I can see play regularly (live), and develop an interest in the players involved, that is something I may be able to get behind and support.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXIX: Yes, this is the Rumpel Rink!

There's still 4 minutes and a whole period to go in regulation, and the Badgers in the NYR/MTL game have combined for 4 goals and 2 assists.