Attendance

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Re: Attendance

Of course conferences need to decide on their own, I just think if they decided as the B1G and WCHA have done, their fans would see it as an upgrade. .

Especially understandable coming from an ND fan. In Hockey East, there was no fair way to do neutral site semis an finals, but that was more of an indication that Notre Dame wasn't a good fit in HE. I think everybody knew that, and the only reason Notre Dame was there was because of the rapid conference realignment. B1G is eminently logical for Notre Dame hockey.

But doesn't everybody use home ice for the opening rounds of the conference tournament? For Hockey East, I think the Garden is fine. Attendance was scattered, but larger than it would have been at some home rinks. And as a hockey junkie with no particular team attachment, I like the idea of being able to watch both semis if I want to. But HE (without Notre Dame) is pretty centered geographically. Be interested to hear from someone in the ECAC. They've seemed to cast around unsuccessfully for a neutral site.

I see lots of upside to a home ice format for higher seeds in conference tournaments, and if it helps attendance at regionals by requiring less travel in the weeks preceding for some fans, that's a win-win.

We are, for the most part. I sidetracked it a little bit. I do think attendance at regionals stands to be impacted by what fans have to do in the week before though. If we eliminate travel for half our fans, they may be more ready, willing and able to travel the next week to see their team in a regional, so conference tournament format and attendance still matters to the topic at hand.

Good point, and nice segue

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Attendance

Of course conferences need to decide on their own, I just think if they decided as the B1G and WCHA have done, their fans would see it as an upgrade.

Indeed. It would provide new, live examples of why it's better to play against a loud crowd, as opposed to playing against empty seats.

Specifically speaking of attendance, the 2017 B1G tournament drew a total BOXSCORE attendance of 11,789 in Detroit, 8392 for the semi-finals and championship game, and for the final alone it was 5601. In St. Paul in 2016, the totals were 17,886 and 11,603 for the semi-finals and final, with the final attracting 6180. Again it should be noted this was the boxscore attendance, which I suspect was not even the actual tickets sold in Detroit. The "crowds" there were horrible for each game. We know it was of course not the butts in seats for any single session. This season, the B1G semi final games and championship game drew a total of 16,934, with the final game in South bend attracting 5515. The difference being of course, there actually were nearly 17,000 people in the buildings for the final 3 games of the B1G tournament. I was actually shocked when I saw a boxscore listing 6527 in Columbus for the Buckeye's semi-final game, because on TV it looked even more full than that.

I know you guys had the bye, but don't forget to add in the tickets sold for the first round games in Columbus, Ann Arbor & State College. Total of 6 games, all well attended. Add those numbers in and you'll see a landslide victory for the new format.

I see lots of upside to a home ice format for higher seeds in conference tournaments, and if it helps attendance at regionals by requiring less travel in the weeks preceding for some fans, that's a win-win.

Agreed. In fact, strongly agreed.

We are, for the most part. I sidetracked it a little bit. I do think attendance at regionals stands to be impacted by what fans have to do in the week before though. If we eliminate travel for half our fans, they may be more ready, willing and able to travel the next week to see their team in a regional, so conference tournament format and attendance still matters to the topic at hand.

That's enough justification right there.

But perhaps even more importantly, the conference tournaments provide a useful analogy to the regionals. Perfect analogy? No, of course not. But the games are scheduled on short notice, just like the regionals. The games are win-or-go-home for many of the teams, though admittedly not all. Still, rather similar to the regionals.

What other analogies are there? Holiday tournaments? Not the same thing at all. They're scheduled far in advance, so interested fans can shop for travel deals. The competition is far less intense; these tourneys sometimes look like friendly exhibition games.

Chickod notwithstanding, the experience at conference tournaments can definitely provide us with relevant information when discussing the regionals.

[The Rube]

Re: Attendance

Maybe you're being facetious (you know, we're pretty serious here in the East). I don't think they move to Boston, do they? Because there were quite a few here in 2015.

For the most part, no. The pro equivalent is Green Bay Packer fans. Most move to other cities. Sure, some travel, but many if not most are transplants (or bandwagoners, but not taking that route here). Grand Forks isn't exactly a metropolis, they have an excellent aviation program, so the grads move.

[The Zlax45]

Lots of empty seats at Worcester,MA for a Regional Championship game. Maybe some other city should host.

Largest attended regional ever in Worcester...just saying

[hobeydog]

Re: Attendance

In my view, the Worcester regional was terrific. Attendance was excellent on Saturday, the games were exciting, and pregame was fun at one of the many watering holes near the arena. I've attended regionals in Albany, Manchester, and Providence and prefer Worcester.

College hockey remains one of, if not the best value in all of spectator sports.

[northeastern]

Re: Attendance

In my view, the Worcester regional was terrific. Attendance was excellent on Saturday, the games were exciting, and pregame was fun at one of the many watering holes near the arena. I've attended regionals in Albany, Manchester, and Providence and prefer Worcester.

College hockey remains one of, if not the best value in all of spectator sports.

+1

[D2D]

Re: Attendance

College hockey remains one of, if not the best value in all of spectator sports.

Although I personally agree with you, the cost of Gopher tickets is a constant complaint in these parts.

[MTUHuskies]

Re: Attendance

Although I personally agree with you, the cost of Gopher tickets is a constant complaint in these parts.

What do the gophers charge? I know when I lived in St. Paul 30 years ago, I didn't want to spend my money to watch them, but that old barn was a special place.

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[D2D]

Re: Attendance

What do the gophers charge?

A pair of season tickets ranges from $2,000 (which includes a $300 per seat mandatory "gift") down to $1,200 in one of the 'end zones' (no required gift).

https://www.mygophersports.com/Onlin...e::context_id=

[MTUHuskies]

Re: Attendance

A pair of season tickets ranges from $2,000 (which includes a $300 per seat mandatory "gift") down to $1,200 in one of the 'end zones' (no required gift).

https://www.mygophersports.com/Onlin...e::context_id=

Yep, my wife isn't a big enough hockey fan for that to fly.

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[Big Trev]

Re: Attendance

They've actually done a pretty solid job renovating the MMC- but I think that because it is going to be connected to the new casino it might be off limits for NCAA tournaments (i.e. Mohegan Sun Arena for basketball)

[Big Trev]

Re: Attendance

I remember watching Cornell play Boston College in a regional final I'd say maybe 2001-2002-2003 in Providence. Place was 80% Cornell fans- they traveled pretty darn well to Worcester this last weekend.

[sterlippo1]

Re: Attendance

A pair of season tickets ranges from $2,000 (which includes a $300 per seat mandatory "gift") down to $1,200 in one of the 'end zones' (no required gift).

https://www.mygophersports.com/Onlin...e::context_id=

wow, you can get BC season tickets for under $300. i believe my last season, 2014-15 my two were under $600

[J.D.]

wow, you can get BC season tickets for under $300. i believe my last season, 2014-15 my two were under $600

And unlike Minnesota, we have witnessed a national title (multiple) in the last 15 years!

[Sean Pickett]

Re: Attendance

Largest attended regional ever in Worcester...just saying

Not even close according to the NCAA's Regional Attendance History. The two day total was 13,940, well short of 2012, 2010, 2006, 2005 and less than 2003 (pre-2003 the NCAA combined both regionals in their reports).

Sean