Re: The New WCHA 3, Revenge of the Sieve (2013-14)
Do you think NCAA athletes get a room to themselves? Do you think the arena there at BG is going to flinch at holding an extra weekend open because it might impact an "open skate" or a "beer league" game? Do you think the open skate or beer league game wouldn't easily go forward when BG is eliminated in the first round anyway? None of your points are valid.
You need to look at the composite schedule. When you do you'll see these things called "bye weeks". Nobody has to give up any home non-conference games. And every non-Alaskan team will get to play a minimum of 36 regular season home games a season which is two over and above the 34 game limit.
Either arena in Alaska would be sold-out for a conference championship game. I would expect that would be the case at every school in the league but I wouldn't guarantee it. In Anchorage I would guarantee it. A winning team there will mean a fuller barn. It's a horrible bandwagon hockey town but it is definitely a hockey town. The money generated by the increased attendence from all the home series would be easily offset the expense of flying to WHEREVER the championship game is played. Figure it out yourself. It isn't difficult. A central conference tournament is going to be lucky to put a total of 15,000 butts in the seats. 5 games in any combination of home arenas will be a minimum of 20,000 butts in seats. All playoff revenue is shared. You don't have to rent the expensive Xcel or the Van Andel plus the other costs the league incurs surrounding putting on the tournament.
The home series alternative makes more money. End of story.
Originally posted by pdt1081
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Schools try to schedule the maximum number of games each season. The two week playoff schedule the CCHA has used the last few years has resulted in many mid-week games. BG played games with both Michigan and Notre Dame this season on Tuesdays (BG also had a bye week). Both those schools are within reasonable driving distance for a single game. No schools in the WCHA are close enough for this. So under your proposal, teams would have to give up a non-conference series, possibly a home one, just to fit the games into the season.
And, no offense, but if the Championship game is to take place at one of the Alaska schools, how many people would actually show up? And would any money be saved flying an entire team there for one game?
The home series alternative makes more money. End of story.
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