engelbunny

It was explained to me this way: At the Orleans Arena, the large home team locker room is behind the bench closest to the horseshoe end with all the seats. The team on that bench would then shoot twice at the end with no seats. Apparently, the Wranglers and the visiting team would come out of their locker rooms and then actually switch benches, so the Wranglers could shoot twice at the horseshoe. UND wants to use the home team locker room, and there is no way these teams are going to be allowed to skate out and switch benches.

Once again, very pleased with my ballot:

Tickets and Hotel have been taken!

Some people from our group have backed out, so I have 3 sets of tickets available for the Duluth Series. Tickets are in Section 224. Sioux shoot twice at that end. Face value is $80 per set - $240 total. Also have an extra room booked at the Comfort Suites Canal Park (Double Queen with a sofa sleeper - sleeps 3 comfortably) that I could get transferred. I think the room is about $160 per night. The Comfort Suites is an easy walk to the Amsoil, and there are plenty of restaurants / bars in the canal park area. PM me if interested.

I took a few days to really think it over and weigh the pros of cons of each the choices before I voted. Finally voted today and feel great about it:

If Rough Riders is chosen, UND could just use this press release as a template. Change Texas to North Dakota, and change names like Frisco, Plano, and McKinney to Dickinson, Medora, and Grassy Butte. Change the baseball references to hockey references, and we should be good to go. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150225&content_id=110465044&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t540&sid=t540

Please expand on what the definition of the "hockey-only" crowd is.

Maybe someone on here can explain this derision toward "hockey only" fans. First of all, give me an example of the typical "hockey only" fan. Because the reality at UND is that the Men's Hockey team is the straw that turns the entire drink when it comes to donations to the Champions Club and then the purchase of tickets to all athletic events. As you well know, first you plunk down your Champions Club member cash and then you can buy tickets. How many people lay down the Directors, Emerald, or Diamond club level cash in order to secure the right to purchase just football, or men's or women's basketball tickets? Not very many. But those levels are sold out at the Ralph. (As is every other season ticket in the arena - hop on the waiting list!) Then what do those Champions Club "hockey only" people do? They buy their tickets to football and basketball as well. It is all the same people. So get off it.

They certainly did! They pretty much ignored the tribes until the NCAA pushed the issue and then went begging for a favor. After beggin for a favor, they complained the favor wasn't being acted on fast enough. When one tribe acted on it in the affirmative, they said thanks, but we think we need to drop the name anyway so we can get into the Summit League, but then joined the Big Sky instead. Then 18 months into a 3 year timeline, they decided to move up the deadline for dropping the name up by a whole year. Then when Spirit Lake objected they told them to pound sand because they have no standing in the issue. I don't know what more they could have done! Handled the whole situation brilliantly. (edited to add a missing word)

By "two neighbors", I can only conclude you are referring to the UND administration and the State Board of Higher Education.

I am firmly in the no nickname camp, and I explained why. My decision has nothing to do with marketing dollars, and I already explained that as well. With regard to marketing money: Unless the NCAA somehow reverses it policy, UND will be forevermore prohibited from monetizing the Fighting Sioux brand. It cannot sell the trademarks or copyright nor can it license it in any way associated with the athletic department. It can do 2 things with it: Use it every so often in some non-descript way in order to maintain its copyright and trademark, or give it to a recognized Sioux Tribe. Those are the only options available, therefore it's value to UND is $0.00. I understand that if UND gave the brand to Spirit Lake then potentially "those dollars would go to the tribe(s)". So what? They cannot market the name in conjunction with UND. UND will have their own name. I understand you are fearful that a new name may struggle to get traction if Fighting Sioux and the Brien logo are available elsewhere. I get all of that, but my consistent thought process starts from a different core point of view - what is the best way to treat the old name with the utmost respect and dignity? I still come down to 1 of 2 ways: Silently honor it by not picking a new name, or pick a new name and give Fighting Sioux back to its people.

82Siouxguy: The Fighting Sioux Name and Logo are worth exactly $0.00 dollars to the University of North Dakota, because the University is prohibited from actively licensing them to captialize on any revenue stream. You are only worried about the potential competition to a new UND nickname, yet no one that is a hard core supporter of the Fighting Sioux name (no matter their motivation) is going to buy any of that stuff anytime soon. These people already have Sioux gear to last them years. Your point is moot.

Look, earlier in this thread someone asked if anyone in the no-nickname crowd could possibly explain their position. I did so. Agree or disagree, but I am consistent in my argument. My belief is that the "Fighting Sioux" name was, and is, more than just a marketing piece. You state it was a "good nickname" and Briens artwork "is a good looking logo". I say they represent more than just a name and a logo. My thoughts on the name transcend any dollar value you can put on it. I am not making my argument from an economic perspective. In fact, I certainly know that my reasoning on this issue is antithetical to any marketing campaign a new nickname for UND would need. I am also not an idealist, but in this instance I am taking an idealist point of view. I am taking my stance to its logical conclusion; if the name is truly one of respect and honor, then base the decision on what is ultimately done with it on that alone, and forget about $$$. In the end it will all work out for the best.

Why would future residents and future students care if there is "Fighting Sioux" merchandise for sale, when UND is the "Sundogs", or the "Nakotas", or the "Blizzards", or whatever? I am being a bit facetious there, but isn't this the entire problem with a new name? In order for a new name to be successful, we have to hide the old one in some dark closet? Speak of it in hushed tones? Snidely sneer at those who continue to wear it as old coots who are harming the university because they just can't let go? I can't think of anything that could dishonor the name more. I stated earlier that I believe the name was a tribute and an honor. If UND goes the no nickname route, they pay silent homage to the "Fighting Sioux" name and reaffirm its past use as one of solemn respect. If they pick a new name, then the best way to treat "Fighting Sioux" with the dignity it deserves is to give it back from where it came, not bury it.

Your points are valid, but I am not trying to paint a broad brush by assuming that everyone for the name has honorable intentions. Certainly many do not. However, many do; and the University's intent was to honor. You cannot also not deny that there are many in the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota tribes that perceived the name to be an honor and they now feel they have been betrayed by the loss of the name. Finally, I also recognize that others in the Sioux tribes feel strongly in the complete opposite, which is a perfectly valid viewpoint and undeserving of any insult, to say the least. If UND decides to go the no nickname route, then they must maintain control over the name and logo. To do otherwise would be a disingenuous farce. But if UND chooses to implement a new name and logo, the institution is making the definitive statement that going forward they are something other than the "Fighting Sioux", so what is wrong with gifting the name and the Brien logo to the local tribes. The gift would be one given in honor, It would certainly put the matter to rest once and for all, and it is completely within UND's right to do so under the settlement agreement. If the tribes feel that the name is an insult, they can do nothing with it. If they don't, they can market it. That would be their business. You seem to be worried about competition against a new name. So what? There is already enough Fighting Sioux merchandise in the hands of "die hards" to last for decades anyway. And what's wrong with the tribes making money?