The Sicatoka

Tick-tock, tick-tock. So far, 6 from CHI, 5 each from ANA and WAS, so we have a pretty good idea of who people think will be hoisting a Cup.

That's a point for negotiation. If they are coming to UND and asking, UND can ask for and get what it needs or it can politely say, "Thanks but no thanks."

I didn't drill that deep. I just took the USCHO numbers at face value. < shrug > So, throw out the Minnesota numbers. Do Minnesota hockey fans want UND back (think: fan interest). That alone is worth it. Engaged fans are easier to separate from their dollars.

I spot checked three seasons (2011, 2014, 2017) at USCHO. From 2011 to 2017 Wisconsin's average is down 3000. From 2014 to 2017 Minnesota's average is down 2000. (So my $1.8M is $1.2M. I can live with that; my point holds.) Their gates are down, their dollars are down, and their fan interest is down.

UNDBIZ answered part of the question already. (There was confusion as to context; but, I'm saying 10% of what others get from BTN, so, it could be $4+ million annually.) How? Honestly. PMAB. Pissing, moaning, and bitching. Not by UND but by Minnesota and Wisconsin. Those two have suffered mightily at the turnstiles since BTHC. And that's an indicator of fan interest. And fan interest drives revenues across the board. Minnesota and Wisconsin hockey have suffered losses in fan interest since the loss of North Dakota on the schedule. Period. For UW, a 5000 avg att drop, for 20 games: 100000 tickets, at $20, $2,000,000 off the gate. For UMn, a 3000 avg att drop, for 20 games: 60000 tickets, at $30, $1,800,000 off the gate. But that is just gate; that's not the tertiary impacts of merchandise sales lost or secondary marketing. Say $4M to recover how much? And to get UND fans into those other rinks also? The other angles? UMi, MSU, OSU, and PSU got their wet dream in the BTHC: Our Lady of South Bend <-- what's UMn and UW get for that concession? And then there's the 8 is a better number than 7 conversation. Sorry, but Husker, Hawkeye, Illini, Wildcat, Hoosier, or Boiler hockey ain't gonna solve Minnesota's or Wisconsin's decreasing hockey fan interest problems. Next question.

SJ, I completely understand what you're saying, but, feel obliged to make one more point: An 8 team conference is better than a 7 team conference. Scheduling. Tournaments. Everything.

You have to admit that seeing the remaining two MVC MTen programs move to affiliate Summit status is a sign that there's no future for MTen in the MVC.

You're low, by a lot. Source: http://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/the-big-tens-new-tv-deal-puts-it-into-the-lead-may-provide-a-competitive-edge.html I'm saying $4.3 to 5.4 million per year* and a $13-$16 million buyout. *Tying the annual cut to 10% of the BTN per school payout puts in automatic escalator clauses. And it makes ejecting more and more expensive as well.

No, a reference to one of my other MUST clauses: - annual check from BTN equal to 10% of the check U of Minnesota gets from BTN. So, basically a check for 30% of what Minnesota gets as a parting gift.

I missed one of my MUSTS: - a "no ejection" clause -- say X adds hockey, the BTHC can not eject UND unless B1G pays an additional 3 years beyond ejection date of BTN revenues to UND in advance.

It's negotiations. As a wise one said to me recently, when they come to you you ask for the moon. Sure, they don't play FCS teams any more. But, why not ask for an exception. Most they can say is no and if they do you drop it.

Fine. SCSU.

UND, UMD, BSU, MSUM. Rotate the host site through those four.

Well, if there's no UMBC, MVC tennis ... dead.

Like when this came up before, if the BTHC is comin' and askin' UND should realize they are in a good negotiating position. If I am in the negotiations ... MUSTS (non-negotiables): - UND controls days/times of home games ( Fri@730 / Sat@700 unless UND decides otherwise) - UND gets secondary media rights for games not taken by BTN (meaning Midco regional cable or Fox regional cable) - B1G plays NCHC exit fees; no entry fees to BTHC - annual check from BTN equal to 10% of the check U of Minnesota gets from BTN. Additional negotiating points: - we'd really like a once in rotating four years exception to allow a B1G school to play UND in football (feel free to add here)

Really? < transcript starting at 21:11 > "Supposedly they're trying to recruit North Dakota for hockey but they don't want to write out the check. You know, if I'm North Dakota I make them give me five million dollars." http://www.1500espn.com/shows/saturday-sportstalk/ (link to April 8, hour 1, show is what you want)

Looking here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Valley_Conference MVC MTen is: Drake, Ill State, SIU, Wichita, and affiliates Stony Brook and UMBC. Wichita is gone. Stony Brook has dropped the sport. SIU dropped the sport. Drake and Ill State had to make a move (Summit). I'm guessing UMBC is scrambling.

Yup. They are staying hybrid ACC otherwise.

Our Lady of South Bend kept their rights to their NBCSN deal so they get nothing.

http://www.1500espn.com/shows/saturday-sportstalk/ (link to April 8, hour 1, show is what you want) At the 20:36 mark speculation about who the B1G goes after next (all sports). At the 21:08 mark mention of B1G Hockey and who their target is (and what the hold-up may be*) *Reusse et al floated a number of $5 million of BTN annual revenues. Who knows where they came up with that.

The Wells Fargo stagecoach doesn't go there?

Well, ... uh, ... yeah. The news there isn't the bolded portion; it's that Reusse would say it. If it were internet fantasy and pure poppycock he wouldn't bring it up.

Yes, but the old school, east coast, private institutions need bankrolls like that just to keep the lights on.

Conference != NCAA

Uh, ... Fort Wayne (IPFW). Indianapolis (IUPUI). Kansas City (UMKC).