MafiaMan

One guy in my group is an LSSU grad. If his two buddies weren't Sioux or Gopher fans, he wouldn't be at the X with us either. Of course, now, this conference thing presents some issues because we all want to be in different places!

I do get what you are saying too. It would be fun for the two leagues to stage some sort of fan-fest so there is some college hockey mixing going on. I loved the Frozen Four events around the X a couple of years ago.

That's like saying multiple fan bases take over Minneapolis and St Paul every time the Timberwolves and Wild each play at home on the same night. Honestly, Mpls and St Paul may as well be Fargo and Grand Forks. The fan bases don't typically intersect anywhere. I do hope the WCHA succeeds, I really do. If the NCHC title game is Denver vs CC, you just might find me in St Paul instead, no matter who is playing.

BS. White at home or I'm kicking you out of the NHL.

You and I are more than casual fans, that's why. I get what you are saying, but 10 out of 10 Sioux fans likely won't drive from Grand Forks to St Paul to see Michigan Tech vs LSSU and 9 out of 10 Gopher fans won't drive from Plymouth, Bloomington, or Forest Lake to Minneapolis to see Miami vs North Dakota.

If Lake Superior State vs Ferris State is a 2pm game, I'll be there.

Exactly. One Gopher fan will come to Target Center to watch the NCHC. I've seen the X without the Gophers there...GFG will be one of the few who shell out $ to watch somebody else play.

Yea that's a bit over the top. I believe a high school somewhere went black turf for 'cost' reasons, then promptly announced they were going to wear black jerseys at home.

Are you in the TC area?

LOL! I knew that comment might wake you up!

WRONG! Florida couldn't hold a candle to Georgia this season.

Put down the bong, Shawn-O. The Blackskirts defense gave up 70 to Wisconsin and redeemed themselves by letting Georgia put up almost 50. You're dreaming if you think Nebraska would have beaten OSU this season.

That probably carries a little more weight than my state broomball experience wearing white jerseys in front of dozens of fans at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine.

I believe the Mountain West bans Boise State football from wearing blue jerseys with blue pants at home for similar reasons.

Media coverage will also be a factor. Detroit and M-St P newspapers and radio will give the mew WCHA about as much attention as they do South Dakota State football. Green Bay has the Gamblers and they could be used in the same way the Wild are currently used to help promote hockey.

Green Bay would have been a great option. In fact, the WCHA probably missed a good chance to downsize its venue and use that to its advantage. A conference championship game with 3500 or 4000 fans in a venue about that size is still a packed house or close to it. 3500 to 4000 at the X or The Joe is a morgue atmosphere.

I think the 'new' WCHA has two big issues that are almost impossible to overcome: #1 being school size and #2 being distance between schools. I seriously think a specific site every other year for the WCHA Final Five will be a disaster. The best way to decide where the tournament would be held might be to let the conference regular season champion host it. You would probably guarantee more tickets sold in Bemidji, Houghton, or Mankato than you would if your Final Five in St Paul happened to consist of Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech, Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, and Lake Superior State. Same thing if Joe Louis Arena hosts and your FF are Mankato, Bemidji, Alaska, A-A, and one of the UP schools.

For me as well, but it would allow Sioux fans in Denver the opportunity to see a Final Five. I am curious as to how attendance there would stack up against the X.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in a small group of fans who would spend a few bucks to go see some teams I've never seen play before...but not many folks are that big of a fan that they would do the same. I would LOVE to see the new-look WCHA succeed...but I'm skeptical.

I am surprised that the NCHC didn't go for the every-other-year at Xcel and Pepsi Centers. I honestly think folks will be disappointed in what they see at Target Center. And why the X took the new WCHA is beyond me...

Right! How many times have I read the Star Tribune or Pioneer Press talk about Minnesota's #1 ranking in October or January...only to hear about the team keeping busy playing 'Call of Duty Black Ops' when other teams are busy playing hockey in March?

I am glad to see that your 'nest' is adjusting...maybe some more road trips for you now? 2005 Columbus...damn that was fun!

Further proof that the 'ranked teams' notation is bs...that #16 Spartan team that Minnesota throttled is currently 5-12-3 on the season.

LOL...I'm no professional, but I've played PLENTY of competitive softball and broomball in my day and never, ever, would I say our team had an issue of thinking it was harder to see teammates when we were wearing light jerseys as opposed to our dark jerseys. Time to call Mythbusters... The only time I can recall a change like this was in the late 70's when Buffalo switched from white helmets to dark helmets to try to help out QB Joe Ferguson who was color-blind.

Wisconsin hockey fans travel well...if the travel is to Green Bay or Milwaukee. You would think the St Cloud vs Wisconsin regional championship game two years ago at the X would have drawn 10,000...I was there...lower bowl had PLENTY of seats available. I don't think that game's attendance was over 5,000. In Badger defense, it's easy to say Sioux and Gopher fans support the Final Five...if either of those teams had won only one semi-final game over the last 13 years, the X would contain a lot fewer green and maroon jerseys in the stands.