nodak651

I don't think UND Hockey improved the addidas deal much - its fairly standard compared to other fcs schools. However, UND does actually have a deal in place with CCM for "hard goods", and it seems to be pretty good (though I haven't seen other hockey deals).

McFeely: North Dakota-based BEK buys television signal in Grand Forks This is a really good article that describes the Summit's current situation: McFeely: How valuable is the Summit League? Conference wants to find out

That's great to hear. So we can finally listen to the morning show on Iheart's website?

Midwest Communications will have the rights it looks like. Assuming the contract is still being negotiated. https://apps.nd.gov/csd/spo/services/bidder/main.htm

Is this a newly created position? If so, this should take a load off some of the assistant coaches who currently have to handle some of this stuff, correct? https://campus.und.edu/human-resources/careers/job-openings.html

he was on the radio?

Great ideas so far. More of the band please.

If athletes are going to be treated as employees, how long until we see contracts that specify length/duration of employment and include buyout fees?

Can anyone explain what this is about? Was this discussed already? https://www.northpine.com/blog/2022/06/24/tct-gray-bek-weigel-among-full-power-tv-auction-winners/ TCT, Gray, BEK, Weigel Among Full-Power TV Auction Winners Posted on June 24, 2022 by Jon Ellis Tri-State Christian Television, Gray TV, BEK Sports Network, and Weigel Broadcasting will be getting new full-power TV stations in the Upper Midwest as a result of FCC Auction 112. Of the 18 allotments sold nationwide, the one bringing in the most money was channel 27 in Grand Forks, ND, which went to BEK Sports Network with a $6,411,000 winning bid. BEK already owns two stations in western North Dakota and its new station will have the potential to reach Fargo.

They have the perfect arena already downtown. 4.7K capacity for hockey.

I get crap from my college buddies for going on message boards all the time, but they beat the news yet again. Props to Cberkas for naming Binghampton first. What are the odds they move forward, 50/50?

This is a surprisingly good breakdown of the TV/Streaming situation with the Summit League. https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/mcfeely-how-valuable-is-the-summit-league-conference-wants-to-find-out My prediction (complete guess)... I really think that Midco is going to make a run at a streaming/linear deal with the conference, and Fenton will use that as leverage with ESPN. I think odds are 50% Midco, 40% ESPN, 10% Summit.TV (like nchc.tv). If Midco gets the rights, I think games would be on their espn-like midcosn+ platform, and I think Fenton would look to pair that with CBSSN, who would air the basketball championship game and potentially a handful of regular season matchups (kind of like their deal with the NCHC). Edit: Here's another article about the Summit/CSMG partnership that I think includes some different quotes from Fenton. https://www.on3.com/news/summit-league-collegiate-sports-management-group-media-tv-rights-strategy-mens-basketball/

Seems St. Thomas scrapped the hockey arena plan at the Ford site. A small but vocal opposition seemed to be brewing, but I don't know if that was the cause or if it was that St. Thomas found a more suitable location or what. “after careful assessment, the university has determined the Highland Bridge site is no longer a viable option for a future hockey facility, primarily due to financial considerations.” https://www.twincities.com/2022/07/07/st-thomas-pulls-division-i-hockey-stadium-plan-out-of-highland-bridge-but-baseball-softball-remain/

In their proposal, Midco said that they would continue to provide UND's live game streams for free to conference streaming partners. In regard to the Fenton interview, no matter what the Summit league decides to do, it will not affect conference Football streams on ESPN+/3 because that is a MVFC conference deal, and hockey would also stay on NCHC.TV (unless hockey or football move under the Summit League's wing at some point). If the Summit does make any changes I don't get the impression that anything would take affect this year (could be wrong).

We do. It's Midco and Iheart. UND is working on finalizing contract negotiations with them now. Additionally, it seems that UND put out a rfp for an exclusive radio partner in Fargo. I'm guessing since Iheart doesn't have a radio station in Fargo, and because UND wanted to retain broadcasting rights for markets in which their flagship partner (iHeart) doesn't operate (as stated in initial rfp). Good move imo. https://bids.sciquest.com/apps/Router/PublicEvent?CustomerOrg=UND Also, people with comcast in the msp market may hear some good carriage news soon.

On a related note, this is a good article about Fenton and Summit League media strategy https://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/summit-league-partners-with-collegiate-sports-management-group-media-rights.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

https://www.grandforksgov.com/government/city-departments/planning-zoning/planning-projects Some new projects on the city's website, including a new rydell dealership and mem village.

Looks like the zoning request is now listed on the city's website. https://www.grandforksgov.com/government/city-departments/planning-zoning/planning-projects

looks like this https://www.enclavecompanies.com/ivy-at-soco

Yeah but it's all p5 or pro sports talk isnt it?

True. KFAN in the twin cities has done a great job of keeping listeners engaged. ND radio is missing anything that resembles the comradery and banter that KFAN has developed and is so good at. Would love to hear a few hours a week with a group like Dom, Kolpack/Mcfeely, Schlossman, and Tom, (or even Port occasionally) all on the air at the same time. Maybe they could hire a funny producer or something as well. I also understand that this will never happen, given Forum Communications unwillingness or inability to invest in a quality product. There could actually be a quality discussion or debate with that group. So sick of radio shows with a single host that do nothing but monologues and interviews while hardly ever taking phone calls. Boring.

Pretty sure things are moving along as quickly as possible. Donations do not seem to be an issue. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22072092-highland-bridge-ford-ust-proposed-master-plan-and-zoning-text-amendments

Fenton starting to make changes. Summit is dead last of all multi sport conferences in total Twitter/FB/Instagram followers (Data from 2020 below). NCHC currently has nearly 72K Twitter/FB/Insta followers. Which would slot a single sport "niche" hockey conference (not even a decade old) just behind the Big East, and well ahead of the MVC and Big Sky. Looks like he is making a social media hire to improve the fan engagement and profile of the Summit League. Not huge news or anything, but it's the off season and I find it somewhat interesting.

PAC 12 can't generate enough media money. By a large margin. Big Ten adding schools in addition to USC and UCLA would make sense. Notre Dame could be in play with the addition of USC. Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Arizona would also make sense IMO. Also, so much for the PAC12 hockey conference fantasy Maybe this would make it more likely for USC, UCLA, Washington, Colorado, Arizona to add hockey, if the Big Ten does actually poach PAC12 schools. How good are San Diego's academics?