A weaker non conference schedule seems to work for PSU. Not saying it’s a good thing, but seems to work if you can get through your non conference sch. unscathed.
Should we try to play the better schools from back East that we normally do not see? Should North Dakota be an annual match-up?
They play North Dakota the next 4 seasons starting in the fall of 2025.
I think a fair criticism is the lack of playing eastern teams like BU/BC/Maine. I believe there is a good chunk of us fans that would love to travel out east.
I've heard that Motzko isn't too keen on playing SCSU at this point. I certainly could understand how that's a tough relationship as his ties to that community are so strong.
I also heard that Minnesota State isn't interested in scheduling the Gophers right now. Looking at their schedule with North Dakota, Omaha and Michigan makes it seem like they wanted some variety there too.
BC already has western dance partners Michigan State and SCSU, BU has NoDak and Michigan... I still think we'll see the Gophers schedule the Boston schools soon.
Should we try to play the better schools from back East that we normally do not see? Should North Dakota be an annual match-up?
They play North Dakota the next 4 seasons starting in the fall of 2025.
I think a fair criticism is the lack of playing eastern teams like BU/BC/Maine. I believe there is a good chunk of us fans that would love to travel out east.
Even if we can't make the road trip, just get some different teams into Mariucci, please.
I've heard that Motzko isn't too keen on playing SCSU at this point. I certainly could understand how that's a tough relationship as his ties to that community are so strong.
I also heard that Minnesota State isn't interested in scheduling the Gophers right now. Looking at their schedule with North Dakota, Omaha and Michigan makes it seem like they wanted some variety there too.
BC already has western dance partners Michigan State and SCSU, BU has NoDak and Michigan... I still think we'll see the Gophers schedule the Boston schools soon.
Id be fine with St. Thomas becoming an annual thing. Having a crosstown “rival” hasn’t been possible til a few years ago and it’s kind of fun. I love college hockey at the X and once they get their new arena there should be some fun 50/50 split atmospheres in those buildings.
You got any more detail on Mankato not being interested? They not confident in their program? I would think Motzko would want to play St.Cloud did he burn a lot of bridges?
Id be fine with St. Thomas becoming an annual thing.
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Good lord please no. The non-conference schedule needs to have variety. Adding another school as an "annual" thing just makes it worse.
K not annual but very common how about that
Every 4 years or so on average is plenty. There's 5 Minnesota schools and North Dakota to play "regularly" Two weekends a year of that group is enough. Based on actual history, North Dakota in particular, and Duluth to a lesser extent, should be a little more regular that the other 4.
I honesty couldn't care less if they play the other MN schools regularly outside of UMD. Although if I had to pick between SCSU and Mercyhurst and the like of course go local.
You got any more detail on Mankato not being interested?
If I had to guess by what my bosses tell me from donor gatherings with the staff is that they already have in place a good mix of scheduling that the fanbase enjoys without relying on bringing in Minnesota every year. Honestly they do a good job of mixing in the in state schools each year besides a series from an out of state team for non conference games.
I am theofficial Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
If I had to guess by what my bosses tell me from donor gatherings with the staff is that they already have in place a good mix of scheduling that the fanbase enjoys without relying on bringing in Minnesota every year. Honestly they do a good job of mixing in the in state schools each year besides a series from an out of state team for non conference games.
As much fun as it'd be to watch, not many Minnesota coaches would like to play a non-conference schedule of NoDak, DU, BC, BU and Quinninpiac every year. Every coach wants a mix of a couple top teams and couple teams they feel like they should sweep... and I'm sure other schools in the state feel the same way.
I think the ideal schedule would include one old rival (UMD, SCSU, DU, CC, MT, NU, UND), someone from the HE every year (preferably BC, BU, UMass, UNH, MAINE), One team from the ECAC , and then wildcards where it can be anyone. Get a mix of perennial top 20 PWR and some mid-tier and bottom tier. Might be a hard schedule to manage, especially given the U's penchant for preferring $$$ from home games to good hockey, but it provides variety.
If all you are trying to do is generate revenue and have 6 of 8 NC games at home, you will always have a turrible Non-Con schedule.
If I had to guess by what my bosses tell me from donor gatherings with the staff is that they already have in place a good mix of scheduling that the fanbase enjoys without relying on bringing in Minnesota every year. Honestly they do a good job of mixing in the in state schools each year besides a series from an out of state team for non conference games.
As much fun as it'd be to watch, not many Minnesota coaches would like to play a non-conference schedule of NoDak, DU, BC, BU and Quinninpiac every year. Every coach wants a mix of a couple top teams and couple teams they feel like they should sweep... and I'm sure other schools in the state feel the same way.
There's nothing saying you can't find a sweapable team with a familiar name from Hockey East or ECAC for some variety. I don't know why, but I'd rather play Northern Michigan, Mass Lowell or Vermont than Mercyhurst.
I don't mind playing Mercyhurst once or twice... but then move on to NMU, or UML, etc. I don't want to see BC or BU on the schedule nearly every year any more than I want to see Bemidji 3 out of 4 years. Would I like to see them occasionally? Of course... get a couple years with BC, then a couple with BU, then a couple with NMU, then a couple with Cornell, etc.
If all you are trying to do is generate revenue and have 6 of 8 NC games at home, you will always have a turrible Non-Con schedule.
Unfortunately, I suspect this is the real driver for the NC schedule.
Frankly the fans have a lot to play in this as well. The Gophers aren't going to drop season ticket prices. So they almost need to schedule this way to have a certain number of games in the package because many--not all but many fans will complain if they are still paying full freight for a season ticket but there are 2-4 less games per season even if they are playing more interesting road opponents.
If all you are trying to do is generate revenue and have 6 of 8 NC games at home, you will always have a turrible Non-Con schedule.
Unfortunately, I suspect this is the real driver for the NC schedule.
Frankly the fans have a lot to play in this as well. The Gophers aren't going to drop season ticket prices. So they almost need to schedule this way to have a certain number of games in the package because many--not all but many fans will complain if they are still paying full freight for a season ticket but there are 2-4 less games per season even if they are playing more interesting road opponents.
I know I am not a college graduate but I can not understand how the U of M can continue to be charging the highest ticket prices for college hockey, they have not won a national championship since 2003
I know I am not a college graduate but I can not understand how the U of M can continue to be charging the highest ticket prices for college hockey, they have not won a national championship since 2003
When was the last championship the Vikings won? Do they fall in line for ticket pricing with other teams that fall there in terms of championship recency?
If all you are trying to do is generate revenue and have 6 of 8 NC games at home, you will always have a turrible Non-Con schedule.
Unfortunately, I suspect this is the real driver for the NC schedule.
Frankly the fans have a lot to play in this as well. The Gophers aren't going to drop season ticket prices. So they almost need to schedule this way to have a certain number of games in the package because many--not all but many fans will complain if they are still paying full freight for a season ticket but there are 2-4 less games per season even if they are playing more interesting road opponents.
I know I am not a college graduate but I can not understand how the U of M can continue to be charging the highest ticket prices for college hockey, they have not won a national championship since 2003
In a free market price is set where supply meets demand. They're setting the price to maximize revenue.
In Stearns County you have different demand and thus a different price.
If all you are trying to do is generate revenue and have 6 of 8 NC games at home, you will always have a turrible Non-Con schedule.
Unfortunately, I suspect this is the real driver for the NC schedule.
Frankly the fans have a lot to play in this as well. The Gophers aren't going to drop season ticket prices. So they almost need to schedule this way to have a certain number of games in the package because many--not all but many fans will complain if they are still paying full freight for a season ticket but there are 2-4 less games per season even if they are playing more interesting road opponents.
I know I am not a college graduate but I can not understand how the U of M can continue to be charging the highest ticket prices for college hockey, they have not won a national championship since 2003
In a free market price is set where supply meets demand. They're setting the price to maximize revenue.
In Stearns County you have different demand and thus a different price.
Except they are significantly higher than all the other schools, not just rural ones.
If all you are trying to do is generate revenue and have 6 of 8 NC games at home, you will always have a turrible Non-Con schedule.
Unfortunately, I suspect this is the real driver for the NC schedule.
Frankly the fans have a lot to play in this as well. The Gophers aren't going to drop season ticket prices. So they almost need to schedule this way to have a certain number of games in the package because many--not all but many fans will complain if they are still paying full freight for a season ticket but there are 2-4 less games per season even if they are playing more interesting road opponents.
I know I am not a college graduate but I can not understand how the U of M can continue to be charging the highest ticket prices for college hockey, they have not won a national championship since 2003
In a free market price is set where supply meets demand. They're setting the price to maximize revenue.
In Stearns County you have different demand and thus a different price.
Except they are significantly higher than all the other schools, not just rural ones.
idk what you missed about the “supply/demand” part.
To me, the U has a substantial “money making” strategy regarding hockey almost nowhere else in the country can match. You have your big money donors eating box seats and season tickets (ie 3M, Medtronic, etc) coupled with all the pro sports teams driving up ticket prices elsewhere which makes the Gopher ticket price seem like a “deal” comparatively. Now add that to we are one of the only hockey programs in a major metro area in a hockey hungry state. When you’re setting prices against nothing, ie what UND and Denver are doing versus just other college sports, ie what BC or Wisconsin are doing, you can’t ramp prices as aggressively even if you’re winning.
in short, this is an incredibly unique supply/demand situation that the U has decided to hammer their season ticket holders in, rather than ramp things to the general public to incentivize season ticket holding. They’re getting better with things like the buy back program, but the “discounted” rate (and perks/incentives for scanned tickets) could be better to reward your diehards who want to be there
Would assume this means either a lot of early season Fox 9 plus games for the Gophers or there's going to be a lot of BTN plus streaming early in the year.
Why do they wait so long to release a schedule? Even one that doesn’t have the game time on it. People could still use that information to schedule around. They used to release the schedule so much earlier and now it’s a damn mystery box right up until right before the season. I hate it.
Why do they wait so long to release a schedule? Even one that doesn’t have the game time on it. People could still use that information to schedule around. They used to release the schedule so much earlier and now it’s a damn mystery box right up until right before the season. I hate it.
Its the Big Ten, all other conferences have their schedules released
Why do they wait so long to release a schedule? Even one that doesn’t have the game time on it. People could still use that information to schedule around. They used to release the schedule so much earlier and now it’s a damn mystery box right up until right before the season. I hate it.
Because the B1G does not care about fans making plans around going to hockey games. They only care about lining up the TV schedule on BTN
Why do they wait so long to release a schedule? Even one that doesn’t have the game time on it. People could still use that information to schedule around. They used to release the schedule so much earlier and now it’s a damn mystery box right up until right before the season. I hate it.
Because the B1G does not care about fans making plans around going to hockey games. They only care about lining up the TV schedule on BTN
..and if they didn’t line these games up on BTN we would complain that they weren’t on tv. 🤷♂️
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GPL's Resident Cabin Enthusiast & Cadets Hockey Fan
@youngeagle Agreed. It's a fairly small (but very devoted and vocal) minority that travels. It's not really a surprise (or shouldn't be) that the conference is focused on the TV schedule vs making road trip planning easy.
Just for reference, last year the schedule was released on August 28th and the year before on August 22nd. We are getting close...
Not to pump my own tires but yours truly leaked it on GPL the day prior to the release two years ago. Got an email about my season tickets and the whole schedule was in the email. However not in an attachment but actually printed out and in very stencil like font. I did a double take, realized it was potentially the new schedule, and hopped on here to see if anyone else had gotten the same email. But I had to go to a meeting and completely forgot about it so I get back on GPL a few hours later and open up to five or six notifications from people asking what the new schedule was lol. Typed it out and then forwarded my email to Jup.
Have you heard any rumblings about when we might be indulged with a schedule….🤔
The only rumbling I've heard is the schedule will be released on a day that ends in "y".
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Here is the thing, the schedule is known and has been known since April/May. They know who and where teams are playing on a given weekend. They start with Fri/Sat and work from there. Move to Thr or Sun if needed. But the basic schedule is known. But the league itself are the ones controlling all of this BS, the schools are powerless.
But you gotta think that the school have some sort of idea what they schedule is... They need to know when the block off time for the areas and also hotel space for opponents right? How does all that work? It can't be last minute can it?
Do not like how this board is run? Get your own board! ♃
Here is the thing, the schedule is known and has been known since April/May. They know who and where teams are playing on a given weekend. They start with Fri/Sat and work from there. Move to Thr or Sun if needed. But the basic schedule is known. But the league itself are the ones controlling all of this BS, the schools are powerless.
But you gotta think that the school have some sort of idea what they schedule is... They need to know when the block off time for the areas and also hotel space for opponents right? How does all that work? It can't be last minute can it?
The venues have to be able to book other events too.
Does the B1G think they are creating buzz surrounding the schedule release like the NFL gets?
Unless they are going for annoying it ain't working.....
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Is all the delay from deciding what times the games are at? That would be stupid, but, with as much as we know the B1G doesn't care about hockey, it wouldn't surprise me.
Is all the delay from deciding what times the games are at? That would be stupid, but, with as much as we know the B1G doesn't care about hockey, it wouldn't surprise me.
I doubt they care about times that much since the football schedule is essentially TBD each week.
Is all the delay from deciding what times the games are at? That would be stupid, but, with as much as we know the B1G doesn't care about hockey, it wouldn't surprise me.
I doubt they care about times that much since the football schedule is essentially TBD each week.
That's what I'm curious about. It just doesn't make any sense to wait so long to release a schedule they know about. If it's the time of game, just put out "Gophers AT Michigan, January 10/11, time TBD" let us know what weekend is where is more than enough for most of us at this stage.
Is all the delay from deciding what times the games are at? That would be stupid, but, with as much as we know the B1G doesn't care about hockey, it wouldn't surprise me.
I doubt they care about times that much since the football schedule is essentially TBD each week.
That's what I'm curious about. It just doesn't make any sense to wait so long to release a schedule they know about. If it's the time of game, just put out "Gophers AT Michigan, January 10/11, time TBD" let us know what weekend is where is more than enough for most of us at this stage.
I do not remember if it took this long to set the schedule prior to being in the B10 hockey conference
