(07-13-2018 01:52 PM)ccd494 Wrote:  Fun conversation, but I would point out that this meeting was with the DIRECTOR OF INTRAMURALS and no members of the Louisville athletic department were involved.

Apparently the guy in charge of the eighth satellite parking lot for the freshman dorms wasn't available to sit in.

AD approval isn’t needed. Presidential approval is needed and money talks.

Here’s another story about a Louisville group six months ago wanting to start DI hockey.

http://www.wave3.com/story/37527462/goal...n-i-status

It apparently took six months to get a meeting.

The Iceland rink in Louisville has been wracked with financial problems because of embezzlement, putting in doubt the club program.

(07-12-2018 09:48 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(07-12-2018 09:32 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Why would Miami and WMU go from an elite conference to poo-poo?

Doesn't make any sense.

The names North Dakota, Denver and Mn-Duluth, which have won the last three national titles, may be known to college hockey fans, but outside casual fans don’t get attracted to them to buy tickets. Notre Dame or Alabama would be much better ticket lures.

Exactly. The NCHC may have some strong programs, but they almost certainly aren't putting enough butts in Oxford and Kalamazoo seats to offset the travel costs.

Notre Dame and BC have established, high-level programs. I believe both have lucrative media deals for those programs. I don't see them joining a start up conference.

Hard to believe the Yum center wasn't designed to accommodate ice. Even so, it might be easier and less expensive to add ice to Yum. Especially considering Louisville gets the arena for a deal.

There are two feasibility studies sponsored by the NHL that remain confidential. My own thoughts are that Pitt and Buffalo are those schools. Buffalo has dropped a bunch of sports way ahead of time so as to not make it look a like coincidence. Youth hockey is exploding around Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania generally.

Along with Oakland, those schools and Louisville and other MAC schools would make a compact hockey conference.

(07-15-2018 01:06 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  Notre Dame and BC have established, high-level programs. I believe both have lucrative media deals for those programs. I don't see them joining a start up conference.

Hard to believe the Yum center wasn't designed to accommodate ice. Even so, it might be easier and less expensive to add ice to Yum. Especially considering Louisville gets the arena for a deal.

Ohio St plays in Schottenstein and draws flies. It has the worst atmosphere in the B10 and is planning a smaller ice arena.

ND has a contract with NBC Sports Network that isn’t very compelling for hockey. BC has the Hockey East contract. When the ACC Network gets going, neither may have a choice if more ACC schools start hockey.

Penn St has been the star of B1G hockey, even though it is a new program. Granted, the B1G was rock bottom two years ago, with the Michigans and Wisconsin sinking to unforeseen depths. There have been coaching changes galore now, and some of those programs may have been righted.

Expect Ariz St to become a power when they get a decent arena built and when they have a conference. It’s already getting good recruits. There are not may P5 programs in hockey, and they will spend money if it gets started there.

(07-15-2018 01:06 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  Notre Dame and BC have established, high-level programs. I believe both have lucrative media deals for those programs. I don't see them joining a start up conference.

If the ACC winds up having six programs, Notre Dame and Boston College aren’t sacrificing the rest of their athletic programs to maintain their current hockey affiliation. The existing media deals would remain in place until they expire.

ACC Hockey could wind up looking more like the old Big East if Pittsburgh and Louisville take the plunge, especially if Syracuse and Virginia Tech ultimately follow.

Hockey East would likely remain at 10 members on the men’s side. I could see the Big 10 going after Arizona State, but it might depend on any internal growth.

If Buffalo starts a program, I could easily see the MAC adding hockey, even if it is simply merging with the NCHC.

(07-15-2018 07:31 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  If Buffalo starts a program, I could easily see the MAC adding hockey, even if it is simply merging with the NCHC.

As a MAC guy, I would love to see Buffalo become a men's hockey school, but I'd be surprised if any G5 school launches a men's hockey program in the foreseeable future. Buffalo just cut baseball and a couple of other sports. That suggests adding another sport is not high on their priority list right now.

The thing about hockey is that it is tough for G5 schools to balance the expense of FBS football against more limited revenue and also work through the Title IX implications of adding hockey, where schools can offer more than 20 scholarships. Bowling Green, Miami, Western Michigan, and a few others do it because we already have decades invested in the sport. As far as starting anew: Easier now for P5, nonfootball Division I schools, or Division II schools to give it a go. (Division II schools can play up a division in hockey if they wish; much of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association consists of such schools.)

If Buffalo were to add hockey, the most logical conference would be Atlantic Hockey. Canisius, RIT, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, and Niagara are already there from Western New York and Western Pennsylvania. Also, while I might be mistaken, I believe Atlantic Hockey programs play with less than the full allotment of scholarships. That would help with containing costs and Title IX.

If the ACC starts hockey BC will either become Gonzaga (great team in a ****** conference) or die a slow death.

(07-16-2018 09:56 AM)Minutemen429 Wrote:  If the ACC starts hockey BC will either become Gonzaga (great team in a ****** conference) or die a slow death.

I don't see the ACC "starting hockey". Especially, if we're counting on Louisville to help move that needle.

There could be a handful of schools playing hockey. But they'll find homes elsewhere.

As I have said in this thread, the idea that Louisville "makes the jump" is a long shot at best, at this stage. Until a major money player emerges locally, to fund that kind of effort, all this talk is just dreaming. Fun dreaming, no doubt. But dreaming nonetheless.

If Louisville doesn’t take a new arena for a hockey team, the group could offer one to Bellarmine. A DII school can go DI in hockey. Don’t know what Bellarmine’s land situation is though.

(07-16-2018 09:50 AM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(07-15-2018 07:31 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  If Buffalo starts a program, I could easily see the MAC adding hockey, even if it is simply merging with the NCHC.

As a MAC guy, I would love to see Buffalo become a men's hockey school, but I'd be surprised if any G5 school launches a men's hockey program in the foreseeable future. Buffalo just cut baseball and a couple of other sports. That suggests adding another sport is not high on their priority list right now.

The thing about hockey is that it is tough for G5 schools to balance the expense of FBS football against more limited revenue and also work through the Title IX implications of adding hockey, where schools can offer more than 20 scholarships. Bowling Green, Miami, Western Michigan, and a few others do it because we already have decades invested in the sport. As far as starting anew: Easier now for P5, nonfootball Division I schools, or Division II schools to give it a go. (Division II schools can play up a division in hockey if they wish; much of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association consists of such schools.)

If Buffalo were to add hockey, the most logical conference would be Atlantic Hockey. Canisius, RIT, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, and Niagara are already there from Western New York and Western Pennsylvania. Also, while I might be mistaken, I believe Atlantic Hockey programs play with less than the full allotment of scholarships. That would help with containing costs and Title IX.

The W Pa and W NY schools had already indicated that they want to leave Atlantic Hockey. The were the ones that pushed for full scholarships. The “eastern” AHA schools have drastically upgraded their arenas since. The AHA used to be just a few scholarships more than a club team league and several schools have dropped hockey because they didn’t want to spend and upgrade like Fairfield. Sacred Heart, American International, Holy Cross and Bentley are examples of upgrading. If Holy Cross moves to Hockey East, the AHA may soon expand. Strange that it’s been at such a standstill. Been expecting Liberty to declare, since they have massively upgraded their on campus arena.

(07-16-2018 07:04 PM)NoDak Wrote:  If Louisville doesn’t take a new arena for a hockey team, the group could offer one to Bellarmine. A DII school can go DI in hockey. Don’t know what Bellarmine’s land situation is though.

Well ... if there's money from this group for an ice hockey arena, U of L wouldn't turn it down.

If there isn't the money for it, then U of L would continue being a club program. So I don't think it'd ever get to Bellarmine.

Bellarmine (I believe) is Div I in men's lacrosse ... at least I think they are. They were at some point. I would assume they still are. I could be wrong though.

(07-16-2018 07:14 PM)NoDak Wrote:  The W Pa and W NY schools had already indicated that they want to leave Atlantic Hockey. The were the ones that pushed for full scholarships. The “eastern” AHA schools have drastically upgraded their arenas since. The AHA used to be just a few scholarships more than a club team league and several schools have dropped hockey because they didn’t want to spend and upgrade like Fairfield. Sacred Heart, American International, Holy Cross and Bentley are examples of upgrading. If Holy Cross moves to Hockey East, the AHA may soon expand. Strange that it’s been at such a standstill. Been expecting Liberty to declare, since they have massively upgraded their on campus arena.

After the founding of the NCHC and the decision by other schools to join the WCHA, Bowling Green was the very last school to leave the CCHA, which it helped found. BGSU spent a couple of months exploring its options before also accepting an invitation to the WCHA. The sense some of us got -- and I don't know how well-publicized this was -- is that Bowling Green wanted to set up a conference with the Western New York and Pennsylvania schools, and perhaps some in Michigan. This would have been a much smaller travel-friendly footprint. But it didn't materialize, for whatever reason.

If Western Michigan and Miami were to leave the NCHC, I suspect a new CCHA would form around the three MAC schools.

LOL, BC I am sure is paying Louisville to not start a DI hockey program and to make sure the ACC never becomes a Hockey Conference, I wouldn't doubt it if ND throws in a few dollars to keep the rest of the ACC schools thinking about it, to STOP IT. To leave Hockey East or BIG for a starter hockey conference, I am sure is on the top of those two hockey schools wish lists.

(07-19-2018 03:24 PM)mike012779 Wrote:  LOL, BC I am sure is paying Louisville to not start a DI hockey program and to make sure the ACC never becomes a Hockey Conference, I wouldn't doubt it if ND throws in a few dollars to keep the rest of the ACC schools thinking about it, to STOP IT. To leave Hockey East or BIG for a starter hockey conference, I am sure is on the top of those two hockey schools wish lists.

BC would probably demand that the ACC takes BU. If UConn is good, might take UConn and Providence too. The rest of Hockey East is CAA/A10 status (Northeastern and UMass ) or worse (America East or lesser status).

A P5 starting hockey gets up to speed quick. Penn St has already dominated the B1G after one year as an independent and one as a conference member. P5 names are hard to find in college hockey.

(07-16-2018 08:19 PM)Pervis_Griffith Wrote:  

(07-16-2018 07:04 PM)NoDak Wrote:  If Louisville doesn’t take a new arena for a hockey team, the group could offer one to Bellarmine. A DII school can go DI in hockey. Don’t know what Bellarmine’s land situation is though.

Well ... if there's money from this group for an ice hockey arena, U of L wouldn't turn it down.

If there isn't the money for it, then U of L would continue being a club program. So I don't think it'd ever get to Bellarmine.

Bellarmine (I believe) is Div I in men's lacrosse ... at least I think they are. They were at some point. I would assume they still are. I could be wrong though.

Bellarmine is Division I in men’s lacrosse and plays in the SoCon.

Bellarmine has a tiny campus in a densely developed area of Louisville. There might be some chance of building something on Via Cassia. If Louisvulle Metro is willing to sell Joe Creason park, that might be another option,but I don’t know if much of the land is usable due to Beargrass Creek.

If Louisville insists on an “on campus” arena for hockey, the most prudent solution would be to buy Broadbent Arena and lease it back to the State Fair for a few weeks each year. U of L could then work on acquiring various pieces of land to connect to the rest of the campus.

The State Fair then can demolish Old Cardinal Stadium and build a turnabout so Circle of Champions won’t be a dead end, and replace whatever parking lot they sell to U of L with Broadbent.

(07-15-2018 07:31 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(07-15-2018 01:06 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  Notre Dame and BC have established, high-level programs. I believe both have lucrative media deals for those programs. I don't see them joining a start up conference.

If the ACC winds up having six programs, Notre Dame and Boston College aren’t sacrificing the rest of their athletic programs to maintain their current hockey affiliation. The existing media deals would remain in place until they expire.

ACC Hockey could wind up looking more like the old Big East if Pittsburgh and Louisville take the plunge, especially if Syracuse and Virginia Tech ultimately follow.

Hockey East would likely remain at 10 members on the men’s side. I could see the Big 10 going after Arizona State, but it might depend on any internal growth.

If Buffalo starts a program, I could easily see the MAC adding hockey, even if it is simply merging with the NCHC.

Wouldn't grandfather rules apply? BC & ND had established hockey programs when they joined the ACC. If the ACC were to add hockey would BC & ND forced to join the ACC or could they remain where they are?

(07-20-2018 07:42 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  

(07-15-2018 07:31 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(07-15-2018 01:06 PM)Wolfman Wrote:  Notre Dame and BC have established, high-level programs. I believe both have lucrative media deals for those programs. I don't see them joining a start up conference.

If the ACC winds up having six programs, Notre Dame and Boston College aren’t sacrificing the rest of their athletic programs to maintain their current hockey affiliation. The existing media deals would remain in place until they expire.

ACC Hockey could wind up looking more like the old Big East if Pittsburgh and Louisville take the plunge, especially if Syracuse and Virginia Tech ultimately follow.

Hockey East would likely remain at 10 members on the men’s side. I could see the Big 10 going after Arizona State, but it might depend on any internal growth.

If Buffalo starts a program, I could easily see the MAC adding hockey, even if it is simply merging with the NCHC.

Wouldn't grandfather rules apply? BC & ND had established hockey programs when they joined the ACC. If the ACC were to add hockey would BC & ND forced to join the ACC or could they remain where they are?

Minnesota didn’t want Big 10 hockey, at least politically, and they were told it was either join or leave. They chose the B1G Network $’s.