(above) Jon Schmieder, executive director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, helped land the Frozen Four in DenverFrom: Rocky Mountain News
by Clay Latimer
.
There was no room for quiet contemplation Thursday night at the Pepsi Center.
It was opening day of the Frozen Four hockey tournament, Michigan and Notre Dame were in overtime, 18,000 fans were on their feet, dueling student bands were blaring away, and thousands of puckheads from across the Frost Belt were grinning like school kids on holiday.
Watching it unfold was Jon Schmieder, executive director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, the group that lured the first national championship game to the Pepsi Center - Boston College meets Notre Dame tonight - and the first in Denver since the 1990 men's Final Four at McNichols Sports Arena.
By Sunday morning it will all be over. Either the Fighting Irish or Eagles will be getting ready to leave with the championship trophy, and ESPN will be packing its cameras.
But Schmieder still will be hustling, still working the phone to persuade big wheels in other sports to come to Denver.
Hockey has come a long way since 1961, when the NCAA tournament averaged 4,832 fans a game at the old University of Denver Arena, and in 1976, when 5,311 watched the final at DU.
Yet 11 of the past 12 Frozen Fours have been sellouts - Anaheim, Calif., in 1999 was the exception - and in 2010 players will lace up their skates at Ford Field in Detroit, an NFL venue that will seat about 70,000.
In fact, hockey usually ranks third on the NCAA's list of most profitable tournaments, behind the men's Final Four and College World Series.
"The Frozen Four was in Utica (N.Y.) my senior year (in 1962)," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "It was the difference between one of the lowest professional leagues and the NHL. There wasn't a lot of fanfare - it was pretty much a nonevent. There was no TV coverage, no video, no interest. . . . It's night and day compared to what it was then."
Today, there are 59 Division I teams, 19 more than in 1990. Nearly one-quarter of current NHL players come from college programs. And the competition to host the Frozen Four is more intense than ever, with the NCAA seeking arenas that seat at least 18,000. It received 13 bids for the 2009 event, with Washington, D.C., the eventual winner, sending 10 representatives.
When Schmieder made his pitch five years ago, he drew on Colorado's rich hockey heritage - the first 10 tournaments took place in Colorado Springs - to offset the fact Denver has eight professional sports teams, a potential problem should the University of Denver, Colorado College and Air Force fail to qualify, which turned out to be the case.
"We said that by the time 2008 comes around, the college hockey championships 'will not have come to Colorado in 32 years. Yet this event was founded in Colorado, birthed in Colorado.' Our closing pitch was: 'This is our tournament. This is our event. It's time that it comes home.' The committee said: 'You know, I think you're right.'
"This event was sold out almost a year ago. We only distributed 2,800 (tickets) inside the state. The other 15,000 and change are outside the border of this state, (many) to people who make the trip every year. These are people who say, 'I'm going to Denver regardless of who's playing, because I want to see good hockey. I want to see Denver and I don't want to break my string. I've been to 10, 11 in a row.'
"This is their vacation. This is their Final Four, their Super Bowl. I know the Colorado Avs and NHL would (refute it), but this is the biggest event in hockey every year."
Roy Hilts certainly agrees. The 47- year-old Maine resident has attended all but one Frozen Four since 1994, joining a nomadic party that also includes fans from Minnesota, Wisconsin, St. Cloud State, Providence, North Dakota, Cornell, Michigan . . .
"I'd say there's probably 1,000 people from Maine here," he said. "I come just because it's great hockey. They're not getting paid - so there's no incentive to play hard every shift except love of the game."
Big attraction
Will 70,000 fans show up for the 2010 Frozen Four title game?
It's possible, because college hockey's marquee event will be played that year at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. A temporary rink will be placed in the middle of the football field, with a seating plan that could bring fans right up to the glass.
"If you can get the kind of fan following in your sport, why not do it?" Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson said. "It's not just about revenue; it's about selling the sport and having as many fans as possible get to see it."
Added Michigan coach Red Berenson: "It could be an unbelievable event."
In 2001, a crowd of 74,544 watched Michigan play Michigan State on a temporary rink in the middle of the Michigan State football field, despite near-freezing temperatures.
But if neither Michigan nor Michigan State advance to the tournament, many worry there will be thousands of empty seats. Purists might not like the idea, either. But the Frozen Four isn't afraid to venture into new territory; the 2012 event will take place in Tampa, Fla.
"They're pushing the envelope," said Jon Schmieder, executive director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission.
It was opening day of the Frozen Four hockey tournament, Michigan and Notre Dame were in overtime, 18,000 fans were on their feet, dueling student bands were blaring away, and thousands of puckheads from across the Frost Belt were grinning like school kids on holiday.
Watching it unfold was Jon Schmieder, executive director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, the group that lured the first national championship game to the Pepsi Center - Boston College meets Notre Dame tonight - and the first in Denver since the 1990 men's Final Four at McNichols Sports Arena.
By Sunday morning it will all be over. Either the Fighting Irish or Eagles will be getting ready to leave with the championship trophy, and ESPN will be packing its cameras.
But Schmieder still will be hustling, still working the phone to persuade big wheels in other sports to come to Denver.
Hockey has come a long way since 1961, when the NCAA tournament averaged 4,832 fans a game at the old University of Denver Arena, and in 1976, when 5,311 watched the final at DU.
Yet 11 of the past 12 Frozen Fours have been sellouts - Anaheim, Calif., in 1999 was the exception - and in 2010 players will lace up their skates at Ford Field in Detroit, an NFL venue that will seat about 70,000.
In fact, hockey usually ranks third on the NCAA's list of most profitable tournaments, behind the men's Final Four and College World Series.
"The Frozen Four was in Utica (N.Y.) my senior year (in 1962)," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "It was the difference between one of the lowest professional leagues and the NHL. There wasn't a lot of fanfare - it was pretty much a nonevent. There was no TV coverage, no video, no interest. . . . It's night and day compared to what it was then."
Today, there are 59 Division I teams, 19 more than in 1990. Nearly one-quarter of current NHL players come from college programs. And the competition to host the Frozen Four is more intense than ever, with the NCAA seeking arenas that seat at least 18,000. It received 13 bids for the 2009 event, with Washington, D.C., the eventual winner, sending 10 representatives.
When Schmieder made his pitch five years ago, he drew on Colorado's rich hockey heritage - the first 10 tournaments took place in Colorado Springs - to offset the fact Denver has eight professional sports teams, a potential problem should the University of Denver, Colorado College and Air Force fail to qualify, which turned out to be the case.
"We said that by the time 2008 comes around, the college hockey championships 'will not have come to Colorado in 32 years. Yet this event was founded in Colorado, birthed in Colorado.' Our closing pitch was: 'This is our tournament. This is our event. It's time that it comes home.' The committee said: 'You know, I think you're right.'
"This event was sold out almost a year ago. We only distributed 2,800 (tickets) inside the state. The other 15,000 and change are outside the border of this state, (many) to people who make the trip every year. These are people who say, 'I'm going to Denver regardless of who's playing, because I want to see good hockey. I want to see Denver and I don't want to break my string. I've been to 10, 11 in a row.'
"This is their vacation. This is their Final Four, their Super Bowl. I know the Colorado Avs and NHL would (refute it), but this is the biggest event in hockey every year."
Roy Hilts certainly agrees. The 47- year-old Maine resident has attended all but one Frozen Four since 1994, joining a nomadic party that also includes fans from Minnesota, Wisconsin, St. Cloud State, Providence, North Dakota, Cornell, Michigan . . .
"I'd say there's probably 1,000 people from Maine here," he said. "I come just because it's great hockey. They're not getting paid - so there's no incentive to play hard every shift except love of the game."
Big attraction
Will 70,000 fans show up for the 2010 Frozen Four title game?
It's possible, because college hockey's marquee event will be played that year at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. A temporary rink will be placed in the middle of the football field, with a seating plan that could bring fans right up to the glass.
"If you can get the kind of fan following in your sport, why not do it?" Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson said. "It's not just about revenue; it's about selling the sport and having as many fans as possible get to see it."
Added Michigan coach Red Berenson: "It could be an unbelievable event."
In 2001, a crowd of 74,544 watched Michigan play Michigan State on a temporary rink in the middle of the Michigan State football field, despite near-freezing temperatures.
But if neither Michigan nor Michigan State advance to the tournament, many worry there will be thousands of empty seats. Purists might not like the idea, either. But the Frozen Four isn't afraid to venture into new territory; the 2012 event will take place in Tampa, Fla.
"They're pushing the envelope," said Jon Schmieder, executive director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission.
4 comments:
Its certainly been a great experience. After missing the playoffs last year, its been really cool seeing the regionals in the springs and the FF and festivities here in Denver. It makes me proud of my somewhat new city, and glad I'm going to stay here for years to come.
Here's hoping for the 2018 Olympics!
Glad to see Denver get some attention other than prep for Dem convention. Hopefully we are good hosts and it'll come back.
Sounds like most of the travelling fans had a great time in denver this weekend.
Great job by the Committee, DU, the volunteers and the Pepsi Center.
I thought DU, the Sports Commission, Pepsi Center etc did a fantastic job. I talked to several fans in the concourse between periods of the games and everyone was very complimentary. A great event and very well run, no doubt.
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