Jeff Kennedy wrote:
 
> What was up with the attendance at the WCHA tournament?  I would guess that
> HE and the ECAC may have each drawn more fans.
 
A lot of fans were practicing not going to the games to make sure they get it
right this week.  The Thursday night Minnesota-St. Cloud game was pretty well
attended for a week night.  From there, it went downhill.  I don't think anyone
ever thought that there'd be a large crowd for Denver-CC on a Friday
afternoon.  Had more people convinced themselves that the Gophers might beat
North Dakota, the evening semi-final might have drawn better.  As it was, a lot
of folks decided that Minnesota's season was over after beating the Huskies
(and considering the performance they put on, it was).  The lower bowl was full
as was about a quarter of the upper bowl, so it wasn't empty.  But it wasn't
full, either.  And then, of course, Saturday bombed.  The simple fact out here
is, if the home team isn't in it, no one else is close enough to really draw.
Minneapolis is the only real exception to this, since St. Cloud is close enough
that if they were playing well, they might bring fans down I-94.  But that
didn't happen, either.
 
It's a tough call.  In a year like this, it would have been nice to have the
Final Five in a smaller venue.  (Though the Target Center is far more
convenient for me to get to after work.)  But, for reasons I don't really
understand, the big venues (TC, St Paul Civic Center and the Bradley Center)
seem to be willing to take the risk for this event, but not one of the
regionals.  Well, actually, I know at least part of the reason; the Target
Center can make plenty of money selling beer and cocktails at the Final Five,
but not the regionals.  I'm still not sure that this turns it into a good risk,
but that's not my decision.
 
J. Michael Neal
 
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