On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 8:41 AM, Rowe, Thomas<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> You know, David, I question your assumption about the typical fan.  I'm at a Div III school and seldom get to see the Div I games,
> but I follow them anyway.  Obviously, as a reader of this list and long-time member,  I am an avid fan so maybe not so typical. > Nevertheless, I think the home team turnout would be big for any school you think is a "big name" but also pretty good if you think
> you are playing a "patsy" because we all like to see our favorites win big.  So Wisconsin hosts Lowell?  I'd go and I bet most of
> the fans would like to see those games.

I think it's true in any sport that games against "big names" will
attract more attention than those against more obscure teams. In
football, a team is going to have an easier time selling tickets to a
game against Notre Dame than one against North Dakota.

In hockey, a Wisconsin-Lowell game would likely take more effort to
sell than Wisconsin-BC or Wisconsin-BU - all other things being equal.
The schools that are in BCS conferences are generally going to be
better draws than those that aren't, because they'll have greater name
recognition in the public at large. That being said, there remains an
opening for schools to be well-known within the hockey community -
North Dakota was the prime example before they became full-time D-I
last year.

John

-- 
John Edwards
I used to put quotes here.