Just to comment on the discussion which has suggested there may be
a 6,000-seat minimum requirement set for all arenas which host
playoff games:
 
I'm sure many of the WCHA rinks would not meet this; I know Northern
Michigan's does not, and has no prospect of ever being expanded to
such a size.
 
As many list members have commented, what's better--a 16,000-seat
arena like Joe Louis with 4,000 spectators spread across fans from
four to six different teams' areas, or two or three smaller rinks
crammed to the gills with a total of 8,000 fans EACH per game?
 
   This should be particularly important as a consideration when you
factor into the equation the access to the games the fans gain by
having their team host the playoffs, in terms of fairness to them.
 
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