I personally would welcome the NCAA final 4 to Orlando.  Then again it is 45 minutes for me to the TD Waterhouse Center (was the O-rena until last month) and 24 hours to the Pepsi Center in Albany.
 
The arena in Orlando is very nice and there are a lot of nearby resturants in the refubished Church Street area.  Of course there is more than enough hotels that all can find reasonable lodging.
 
Yes Orlando is not a hockeytown but the Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) games are well attended and the ECHL has 4 teams playing around the state of Florida, not to mention the Lightning and Panthers of the NHL.
 
Those in Boston might like the Sarasota Red Sox, those in Minn might like the Ft. Meyers Twins, those in New York City might like the St. Lucie Mets or Tampa Yankees.
 
Like it or not, the NC$$ want to increase the populatity of the Frozen Four and going to places like Anaheim or Orlando every now and then will help popularize the sport.  I doubt that the Frozen Four will remain "just as it is".
 
Jim Dixon
UA Fairbanks `90, `91
 
 
Greg writes:
>As far as Orlando as an NCAA, a campaign should be mounted to say NO, a
>thousand times NO!  One trip to the Mouse in Anaheim was enough for me.
>How any college hockey fan can appreciate seeing their sport >marginalized
>in an area of the country where no one cares is beyond me.  Last year
>in Anaheim, on the day of the semifinals, the lead hockey article in the
>Orange County Register was about the fact that face masks were used in
>college hockey.  Duh!
>
>Let's keep the sport in areas where it is appreciated.  We're not
>basketball, never will be and I doubt many of us want it to be.  I like >it
>fine just they way it is.
 
Ralph writes:
>>The Troy Record article also mentions the possibilty of the NCAA Frozen 4
>>going to Orlando in the future.
 
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Jim Dixon
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Jim Dixon
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