Feelings? Excel VS Ridder Good or bad ???

[hockeyis1]

I like Excel myself, I know it's big and we won't pack it in but it will be fun..<br>What I think they need to do is attract people to come down and see things like and an exhibit. Maybe a Hockey Hall Fame somewhere down there. I know they do things like this for the boys high school tourney. That way come down before and see some things and then catch the games. <br><br>Maybe the schools that are in it could reall do something and get the kids there some how...Not sure how but.....thinking.......<br><br>Kinda got off tract here....<br><br>Any Ideas???????<br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ckeyis1</A> at: 2/10/06 11:37 am<br></i>

[boblee]

no, stay @ ridder <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyis1]

boblee? pros vs cons <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyis1]

Eveyone is looking at the girls hockey moving there this year as a joke we need to rise up and show everyone and this is NOT a joke and show everyone that we support and PACK that building. So we need ideas to fill that place just like the boys tourney. I will help and do what ever I can do to make this happen. <p></p><i></i>

[brookyone]

Should have been kept at Ridder. The major "con" to moving to the X in my opinion is the likely loss of "electric" type tournament atmosphere due to the also likely somewhat empty feeling via crowd to arena size ratio. At this point I'm hoping the greater capacity of the X will in turn lead to bigger crowds than we've typically seen at Ridder. Maybe more will head to the arena knowing they'll definitely get a good seat...though I don't believe that was ever an issue at Ridder. I dunno if that will be the case or not, but like I said, I'm hopeful. One upside...I spend alot of time at Ridder for Gopher women's hockey...the consessions at Ridder are pretty horrible, should be much better at the X...though I figure some X vendors will be disappointed with their sales. Another downside, while the X is quite a bit closer to me than Ridder, I think it'll be more expensive to attend for many...parking, etc.<br><br>Edit: The X is a heckuva nice place...no doubt about that. It will be nice to be able to get good and comfortable and watch the action...hope they don't expect me to get up and dance when / if they put the camera on me. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ookyone</A> at: 2/10/06 12:21 pm<br></i>

[hockeyis1]

brook, help me here...this is just a question but is there not stuff going on durying the boys tourney? I can't remember?? <p></p><i></i>

[boblee]

It is just a better atmosphere for girls at ridder. the fans are closer, the building is smaller, but still big enough...i just think it is the perfect fit for girls hockey! <p></p><i></i>

[brookyone]

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>brook, help me here...this is just a question but is there not stuff going on durying the boys tourney? I can't remember??<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--> <br>If I understand your question (not sure), yes, I believe there is usually other stuff going on at Rivercenter, and or the convention area of the building during just about any event at the X. At least, nearly everytime I walk thru the skyway from the ramp to the X headed to a game there's almost always some other event going on. Not including Wild games...I attend very few of those. <p></p><i></i>

[Big Red]

We loved the Ridder because of all the previously posted positives.<br>We'll just have to see what the Excel is like I guess and make ouur judgements then.<br>I doubt we'll be able to go back if the Ridder was better tho. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br> <p></p><i></i>

[Cornermukker]

I will say that they do have the Let's Play Hockey Expo there for 2 days during the boys tourney. The reason though is that they have such great attendance at the games it only makes sense to have the Expo then.<br><br>So, my guess would be that if the girls event generates that kind of traffic, you may see more along the lines of some one wanting to have an expo or something like that.<br><br>Just my 2 cents.... <p></p><i></i>

[jolo1300]

As a player I don't mind either way,if it was at Ridder at it feels more full which adds to the experence, also I think that since Ridder was made for womens hockey we should be glad to have a place to call our own. <br> The main reason I think the tournament shoud be at the x, is it's a once in a life time chance to skate at a venue like the x, many girls have already gotten the chance to skate at Ridder. So I think that if the guys get a chance to skate at the x why shouldn't we? <p></p><i></i>

[g0pherbabe13]

Jolo you bring some very valid points. Also being a player, I have mixed feelings about this. When my team played at Ridder two years back, we all felt it was a perfect atmosphere for where girls hockey is at right now. Even there, the games were not sold out, so by moving to the Xcel it may seem as if nobody is there to the players. They will not be able to hear the crowd as well either. <br><br> However, at the same time Jolo presents the fact that it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to skate at such a prestigious and high quality venue like the Xcel Center. To hear your name called and look up and see your face on the big screen - is a big deal. By telling this to my teammates the other day, we all got goosebumps just thinking about it.<br><br>Nobody will ever know whether or not the decision was right to move to the X until we experience it in the coming weeks! <br><br>All in all - its still the same hockey right? <p></p><i></i>

[brookyone]

I've always envisioned a day when it would be necessary to change venues due to growing attendance. Hopefully in the not too distant future we see crowds above the capacity of Ridder at the X. I don't think that's out of the question at all. I went to one of the women's Team USA game (vs. WCHA All Star team) and I believe there was over 5000 at that game. That game had an excellent atmoshpere, much better than I expected. <p></p><i></i>

[ItsNEBG]

It's up to US to put out butts in the seats at either venue. Until "the public" sees that girls hockey can draw a decent crowd, it'll be looked down on as a 2nd class sport.<br><br>I don't know how many games I'll get to myself, but my wife & kid went to all of the Ridder games the last 2 years, and I made several. I hope to make Friday evening and Saturday at least. <br><br>Work gets in the way some times. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ItsNEBG</A> at: 2/10/06 3:34 pm<br></i>

[Big Red]

As far as 'packing the house'; how many schools let the players who are participating in the big show (class A) out of school on Thursday to watch the AA games?<br><br>Just curious. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... d@mnhs>Big Red</A> at: 2/10/06 4:14 pm<br></i>

[Zamman]

I was at Ridder last year to watch AHA girls in the state semis. I thought the arena was great for the tournament. Good size and well represented as a "womens" arena. Which is what the sport needs. I am not saying this to keep the women in a smaller arena, but for the sport at this time it is nice. The X is great, but is extremely big. I really dislike the Schwans cup at the X. The place is empty and quiet, and I am there with AHA who has played there pretty well the last three years. The X may be ok for womens hockey in the future, but right now it needs to be in a smaller, better atmospheric rink like Ridder. <br>Then again, I may be wrong and we will see this year for the tournament.<br>Just me 2 cents <p>________________________________<br>Academy of Holy Angels<br>2005 GIRLS STATE CHAMPS!<br>2002 & 2005 BOYS STATE CHAMPS!!<br>GO STARS!!</p><i></i>

[Johnnie15]

I am going to say bad move. Ridder was a good rink for the girls state tourney, it provided an excellent atmosphere in a full rink. I have played at Excel when it was sold out, as well as when it was empty. When it was empty it just felt ginormous and well empty. It felt hollow. It was not as much fun. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

Are ticket prices going to be the same as for the boys? I'd hope they'd lower the prices to try to attract more fans. I'd love to see the lower bowl packed for the championship game. <p></p><i></i>

[Johnnie15]

Not to be a smart ass but, if they are going to have to have total equality with venue, then the ticket prices should be the same or damn near the same. <p></p><i></i>

[maroonhockey]

Any Wild season ticket holders out there? I had heard that the Wild was going to offer free tickets to the girls' games to their season ticket holders, does anybody know if this is true. <p></p><i></i>

[Blade Side Down]

The X should place all the fans on the penilty box side. Then have the camera angle only showing that angle. Smoke and mirrors for now till a croud showes up in years to come.<br>Move to soon from Ridder!<br><br>Maybe should have had the Championships there now?<br>Even the boys don't play all there games at the X. They use the "U" also?<br><br>St. Cloud State would have been a great stepping stone for being in central MN.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[limasbravo]

Pretty mixed feelings on my part. I generally feel that the move was too soon. The girls deserve the best, but the X just will be too empty at this point.<br><br>What the better move would have been, would be to move into a D-I mens rink. Maricucci would have made sense, considering it's right next door to Ridder. If Mariucci couldn't be worked out, moving the tournament for a number of years to the Midwest Wireless Civic Center , the National Hockey Center , or the DECC would have made sense. Each city could sustain the amount of fans for those days. They may not be as central as the Twin Cities are, but it still would have worked. It would have made more sense, since they are bigger buildings, but not as enormous as the X.<br><br>That being said, I'm excited for the tournament to be at the X. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[Johnnie15]

I agree with Limas, that the move was made too soon. It is a move that should eventually be done, but I feel was done much too soon. It is just surprising that rink built for one of the premier D-1 womens hockey programs in the nation is not good enough for the MSHSL girls state tournament. I just think that at this stage of the game, it is much to early to move the tournament to the X. The atmosphere of the game will most likely not be where it should be. (honest question, does anyone know if X will be used for all of the games, or just the winners bracket as it is for the boys? and if so, where will they be playing the losers bracket?) I will admit to be uneducated about the atmosphere at Ridder last year, I only attended one game (AHA vs. New Prague "semi-final" game). That game was well attended, but there were also many open seats. I was unable to catch any of the AA games or the A championship, was the rink more filled up for that? I think I am done for now and am off to bed, finally. Stupid tests and papers...<br><br>PS, I apologize if this seems really random and detatched, I am tired and just finished a paper and a night of studying.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[limasbravo]

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Johnnie15:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->(honest question, does anyone know if X will be used for all of the games, or just the winners bracket as it is for the boys? and if so, where will they be playing the losers bracket?)<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>The AA consolation bracket will be at Ridder. Since there is no A consolation bracket, all games for those will be at the X. <p></p><i></i>

[Johnnie15]

thanks <p></p><i></i>