FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:O-town,
So were people turned away at the gates for that state 'ship game? Think about it. Is that not the perfect playing environment.....a full house? The one thing about Lebran Jimmy. Everyone in the country had heard of this kid because of his Hummer he received (automobile). Name one bantam or peewee with that following? ESPN doesn't even put college hockey on any of its stations (ESPNU for regions?). What makes anyone think that Minnesota youth hockey will find its way to ESPN?
Good point Fred....the other thing that Basketball has to offer a 18 year old phenom is, the next year you can watch him play in either the NBA or at a major college thats conference has a major TV contract. There are not going to be anyone playing in this tournament that would see major market TV for at least six years after playing in this game. So much like Fred was asking...What is the draw for a TV station.
Be interesting to see what kind of response the bantam state tournament had being broadcast on the internet? I would also be curious to find out how much of the Excel Center would be open for seating. If you open up the whole venue than you must staff the whole venue. That means added cost for security and others to make sure there is no shannagans go on in the upper levels. With those added costs I'd find it hard to believe that it would just be donated. I would be willing to bet that they are only making certain sections available in the arena for these games, to "control" the crowd. So does that mean that 3 or 4 sections are open? Great atmosphere that creates.