HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

ghshockeyfan wrote:
I think many would agree that the natural progression was from Ridder to Mariucci, to the X based on fans in the stands.

The last place in Minnesota that the girls tournament should be played at is Mariucci. Olympic sized rink, which very few teams ever practice on. A cavernous arena for the noice to be lost in the rafters, and I'm not positive on the capacity but I'm sure Mariucci's capacity and the bottom bowl at the X has to be about the same.

Accoustics at the X were not terrible, yes there were open seats but the people who were there you could hear. That wouldn't be the case in Mariucci.

There probably isn't a perfect arena for it that can give you everything you need. All I can tell you for sure is that the Xcel center is a world class facility, with wonderful people taking care of you. You aren't going to get that same attention at the U. I talked to some coaches who played when it was at Ridder and played for the first time at the X this year and they said hands down they would rather play at the X. No 5 minute walks to your locker rooms, and people around to help with anything you could ever need.

Probably the closest to the perfect arena would be the Ralph Engelstad in Thief River Falls, 4,000 seats, beautiful arena, and nice press area but we all know that will never happen.

dumpandchase wrote:

ghshockeyfan wrote:
I think many would agree that the natural progression was from Ridder to Mariucci, to the X based on fans in the stands.

The last place in Minnesota that the girls tournament should be played at is Mariucci. Olympic sized rink, which very few teams ever practice on. A cavernous arena for the noice to be lost in the rafters, and I'm not positive on the capacity but I'm sure Mariucci's capacity and the bottom bowl at the X has to be about the same.

Accoustics at the X were not terrible, yes there were open seats but the people who were there you could hear. That wouldn't be the case in Mariucci.

There probably isn't a perfect arena for it that can give you everything you need. All I can tell you for sure is that the Xcel center is a world class facility, with wonderful people taking care of you. You aren't going to get that same attention at the U. I talked to some coaches who played when it was at Ridder and played for the first time at the X this year and they said hands down they would rather play at the X. No 5 minute walks to your locker rooms, and people around to help with anything you could ever need.

Probably the closest to the perfect arena would be the Ralph Engelstad in Thief River Falls, 4,000 seats, beautiful arena, and nice press area but we all know that will never happen.

Capacity wise, logical as I said. Other issues??? Can't say... but I believe all the items listed above as probable concerns...

I don't think it was ever a question of too soon. I think it's safe to say the State High School Girls Hockey Tournament will never fill the 10,000 seat Mariucci Arena, much less the Xcel Center. Everyone knows it's all an "equity" issue with the boys tourney but not an equitable situation. It sure is a comfortable building, but I agree it lacks atmosphere.

keepitreal wrote:I don't think it was ever a question of too soon. I think it's safe to say the State High School Girls Hockey Tournament will never fill the 10,000 seat Mariucci Arena, much less the Xcel Center. Everyone knows it's all an "equity" issue with the boys tourney but not an equitable situation. It sure is a comfortable building, but I agree it lacks atmosphere.

Good point. As long as the kids are happy with it that's all I really care about I guess... $170Mil building buys a lot of atmosphere in the venue sense, but can detract from atmosphere in other ways I guess is what it amounts to in my mind...

The feedback I got was that the kids and coaches playing there love it. From a fan perspective it's not so good. I will say that the Burnsville - North Metro Quarter final had a pretty good crowd and atmosphere.

Here's an idea. Maybe they could put up curtains or some structures to block the upper seats and maybe the end seats too so that eveyone would have to sit towards the middle. They do this for concerts.

twowayplay wrote:The feedback I got was that the kids and coaches playing there love it. From a fan perspective it's not so good. I will say that the Burnsville - North Metro Quarter final had a pretty good crowd and atmosphere.

Here's an idea. Maybe they could put up curtains or some structures to block the upper seats and maybe the end seats too so that eveyone would have to sit towards the middle. They do this for concerts.

From this fan's perspective, I disagree that "it's not so good". I loved it. I was there for all day on the days I was there. It was very comfortable. No one in our group was cold. Not even my 70+ year old Mother! I enjoyed the food concessions, as well. We could move away from the Private School Mom who was constantly yelling her coaching advice in a very raspy voice. I enjoyed having the Big Screen to watch the instant replays - and it did come in handy for the disputed goal in one of the games I watched there. It sure would have been useful at the disputed game tieing goal over at the Ridder between the Alex v Breck game to have instant replay. As far as the atmosphere being exciting - I thought the games were exciting and that made the atmosphere exciting enough for me.

This isn't to you personally twowayplay - but in general - I think some people will find a way to complain about anything instead of enjoying what has been graciously offered, or being happy for someone else's player. The important aspect of this is what the kids thought of it. Not if I enjoyed the mini donuts! It's their Moment.

twowayplay wrote:Here's an idea. Maybe they could put up curtains or some structures to block the upper seats and maybe the end seats too so that eveyone would have to sit towards the middle. They do this for concerts.

I like this idea - it would do a lot to eliminate that feeling of emptiness that you sense immediately when you walk in the place. I think it would help boost the atmosphere and noise level as well.

twowayplay wrote:The feedback I got was that the kids and coaches playing there love it. From a fan perspective it's not so good. I will say that the Burnsville - North Metro Quarter final had a pretty good crowd and atmosphere.

Here's an idea. Maybe they could put up curtains or some structures to block the upper seats and maybe the end seats too so that eveyone would have to sit towards the middle. They do this for concerts.

I too heard nothing but POSITIVE feedback, from both players and fans. I took in some of the games there and I didn't notice the empty seats. I was concentrated on the ice and the areas where the fans were congregated. They had specific sections for each town, and for the most part, people were congregated in these sections rather than spread out all over the place. If the fans stay congregated, then I don't think the empty seats are as noticeable.......just an opinion.

Go Fighting Sioux!

I think that Ridder is too small and the X is two big. Mariucci would be good.

limasbravo wrote:<!--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>

Class A does have a consolation round and it's at Ridder.

I agree with the Ralph Engelstad in Thief River Falls that would be the perfect rink to play the girls State tournament at. A Beautiful Arena.

[I agree with the Ralph Engelstad in Thief River Falls that would be the perfect rink to play the girls State tournament at. A Beautiful Arena.]

Ralph Engelstad?

First off, no Minnesota event should ever be associated with that name which deeply offends me. I don't care how nice the arena is. It's North Dakota related. Second, you want even less people? Move it out of the cities. I like the X vs Ridder. I don't have to get there early to get a parking spot or a good seat. If I don't want to sit by anyone, I can find a nice corner all alone to enjoy the games. Keep it at the X. Plus the sight lines at Ridder are terrible. I think as the sport grows the crowds will come but you can't keep changing things. Mariucci would work well though.[/quote]

I would look to the Canadians for guidance. For the U18 World Tourney (which is obviously HS players) in Calgary, the championship game was played in an arena that held 3000 people. It was oversold by 500, with the result that it was SRO. Great hockey atmosphere. This issue is a dead horse; but if you happen to know any of the players on the USA team, ask them what they thought of the atmosphere.

hockey_rocker wrote:
First off, no Minnesota event should ever be associated with that name which deeply offends me. I don't care how nice the arena is. It's North Dakota related. Second, you want even less people? Move it out of the cities. I like the X vs Ridder. I don't have to get there early to get a parking spot or a good seat. If I don't want to sit by anyone, I can find a nice corner all alone to enjoy the games.

Think again hockey_knocker. Hockey is a way of life in nortern MN. By moving it to a northern community, your crowds would probably increase. Communities come out to cheer the teams on, not just the parents of the teams playing. Plenty of parking and if you feel the need to be by yourself, you can go pout in a wheat field and listen to it on your Ipod. Just because you live in the metro, it does not make your lives anymore important so that you should be given all the conveniences of attending a state tournament. As for Ralph, he has given more back to his hometown communities and hockey in particular, than anyone from your hometown, GUARANTEED!!

hockey_rocker wrote:[I agree with the Ralph Engelstad in Thief River Falls that would be the perfect rink to play the girls State tournament at. A Beautiful Arena.]

Ralph Engelstad?

First off, no Minnesota event should ever be associated with that name which deeply offends me. I don't care how nice the arena is. It's North Dakota related. Second, you want even less people? Move it out of the cities. I like the X vs Ridder. I don't have to get there early to get a parking spot or a good seat. If I don't want to sit by anyone, I can find a nice corner all alone to enjoy the games. Keep it at the X. Plus the sight lines at Ridder are terrible. I think as the sport grows the crowds will come but you can't keep changing things. Mariucci would work well though.

[/quote]

So we shouldn't consider the Mini-Ralph just because his name offends YOU? You must be pretty damn important to make that statement.

Any GOPHER fan would be offended by anything to do with the Sioux. But thats a whole other site. Just a light hearted stab, no offense intended. I do think though that it being that far away would kill attendance. I have never seen but have heard is a one of a kind. How many does it hold?

[Think again hockey_knocker. Hockey is a way of life in nortern MN. By moving it to a northern community, your crowds would probably increase. Communities come out to cheer the teams on, not just the parents of the teams playing. Plenty of parking and if you feel the need to be by yourself, you can go pout in a wheat field and listen to it on your Ipod. Just because you live in the metro, it does not make your lives anymore important so that you should be given all the conveniences of attending a state tournament. As for Ralph, he has given more back to his hometown communities and hockey in particular, than anyone from your hometown, GUARANTEED!!]

All I'm saying is you really need to keep it in a central location for good crowds. [/quote]

The other thing to consider is Hotels, it's not just the venue. There is a Best Western, A Super 8 and an AmericInn that I could find. That's about 150 rooms for 16 teams plus fans. Looks like a great view from the AmericInn though. Maybe we move it every year to everyone that want to host it and whoever draws the most gets the prize? Kinda like the olympics. Another nice choice for North though might be the new Duluth Arena. Close enough to the North and only 2 hours from the cities.

One more thing. I did not mean to smear Mr. Engelstad personally. I know he was a wonderful man who built two incredible rinks for kids to play at. They are amongst the best in the country from what I have heard. Again it was just meant as a little rip at the ND Sioux by association from a devoted Gopher fan after a wild series this weekend. Sorry TRF fans

hockey_rocker wrote:One more thing. I did not mean to smear Mr. Engelstad personally. I know he was a wonderful man who built two incredible rinks for kids to play at. They are amongst the best in the country from what I have heard. Again it was just meant as a little rip at the ND Sioux by association from a devoted Gopher fan after a wild series this weekend. Sorry TRF fans

I did not know the man personally, but he certainly created a lot of controversy in his lifetime. If he did in fact have a painting of himself in a nazi uniform, then at the very least he showed poor judgement... and I'm being nice, as it appeared he sympathized with the nazi party. His generosity from gambling proceeds has certainly benefited many and hopefully that outweighs any hurt he may have caused by his personal beliefs.

hockey_rocker wrote:One more thing. I did not mean to smear Mr. Engelstad personally. I know he was a wonderful man who built two incredible rinks for kids to play at. They are amongst the best in the country from what I have heard. Again it was just meant as a little rip at the ND Sioux by association from a devoted Gopher fan after a wild series this weekend. Sorry TRF fans

Thanks for the clarification. I'm a big Gophers fan as well, but ya can't diss Ralph for all he has done for hockey on several levels. Now the shot at the UND fighting susies , I'm fine with that.

[quote=Think again hockey_knocker. Hockey is a way of life in nortern MN. By moving it to a northern community, your crowds would probably increase. Communities come out to cheer the teams on, not just the parents of the teams playing. [/quote]

I just had to respond to this ... and I realize I am probably comparing apples to oranges in comparing a high school state tournament to a U12A state tournament. Having said that, two years ago our U12A team played in the State Tournament hosted by Warroad. Warroad is a great hockey town; it was a wonderful venue for our girls to play in; and the Warroad association put on a terrific tournament. However, for the championship game, the only people in the stands were the WBL parents, the Edina parents, a few of the Warroad folks working the tournament, probably the rink manager, a few parents of the U14s who made it back from their own tournament in Grand Rapids, and Henry Bouche. This experience was so different than the prior year when the U12A state tournament was held in Richfield and the rink was full for the championship game. Based on this experience, I would have to disagree that by moving the tournament north the crowds would probably increase.

OK guys, let's let Ralph rest in peace. I explained myself let's leave it at that ok? Warroad. Been there AWESOME arena. Full of incredible hockey history. Everyone should see it at least once. But the only place I could get a pizza after 7pm was a corner bar from the Pizza oven. It was ok though had a couple cold ones with the locals while I waited. They burnt the pizza, had to share it with a couple guys who were willing to eat it and they made me a new one. Talk about a real hockeytown experience!