Atlantic City-ECAC hockey attendance fiasco

[css228]

I'm new to this forum but an alum and longtime fan.  The AC attendance left me puzzled and was really depressing after a week of watching full-house hoops games.  The players deserved better.  I'm from Philly and so it was easy for me to get there, as it was for my Philly and NY classmates who met us there -- but looking at this thread, people make it seem like AC is near Atlanta.  I remember road tripping to Boston for hockey playoffs and to lots of other places for other reasons -- is AC just too far for students nowadays?  It may be grimy but is Albany really more fun?

Well when you can't leave Ithaca any way by bus, and your bus doesn't get back to Philly on that Friday night until 7:30 then yes. Yes it is. Then Saturday was my anniversary with my girlfriend so while I was able to convince her to watch the game, a trip to AC just wasn't in the cards. Oh, well there's always next year!

[Trotsky]

On a personal level, I thought the location was great. Strolling the boardwalk before and after the games beats anything that Albany has to offer.

I loved the rink itself -- it's gorgeous and interesting in a way none of the cookie-cutter Pepsi Center type places will ever be.  It was also nice to not have a division between upper and lower.  All that was great.

Strolling the boardwalk was a lot of fun -- the people watching (or New Jerseyite watching anyway) was highly entertaining.  But we also had the best weather possible.  If we had had a weekend of rain, being stuck with nothing to do but watch the zombies in the casinos would be like having the game at Rikers.

[pfibiger]

Well, the ECAC and AC are spinning it as a success.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/debut-in-a-c-pleases-ecac/article_f194358b-da79-5634-b740-1dd0c4bf36a5.html

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"It's been a great experience," ECAC commissioner Steve Hagwell said. "This building has something special to it. People who I have spoken to have said the same thing. This building has a great feel."

..

The ECAC tournament averaged 3,742 fans at Boardwalk Hall (seating capacity about 10,300 for hockey) with 4,126 for the championship game.

..

"Obviously, we would like a bigger crowd," Boardwalk Hall general manager Greg Tesone said. "But I think the building performed well and the people that came down here had a great time. For the people, I think the city was more than what they expected."

[scoop85]

In speculating about possible future sites (assuming AC attendance doesn't pick-up the next couple of years), I'm surprised that no one seems to mention the IZOD Center at the Meadowlands.  It certainly has more availability than many other sites given that the Devils and the Nets have departed; and, while it has little charm, it is more accessible to the majority of the ECAC fan base than is AC.

[Jim Hyla]

Well, the ECAC and AC are spinning it as a success.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/debut-in-a-c-pleases-ecac/article_f194358b-da79-5634-b740-1dd0c4bf36a5.html

----
"It's been a great experience," ECAC commissioner Steve Hagwell said. "This building has something special to it. People who I have spoken to have said the same thing. This building has a great feel."

..

The ECAC tournament averaged 3,742 fans at Boardwalk Hall (seating capacity about 10,300 for hockey) with 4,126 for the championship game.

..

"Obviously, we would like a bigger crowd," Boardwalk Hall general manager Greg Tesone said. "But I think the building performed well and the people that came down here had a great time. For the people, I think the city was more than what they expected."

I like this one:

The ECAC tournament averaged 3,742 fans at Boardwalk Hall (seating capacity about 10,300 for hockey) with 4,126 for the championship game.

Albany, N.Y., hosted the tournament the previous eight seasons. The tournament averaged 6,505 last year, after it already had been announced that the tournament was moving to Atlantic City. Attendance averaged 5,074 in 2009.

[Trotsky]

[clear]

This map is great.  Thank you for posting it.

[Jordan 04]

On a personal level, I thought the location was great. Strolling the boardwalk before and after the games beats anything that Albany has to offer.

I loved the rink itself -- it's gorgeous and interesting in a way none of the cookie-cutter Pepsi Center type places will ever be.  It was also nice to not have a division between upper and lower.  All that was great.

Strolling the boardwalk was a lot of fun -- the people watching (or New Jerseyite watching anyway) was highly entertaining.  But we also had the best weather possible.  If we had had a weekend of rain, being stuck with nothing to do but watch the zombies in the casinos would be like having the game at Rikers.

Well, the potential effect of bad weather is a red herring; that's an issue at nearly any potential location, save perhaps Boston. Albany, Lake Placid, Hartford, Worcester, Meadowlands, Bridgeport, etc...which of these are you thoroughly enjoying in 40 degrees and rain?

The only issue with AC, as I see it, is the one Bill so clearly mapped out.

[Rosey]

The only issue with AC, as I see it, is the one Bill so clearly mapped out.

Agreed. If AC were scooped up Borg-style and plopped down in the middle of the Berkshires, it would be acceptable, slums and all. Albany's best feature is that it is 2½ hours from Boston and no more than 3 hours from the furthest school in the ECAC.

[Josh '99]

We'll know after a few years whether AC this year too new, too weird, or too far.  I suspect it's the latter which won't be helped with time, but if attendance continues to be low we'll eventually move back to a more central location.  Worcester and Hartford seem like OK choices among those they have never tried (not great for those of us traveling from afar, but we aren't and shouldn't be a priority).

Hartford wouldn't be so bad if the league decided they wanted to move back north after the expiration of the AC deal (which seems likely at the moment) but didn't want to lose face by moving right back to Albany.

[Trotsky]

On a personal level, I thought the location was great. Strolling the boardwalk before and after the games beats anything that Albany has to offer.

I loved the rink itself -- it's gorgeous and interesting in a way none of the cookie-cutter Pepsi Center type places will ever be.  It was also nice to not have a division between upper and lower.  All that was great.

Strolling the boardwalk was a lot of fun -- the people watching (or New Jerseyite watching anyway) was highly entertaining.  But we also had the best weather possible.  If we had had a weekend of rain, being stuck with nothing to do but watch the zombies in the casinos would be like having the game at Rikers.

Well, the potential effect of bad weather is a red herring; that's an issue at nearly any potential location, save perhaps Boston. Albany, Lake Placid, Hartford, Worcester, Meadowlands, Bridgeport, etc...which of these are you thoroughly enjoying in 40 degrees and rain?

I would argue bad weather would have a significantly greater impact in AC.  First, there's no outdoor attraction in the other places comparable to their boardwalk.  Second, the indoor activities in AC looked remarkably scummy (gambling, strip clubs, pawn shops -- pick any two).

[Jordan 04]

On a personal level, I thought the location was great. Strolling the boardwalk before and after the games beats anything that Albany has to offer.

I loved the rink itself -- it's gorgeous and interesting in a way none of the cookie-cutter Pepsi Center type places will ever be.  It was also nice to not have a division between upper and lower.  All that was great.

Strolling the boardwalk was a lot of fun -- the people watching (or New Jerseyite watching anyway) was highly entertaining.  But we also had the best weather possible.  If we had had a weekend of rain, being stuck with nothing to do but watch the zombies in the casinos would be like having the game at Rikers.

Well, the potential effect of bad weather is a red herring; that's an issue at nearly any potential location, save perhaps Boston. Albany, Lake Placid, Hartford, Worcester, Meadowlands, Bridgeport, etc...which of these are you thoroughly enjoying in 40 degrees and rain?

I would argue bad weather would have a significantly greater impact in AC.  First, there's no outdoor attraction in the other places comparable to their boardwalk.  Second, the indoor activities in AC looked remarkably scummy (gambling, strip clubs, pawn shops -- pick any two).

And what are all the great indoor activities to which visitors in Hartford, Albany, Worcester, Bridgeport, and Lake Placid will flock?  To say that AC simply offers strip clubs and pawn shops just shows a flippant unwillingness to even try and give the place a chance.

A quick 2 minute search reveals the Pier Shops, the Walk (which can be doable as long as it's not a driving rainstorm), an IMAX theater @ Tropicana, an aquarium, a maritime museum ~ 30 minutes away, and a Ripley's (not what I consider much of an attraction, but possibly good for kids?). And while I know gambling can be a polarizing topic, there are plenty of people who find it an entertaining indoor activity. If the Boardwalk options are too scummy, the Borgata may better suit one's tastes.

My guess is that these indoor options stack up fairly well against any of the contenders mentioned in the thread; again, Boston excepted.

[Towerroad]

[clear]

This map is great.  Thank you for posting it.

I think this map says it all.

[Chris '03]

And what are all the great indoor activities to which visitors in Hartford, Albany, Worcester, Bridgeport, and Lake Placid will flock?  To say that AC simply offers strip clubs and pawn shops just shows a flippant unwillingness to even try and give the place a chance.

Paging RichH, paging RichH.

[Josh '99]

Could you imagine what the attendance would have been had a bad-travelling school like Brown been the fourth team instead of Yale?  Wow, oh wow.

In fairness to Brown (never thought I'd say THAT), if their teams was switched with Yale's then they'd probably have comparable traveling fan bases.

[Josh '99]

Bridgeport - 9,000(?)

8500 for hockey.